Guard helps rescue WWII vet in North Dakota flood

By North Dakota National GuardApril 11, 2011

Wading across flooded property
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Matthew Hebl (left) and Staff Sgt. Luke Christians, both of the 815th Engineer Company, and Chris Denis, of the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, wade across the flooded property of a World War II veteran near Harwood, N.D., to help the ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Guard helps rescue WWII vet
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sandbagging the Red River
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Eric Wiederholt (left), and Spc. Joshua Peterson, both of the 815th Engineer Company, Detachment 2, based in Lisbon, N.D., pass sandbags onto a flood levee around a rural farmstead west of West Fargo, N.D., which has been surrounded by miles of ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ARGUSVILLE, N.D. (Army News Service, April 11 2011) - In a vivid demonstration of how agencies work together to help others during a flood, a handful of county, state and federal assets combined forces Monday, to evacuate a World War II veteran from his rural home between Argusville and Harwood, N.D.

As of Saturday, about 480 North Dakota Air and Army Guard members were on duty for operations related to the Red River Valley flood.

A Guard quick response force team from the 815th Engineer Company responded after a concerned neighbor called Cass County Sheriffs about 87-year-old Obert Tenold.

"The neighbors were concerned about his well-being," said Capt. Grant Larson, who serves as a liaison officer in the Cass County tactical operations center, or TOC.

Larson and Lt. Col. Nathan Erstad, both members of the 119th Wing of the North Dakota National Guard, work in the TOC.

The Guard quick response force team was scrambled from the Harwood Community Center, with the Soldiers bringing high-wheeled vehicles and other equipment that could be needed in an evacuation. A member of F-M Ambulance embedded with the Guard team came along in case of a medical emergency, as well.

"We brought the assets, such as the vehicles, ladders and waders," Larson said. "We didn't know what we'd all need to get him out."

The crews traveled across several gravel roads where water was streaming across before reaching Tenold's home. The current was flowing quickly into his yard and the road near his mailbox was nearly washed away by late morning. The driveway was invisible under the fast-moving flood waters.

"You can't find the driveway, but I have a pretty good idea where it is," said Chris Denis, with the Cass County Sheriff's Department.

Leaders had evaluated two routes to the rural home. Neighbors in the area contributed to the groups' response, telling the crews which road was in the best condition. They also warned them to avoid cutting through Tenold's yard, where the ground was very soft under the flowing water.

Denis, Staff Sgt. Luke Christians and Staff Sgt. Matthew Hebl donned hip waders and Denis carefully led the way down where he believed Tenold's driveway would be, prodding the earth in front of the group with a long stick.

Upon reaching the house, they found Tenold was fine, but his pump was failing. Together, Denis and the Guard members worked to fix the pump. They also switched it to a separate breaker than his furnace to further guarantee its continued operation.

"That takes a lot off my mind," Tenold said once he heard the pump running again.

"They got that old pump working," he later said, "and if it doesn't give up, I'll be kinda lucky. This is quite an occasion."

Tenold has needed to build dikes seven different times since moving into his house about 35 years ago. In 2009, he needed to be rescued by helicopter when the water came up. Johnson said this year looks as bad out there.

Rather than a helicopter, this year's evacuation came via Cass County's Otter Team, which responded in an airboat, as did the U.S. Coast Guard. Tenold carried his belongings out of his home in a couple of grocery sacks. Once they reached dry land, Larson and Kathy Carbno, with Valley Water Rescue, steadied him as they helped him out of the boat before handing him his cane, removing his life vest, and getting him into a deputy's vehicle.

"I'll be glad when this is all dried up," Tenold said. "I'm never going back there again, except maybe to sell the place."

Christians said the response was the first for the Harwood quick response force team, which was established Thursday. The team is on duty 24/7 at the community center to respond to overland flooding, evacuation requests, sandbag levee breaches or any other flood-related emergency. They fall under the Cass County Sheriff's office and take the calls straight from the county's operations center.

Larson called today's response a "cooperative effort," thanks to which "we were able to get the gentleman out safely, and he appreciated it."

"I think we work really well together and draw on each other's strengths," Larson said. "I think there's mutual respect among all of the agencies. Everybody listens to each other's opinions and works together to ensure a successful response to any emergency."

Related Links:

Army.mil: National Guard News

STAND-TO!: Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve within the Army National Guard

North Dakota National Guard