[StBernard] Military Veteran Appointed To Head St. Bernard Storm Recovery

[Westley Annis]

Military Veteran Appointed To Head St. Bernard Storm Recovery

October 15, 2005


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U.S. Marine Corps  Lt. Col. David Dysart tells a story about his first days
working in St. Bernard Parish's relief effort after Hurricane Katrina, in
which he helped an elderly man sift through muck to rescue dentures in a
storm-damaged home. 

Dysart said the unidentified resident thanked him by saying, "You've given
me back my smile.'''  

Now Dysart, 44, a 20-year military veteran, has been given the job of trying
to restore, if not a smile, at least normalcy back in the lives of St.
Bernardians trying to rebuild from Katrina.

Dysart, now a Reservist who first came to the parish as an active duty
Marine, has been appointed director of reconstruction of St. Bernard by
Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez and the Parish Council. He is
expected to be in the parish for at least a 4-month tenure. 

A Kansas City area native, Dysart will be responsible for coordinating
restoration efforts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
Environmental Protection Agency, Homeland Security, the Housing and Urban
Development agency and other federal agencies.

Among other career highlights, he previously directed the rebuilding of
Fallujah in Iraq in 2004 after the town of more than 300,000 was destroyed
in the fight against insurgents. 

His salary, $10,000 a month including benefits, is expected to be reimbursed
to St. Bernard government by FEMA, parish officials said. 

The Council unanimously approved Dysart's hiring, based on his previous
military experience and the work he did in St. Bernard in the weeks
immediately following the flood. 

"We are pleased he has offered his services in the recovery of St.
Bernard,'' Council Chairman Joseph DiFatta said at a news conference
introducing Dysart on Friday, Oct. 14. His experience and enthusiasm for the
task made him the right choice for the job, DiFatta said. Council members
Craig Taffaro Jr., Judy Hoffmeister and Kenny Henderson also took part in
the news conference.

Dysart said he aims to coordinate the best use of assets available to the
parish.

Directing the re-building effort "will be the greatest challenge I've ever
faced,'' Dysart said. 

He said his heart goes out to the people of St. Bernard after seeing the
devastation wrought by the hurricane. And Dysart said he is encouraged by
the spirit of residents he has met, such as the man who was happy to get his
dentures back. 

Dysart also noted there are obvious comparisons between the re-building jobs
required in Fallujah and St. Bernard Parish. 

He said he got "chills up my arm'' when he first saw the damage in St.
Bernard because it so reminded him of Iraq. 

In both situations, Dysart said, the areas were destroyed, there was
flooding forcing residents to evacuate and the infrastructure required
replacement.