South Dakota National Guard Nation Building in Jamaica, 1991

(South Dakotans building a retaining wall, Jamaica 1991)

by Duke Doering

      On May 21, 1991, National Guardsmen from Company B, 153rd Engineer Battalion located at Madison, SD, were preparing for their deployment to Jamaica.  The unit departed on May 24, 1991. The purpose was a nation building effort to assist Jamaica in rebuilding the infrastructure of the island which was ravaged by hurricanes in 1988 and 1989. The tiny Caribbean Island was devastated by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, leaving 60,000 homeless.  In 1989 Hurricane Hugo caused further damage.  Together the two hurricanes destroyed hundreds of public buildings.

      1st Lt. Bill Freidel, executive officer, led the second rotation of Company B Soldiers on this mission. Some of the members of this rotation from Company B were First Sgt. Bob Johnston, Staff Sgt. Robert Blue and Spec. Michael Burgeson. The unit members were all involved in construction work, no matter what MOS they held.

     The unit boarded a C-130 military transport at Sioux Falls for the six-hour flight to Jamaica. The troops went to work immediately and put their skills in the masonry, plumbing and the electrical trades to good use.   The nation building effort was made up of two week rotations starting in January of that year and Company B, along with the other rotations, took part in the reconstruction of six medical clinics and 18 schools. The work accomplished was very much appreciated by Jamaican people.

    The unit returned to Madison on June 8, 1991.  The eight hour return flight on a C-130 was a memorable one as they encountered turbulent weather and air sickness affected more than one of the passengers.