On August 29th 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.
The former Naval Reserve Center on Lake Pontchatrain was home to a Vietnam era Navy "PBR" River Patrol Boat which was on display in front of the center for years. This is the same type boat used in the movie "Apocalypse Now".
Katrina's storm surge and winds ripped the PBR from it's in-ground moorings and washed it over a six foot chain link fence and deposited it against the floodwall a quarter mile from the center.
The boat was badly damaged and it was obvious that unless something was done to save the boat it would be destroyed and hauled off in trash trucks along with all the other storm debris along the lakefront.
After numerous discussions with local Navy representatives it was discovered that the boat actually was the property of the Orleans Levee District. We spent several months in discussion with the OLD hoping they would be able to donate the boat to us. They ultimately decided that since the boat was listed as an asset, they would include it in an upcoming auction of surplus OLD vehicles and other equipment.
We have obtained the PBR and are now in the process of restoring it to display condition to be placed in a military park or other suitable location in the metro New Orleans area.
A non-profit is being established to facilitate the restoration and we are now accepting corporate and individual donations.
Stan Benoit is heading up this project and can be reached as follows:
e-mail: benoit@bww.com or Phone: 1-866-617-0581
Katrina's storm surge and winds ripped the PBR from it's in-ground moorings and washed it over a six foot chain link fence and deposited it against the floodwall a quarter mile from the center.
The boat was badly damaged and it was obvious that unless something was done to save the boat it would be destroyed and hauled off in trash trucks along with all the other storm debris along the lakefront.
After numerous discussions with local Navy representatives it was discovered that the boat actually was the property of the Orleans Levee District. We spent several months in discussion with the OLD hoping they would be able to donate the boat to us. They ultimately decided that since the boat was listed as an asset, they would include it in an upcoming auction of surplus OLD vehicles and other equipment.
We have obtained the PBR and are now in the process of restoring it to display condition to be placed in a military park or other suitable location in the metro New Orleans area.
A non-profit is being established to facilitate the restoration and we are now accepting corporate and individual donations.
Stan Benoit is heading up this project and can be reached as follows:
e-mail: benoit@bww.com or Phone: 1-866-617-0581
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