Guard welcomed on return to New Orleans

The National Guard has sent 100 soldiers to the city.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Sgt. Alfred Glasper scanned the road as he steered a tan-colored humvee into the heart of New Orleans, looking for signs that the public appreciated the return of the National Guard to their city.
"There you go," he said, pointing to a man waving from the side of the highway. "People down here didn't want us to leave -- they felt very safe."
Only nine months ago, Glasper and many of his fellow Guardsmen rode to the city's rescue in the desperate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. On Tuesday, they were welcomed back to reinforce a depleted police department and battle a surge in violence.
Patrols
The soldiers, carrying M-16s, handguns and belt clips of ammunition, arrived in a convoy of 75 vehicles. They parked their humvees and tanker trucks in formation in front of the Convention Center, drawing waves and thumbs-up from onlookers.
The 100 or so soldiers will patrol the streets in ravaged neighborhoods left deserted by Katrina, freeing up police officers to concentrate on more heavily populated sections.
"We're just trying to give a hand to the city of New Orleans," said Lt. Melvin Edwards, 32, a member of 239th Military Police Company.
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