Louisiana's adjutant general visits Guardsmen in Iraq

By Sgt. Rebekah Malone, 225th Eng. Bde. PAO, MND-BApril 28, 2009

BAGHDAD - Louisiana's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau (right), visits with Soldiers from 225th Engineer Brigade from Pineville, La., at Camp Liberty April 22. The former commander of the 225th Eng. Bde., said he was humbled to visit wi...
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD - Louisiana's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau (right), visits with Soldiers from 225th Engineer Brigade from Pineville, La., at Camp Liberty April 22. The former commander of the 225th Eng. Bde., said he was humbled to visit wi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
BAGHDAD - Louisiana National Guard's senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier (left), visits with the personal security detachment Soldiers from 225th Engineer Brigade from Pineville, La., at Camp Liberty April 22. Caillier told the ...
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BAGHDAD - Louisiana National Guard's senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier (left), visits with the personal security detachment Soldiers from 225th Engineer Brigade from Pineville, La., at Camp Liberty April 22. Caillier told the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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BAGHDAD - The trip might not have been long, but the April 22 opportunity to visit deployed Guardsmen in Iraq wasn't something Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, and the senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier couldn't pass up.

"Last Friday we got a call and it took all of 30 seconds for Command Sgt. Maj. Callier and me to decide to come," said Landreneau.

After arriving in Baghdad, Landreneau and Caillier met with Soldiers of the 225th Engineer Brigade, Louisiana National Guard

"The 225 Engineer Brigade is making a mark and you have a lot to be proud of," said Landreneau. "Your responsibilities are great, the work you are doing is tough, and you are doing it professionally, in the way you were trained and you are doing it successfully."

Brig. Gen. Owen Monconduit, commander, 225th Eng. Bde., thanked the adjutant general for his leadership in leading the Louisiana National Guard. Monconduit said without Landreneau's dedication to training Soldiers all over the world to perform engineering missions, the success realized while in Baghdad wouldn't be possible.

"The success and the outstanding mark we are making at this point is not something that happens overnight," said Monconduit. "It comes from years of training in places from Belize and Honduras to Germany; it just shows the true dedication, professionalism and leadership of Maj. Gen. Landreneau."

The former group commander of the 225th Eng. Bde., Landreneau has spent many years working with the individuals currently serving in Iraq. He said it was an honor to see the same Soldiers he works states-side with serving honorably on a federal mission.

"It's very humbling to come and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these great Soldiers because they are so dedicated and committed to doing a great job," Landreneau stated. "I'm proud to be associated with them."

Landreneau visit coincided with a letter of greetings laced with pride in the accomplishments of the deployed Guardsmen from Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal.

"You not only answer that call any time your community, your state, or your country needs you, you also work everyday to make sure that you are trained, experienced and ready to serve," Jindal wrote. "You have stepped forward during a time of uncertainty in the world and you have done so out of great personal sacrifice."