#County of Moreton: National Guard

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heavy halo Mar 20, 2024, 8:16 PM

Previous post: https://discord.com/channels/263634513861541888/1220096557244879000

Part of the preparation for future emergencies ( #1220096557244879000 ) included a permanent Moreton State National Guard presence in Moreton County with the establishment of several Army Armories and an Air National Guard base. These units were combined with other public safety and county services in order to become efficient at working together in a crisis.

Next post: https://discord.com/channels/263634513861541888/1220148503611969636

heavy halo Mar 20, 2024, 9:19 PM

Moreton Field Air National Guard Base

Consisting of the Moreton Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard, this militia had a small presence in Moreton County prior to the tsunami. Support from other guard units and active military came from all over via the Moreton Municipal Airport. The airport was a wide open airfield with a destroyed terminal and a usable runway which quickly became known as 'Moreton Field'. The Moreton Air National Guard soon rebuilt it and established a base at the airport as a reserve unit of the US Air Force.

It was named the Moreton Field Air National Guard Base, and was shared with the Moreton Field International Airport for civilians and the Moreton Field Army National Guard for soldiers of the US Army.

The host wing was the 1669th Airlift Wing of the Air Mobility Command. The 1669th operated C-17 Globemasters for transporting cargo and troops that could be necessary in the event of a disaster both locally and nationwide, or even overseas if called upon. This included the transport of Moreton Task Force 1 (read more: #1220096557244879000 message).

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Moreton Field Army Aviation Support Facility & Armory

Adjacent to the Moreton Field Air National Guard Base was the Moreton Field Army Aviation Support Facility, and by extension the Moreton Field Armory. This was operated by the Moreton Army National Guard, a reserve unit of the US Army.

The Army Aviation Support Facility provided several UH-60 Black Hawks for National Guardsmen to operate in response to wildfires, mudslides, flooding and other disasters. They could also be called upon to deploy overseas, stowing their UH-60s away in C-17 Globemasters or on ships for transport. They were strategically located next to the airport and the seaport for quick deployment if needed.

The Moreton Field Armory was where the weapons and land vehicles were stored ready for mobilisation. Personnel regularly met up here for drilling, parade duty and also used it as a hub to socialise and connect. Army recruiters also operated out of here to encourage locals to sign up and protect their home state. The storage lot of equipment kept here was vast and included a maintenance facility for all army units in the county.

Fawn Hill Armory

Not all of the armories were as big as the one you see above. The Fawn Hill Armory was much smaller. Located on the other side of the City of Moreton, Fawn Hill became a safe haven in the city for those escaping the tsunami. The Fawn Hill armory was joined with the Fawn Hill Fire Station and Emergency Shelters, and was designated as a Tsunami Evacuation Point for the county.

Several MTVs (Medium Tactical Vehicles) and HMMWVs (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee) towing water pumps and carrying rescue equipment could be mobilised from here to support flood relief efforts, including transport through high water. The large parking lot opposite the armory could be used as a command post and staging area for disasters. The French and Belgian flags were flown here as a mark of solidarity, as these two nations helped setup aid at Fawn Hill after the tsunami.

Moreton City Armory

Another small armory was the Moreton City Armory, located in the Cedar area of the city just outside of Downtown. Again it provided all the usual support it needed to in the event of a disaster. Personnel and equipment from here could also be loaded onto transport aircraft or ships for deployment around the globe. This armory was right at the heart of the city and provided a line of defence should the city have been cut off.

heavy halo Mar 20, 2024, 10:12 PM

Coombe City Armory

Across the bay from the City of Moreton was the Coombe City Armory. It was easy to build on a rectangular plot of land here as so much of Coombe was destroyed by the tsunami.

The abandoned buildings, overgrown plots and damaged streets served as a stark reminder of what could happen to a community when the world came knocking; the local Guardsmen regularly drilled here in case this should happen again.

Tower City Armory

The Tower City Armory was the second largest in Moreton County. This armory was based in the badly affected Tower City area and was still supporting the Red Cross mission here at the time of these photos. A helipad was used to bring aid in should it be needed, with a hangar for a helicopter to hunker down in bad weather. The nearby disused runway at the old Moreton Metropolitan Airport could quickly be cleared by guardsmen to allow a C-130 Hercules to land, if necessary. A cargo seaport is was located nearby for use.

Cooper City Armory

Lastly, the Cooper City Armory located in the Port of Cooper provided logistics for the Army National Guard from the county's biggest dockland. This area was hugely wiped out by the tsunami and still remained largely destroyed at the time of the photos. The National Guard were able to re-establish the wharfs here for ships to bring in vital supplies. The US Navy & Marines frequently stopped here during their humanitarian mission to the county.