With a gubernatorial order of "go big, go fast, go early," members of the Missouri National Guard continue in their efforts to battle against the historic flooding in the Butler County area.
More than 700 guardsmen were activated statewide to serve on two task forces, as well as in administrative roles, explained Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, the guard's adjutant general, who conducted a health and wellness visit with his troops Friday afternoon in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
After a quick stop at Jen's Diner on South Westwood Boulevard to thank its staff for feeding the soldiers, Danner stopped at Robertson Construction, the base of the guard's sandbagging operations.
Danner was met at that location by Colby Robertson, president of Robertson Construction; Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers; city manager Mark Massingham; police Chief Danny Whiteley and Deputy Chief Donnie Trout.
As Danner spoke with the officials, he expressed his appreciation for the cooperation the guard has received and asked whether Black River was "starting to come down."
Myers confirmed it was.
"You all got in and took care of business pretty early," Danner told the officials.
In thanking Robertson for his company's help, Danner told him there were many people "out there who never know the work done to save their property."
Danner then met with five soldiers -- Sgt. 1st Class Adam Eftink; Pvt. Cody Amelunke, Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence Johnson, Spc. Justin Ball and Staff Sgt. Michael Roberson.
As his spoke with the soldiers, Danner asked Amelunke his thoughts on the operation.
Standing in his chest waders, the private reported it was "awesome to get out to help the community; the community helped out a lot too," referring to the volunteers who had assisted in filling sandbags earlier in the week.
Danner asked the soldiers about such topics as their quarters, whether they were getting enough rest and what improvements were needed.
The soldiers pointed out some of the difficulties they had experienced working together for the first time. Danner said future training may be planned to improve that issue.
In addition, Danner asked each what his job had been for the day.
"Today, this is the main operation," the filling of sandbags, Eftink said.
Ball said he had been "running equipment" to help fill the bags.
Johnson, the non-commissioned officer in charge of Task Force South, told the general the soldiers had "finished the wall on (County Road) 607 early (Friday) morning. I went (back) down early this morning after everything was squared away here."
Danner gave each of the soldiers a challenge coin before concluding his visit with them.
"It's a great thing to see the enthusiasm" of the soldiers, he said.
The purpose of Danner's visit, he said, was to see to the health and wellness of his soldiers to make sure they had what they needed, such as shower facilities, food, rest and shelter.
Pointing to numerous pairs of waders laying nearby in the sun to dry, Danner described how important it was for the soldiers to have proper safety equipment, like the waders, when working in the floodwaters.
Equally important, he said, is making sure that equipment gets cleaned properly and is free of bacteria.
Danner said the first point in his strategic plan is taking care of the soldiers, citizens and their families.
"You take care of them; they take care of you," he said. "It's always about safety and taking care" of the soldiers and airmen.
The soldiers working locally represent a number of units from across the state and were from such towns as Sikeston, Jackson, Joplin and Doniphan.
According to Danner, the guard doesn't deploy by units, but by task forces.
"As command sees the mission, we'll decided which individuals are needed for the unit, depending on their speciality," such as truck drivers, equipment operators or military police for security, Danner said. "We'll put together a task force."
Of the five soldiers Danner spoke with, he said, one was a platoon sergeant handling a squad, which was filling sandbags.
Another was an equipment operator, while the specialist and private were filling the sandbags.
They represent a "cross section" of the different areas, Danner said.
For this event, Task Force North was sent to the Meramac River area in St. Louis County, Danner said.
Task Force South, he said, is working Black River and centered here Poplar Bluff, but is prepared for the flooding happening in the Cape Girardeau area.
"We have over 600 in the Task Forces" and more than 100 working in various administrative roles at the headquarters in Jefferson City and Jefferson Barracks, Danner said.
The city officials, according to Danner, were "very complimentary of our guard. The soldiers ... they live here, work here.
"We're Missourians, and we want to take care of Missouri's citizens."
When Gov. Eric Greitens activated the guard, Danner said, his orders were "go big, go fast, go early, and he's given us the leeway to get here early and do the work we need to do for the citizens."
The citizens of Poplar Bluff, Butler County and the "whole area take care of veterans," Danner said. "This is an opportunity for the veterans to come back and take care of the community."
Many of the volunteers who have helped with the sandbagging operations, the general said, are veterans themselves and were familiar with the work, having done it before.
Danner said he couldn't "say enough" about all the city officials have done for the guardsmen to make them feel welcome.
As guardsmen, "we're going to be here for them," he said. "It's all about taking care of the people."
And, to take care of the soldiers, Danner said, they are constantly being rotated in and out.
"We realize they are citizens soldiers; we've called them from their jobs to do it," said Danner.
Rotating the soldiers out and letting them return to work or school also helps take care of the families, he said.
"We will be here as long as we're needed," Danner said.
Once the sandbagging operations cease and the water begins to subside, "we'll go into clean-up operations," he said. "We'll stay as long as we're needed."
The governor told the guardsmen he wanted "us here as long as the community needs us," said Danner, who also was to inspect levee(s) and Highway 60 before leaving the area.