Washington National Guard Called Into Action

Stories by MAJ Philip Logan, Maj Kathy Salatas & CPT Scott Nelson
Photos Courtesy Washington Army & Air National Guard Public Affairs
And The Seattle Police Department   -   Posted Dec, 1999

    "Things aren’t going well in Seattle, we need you to come in."  So began the phone call that would greet hundreds of Washington Army and Air National Guard personnel as they arrived home from work or school on Tuesday, November 30th.

[WA Army National Guard Participation]         [WA Air National Guard Participation]

     There had been troubling signs throughout the day - tense images on television, radio reports of mounting violence amongst some of the protestors - so the call wasn’t a complete surprise for many Guardsmen.

     In fact, several units had updated their phone alert rosters and done some training during the previous two months just in case.  Still, no one was really prepared for the level of violence that began in the shadow of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) conference.

Seattle Police hold the line against violent demonstrators

 

The call to duty

      Once the call came late Tuesday afternoon, this was how the next several hours looked for many: grab some dinner, pull on the uniform and boots, kiss the spouse and kids and head for the armory. Once at the armory, draw equipment, conduct training and listen to briefings.  For some, there would be a few hours of sleep, then the order to mount up and head for the city of Seattle and the unknown.

 

     In a measured response by the Governor in conjunction with the Mayor of Seattle and the Seattle Chief of Police, Washington had called upon its citizen-soldiers to provide support to civil authorities stretched dangerously thin by the unexpected scope of activity related to the WTO conference.

    For the soldiers and airmen of more than a dozen units of the Washington National Guard the Governor’s Proclamation began a five-day tour of duty with the Seattle Police Department that no one who guarded the streets will ever forget.

On the street

 

Neah Bay, Oct 98: Guardsmen work with local and state law enforcement

      Some of these Guardsmen had served on active duty in places like the Persian Gulf and Bosnia, and most have served the state during floods and forest fires.

     More recently, some of these same Guardsmen were called to duty during the anti-whaling protests in Neah Bay, WA., in October of 1998 (photo, left).   Although this is a mission for which the National Guard trains, it is one that we truly hope we are never called to perform.

 

     For the men and women of the Washington National Guard who assisted local law enforcement in the streets of Seattle, the next several days would bring long hours, little sleep and some tense moments.

     But all of that was offset by the countless expressions of thanks from police officers and citizens as these Guardsmen went about their duties.

Guardsmen worked in support of civil authorities

 

Guardsmen worked alongside their counterparts in local and state law enforcement

      On Saturday, December 4th the "on the street" mission was over.  The Guardsmen began returning to their armories to turn-in equipment and head home for some well deserved sleep.

     Governor Gary Locke, Commander in Chief of the Washington National Guard and Major General Timothy Lowenberg, The Adjutant General, visited each armory (below) to personally thank these citizen-soldiers who put their lives on hold during this Christmas season to protect the lives and property of others.

     By Monday morning each soldier and airman was back at work at their  civilian jobs... everything from housewife to corporate executive to college student.

 

Governor Locke (right) and MG Lowenberg (left) thank the troops

Governor Locke personally thanked each Guardsman