The Louisiana National Guard welcomes new senior enlisted advisor

The Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. Sandel Jr. of Ball, La., as its new senior enlisted advisor during an official Change of Responsibility ceremony on the parade field at Camp Beauregard, Pineville, La., Nov. 15, 2014. (Photo by Spc. Noshoba Davis)

By Sgt. Greg Stevens and Spc. Noshoba Davis, 256^th IBCT Public Affairs Representatives

CAMP BEAUREGARD, La. – The Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. Sandel, Jr., as its new senior enlisted advisor during an official Change of Responsibility ceremony on the parade field at Camp Beauregard, Pineville, La., Nov. 15.
The Change of Responsibility is an event rich in symbolism and heritage. The ceremony focuses on the changing of positions between the outgoing and incoming sergeants major by the transferring of colors.
Sandel, of Ball, La., replaced Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis J. Sapp of Pineville, who has been promoted to the Command Sergeant Major of the Louisiana Army National Guard.
Sapp said he believes Sandel will focus a lot of attention where missions are carried out – at the squad leader level.
“He has the energy, a plethora of knowledge related to what’s going on, and I know he’s going to go out and make things happen,” said Sapp.
A graduate of Deridder High School in Deridder, La., Sandel enlisted into the LANG in 1990 as a Bradley fighting vehicle infantryman. His career took him through the ranks in the 256th that included a deployment to Fort Hood, Texas, in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1990 with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, as well both 256th deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and again in 2010 as the command sergeant major of the 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
“We are going to lead by example, lead from the front. We’ll make sure they are a ready trained force that is able to respond to a state mission at 100 percent capacity. The family members and the Soldiers of the 256 are what drives everything that we do,” said Sandel.
During the ceremony, Col. Keith K. Waddell, 256th IBCT commander, passed the organizational colors from the outgoing command sergeant major to the incoming command sergeant major, signifying the transfer of leadership over the unit.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Sapp is going to have the opportunity to move on up to the state level and do great things. Sandel has all the things you need to be successful. His leadership ability, selfless service and work ethic is of the highest order. He is one of the elite sergeants major in the state of Louisiana,” said Waddell.
Concluding his first address to his newly acquired Soldiers and leaders, Sandel said, “Strap up your bootlaces because here I come.”
Sandel is married to the former Larissa Jackson of Deridder, La., and together they have five children: Mercedez, Taylor, Collin, Demi and Marty, and three grandchildren: Greyson, Grady and Grahm.

LSU men’s basketball gains victory over undefeated West Virginia

Article by Matt Dunaway Graphic By Louisiana State University.
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Josh Gray used a screen from Jordan Mickey at the top of the key and drove the lane for the game-winning layup with 7.4 seconds remaining to vault the LSU men’s basketball team to a 74-73 comeback  victory over undefeated and No. 16 West Virginia Thursday at WVU Coliseum.
LSU (6-2) survived an 18-1 run by the Mountaineers that bookended the close of the first half and the start of the second half. The comeback gave the Tigers their first road win over a ranked opponent since LSU defeated then No. 13 West Virginia 71-68 in overtime on Nov. 26, 2005.
West Virginia’s Juwan Staten, the preseason Big XII Player of the Year, misfired on a 16-foot jumper on the left elbow. After a missed tip-in attempt, LSU’s Jalyn Patterson raced out with the ball and dribbled out the remaining time on the clock. 

The Tigers were sparked by Tim Quarterman, who racked up a career-high 21 points on 8-of-14 from the floor. He also hauled in seven rebounds coupled with two blocks and two steals. With Quarterman on the floor, LSU outscored the Mountaineers by a plus 20-margin.
Jarell Martin grinded out 18 points and 14 rebounds over his 39 minutes of action before he fouled out. Keith Hornsby chipped in a season’s best 15 points and five rebounds. His fellow backcourt mate, Gray, secured a balanced seven points, seven assists and two steals.
Trailing 52-38 at the 18:07 mark of the second half, Gray kickstarted the LSU rally with a three-ball on the left baseline. The Tigers would put together an 18-4 flurry sparked by seven Quarterman points over the next 8:17 off the clock. Hornsby rattled home a triple from the right wing to knot the score at 56-56 with 9:03 remaining.
The Mountaineers regrouped to regain a 68-62 edge with 3:41 to go. Once again, LSU would dig deep. Quarterman buried a three-pointer from the right wing followed by a Mickey drive in off the spin move and finger roll layup to make it 68-67 with 2:30 left.
Down 71-67 at the 1:32 mark, Martin got a putback layup to draw the Tigers back within one possession. Then, Hornsby knocked down a trifecta on the right wing to give LSU a 72-71 with 30.4 seconds to go.
Six seconds later, West Virginia connected on two free throws to go back ahead by one point to set the stage for Gray’s game-winner.
LSU led for a majority of the first half and led by six points on multiple occassions. The Tigers relied heavily on Martin and Quarterman who combined for 24 points after Mickey was saddled with a pair of fouls two minutes into the contest. Martin nearly tallied a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.  
Staten picked up 11 of his team-leading 17 points for West Virginia during the first half. The Mountaineers also received 13 points from Daxter Miles Jr. and 12 points from Tarik Phillip, respectively.
West Virginia held the Tigers without a field over the last 2:34 and scored eight of the last nine points to take a 43-38 advantage into halftime.
Following LSU’s final exam break, the Tigers will return to the hardwood against Sam Houston State on Saturday, December 13. Tip time is slated for 6 p.m. from the Maravich Center, and the game will be televised nationally by the SEC Network.
The LSU Sports Radio Network also will broadcast the game on Eagle 98.1 FM in the Baton Rouge area and inside the Geaux Zone at LSUsports.net/live. Jim Hawthorne, Ricky Blanton and Kevin Ford will call the action.

Cavorting in a wake and staying shipshape

Article posted by Louisiana Gazette. Photo by Amanda Nalley
New Orleans-Even though these dolphins look like they are close to the very large ship, they frequently ‘bow-ride’ or ‘surf’ the bow wakes of vessels both large and small. Scientists say they may be using the propulsion to get where they are going faster. Dolphins show a high degree of intelligence and have a wide range of vocalizations. They often hunt together and will even take care of an injured pod-member. Scientists say two males of the same age often form a lifelong bond and will spend the majority of their time together, helping each other to find food and mates? Inshore dolphins live in small social groups of around 10 individuals; while offshore dolphins form larger groups of 10-100. Wildlife Experts say, "When on the water, please try to observe them from a distance of at least 50 yards."