Border mission reshapes perspectives of New Hampshire Guardsmen
By Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin
Jun 17, 2024, 05:36 PM
New Hampshire National Guardsmen, deployed by Gov. Chris Sununu to the Texas border in April, returned to New Hampshire this month, many with a new perspective. (Annmarie Timmins/New Hampshire Bulletin)
Bulletin writer Annmarie Timmins traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, in collaboration with New Hampshire Public Radio, to shadow the 15 National Guard soldiers sent by Gov. Chris Sununu to assist with border patrol. This is one of several stories on the deployment.
The relentless Texas heat, even during their overnight shift, was a challenge. Not every soldier appreciated Edgar, the tarantula living in their gym. The Alamo was less impressive than they expected.
The 15 National Guard soldiers Gov. Chris Sununu deployed to the Texas border in April returned to New Hampshire this month with other memories that were far harder to share. At the top of the list was seeing families, especially children, risk so much, even their lives, to reach the United States.
Sgt. Timothy King wiped away tears recalling the young girl he saw lying on the Mexico side of the border fence, looking near death from heat stroke. Soldiers were denied permission to cut the fence to reach her and instead passed ice sheets over it to cool her body. Before King knew whether the girl, about 4, lived or died, he was called away for a fight involving nearly 100 migrants.
“I called the chaplain and did a prayer for the kid,” said King, 26, of Fremont. “I was trying to talk myself out of ‘the kid was dead.’ It sticks with you more than you think.”
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2024/06/17/border-mission-reshapes-perspectives-of-new-hampshire-guardsmen/
