Heroes of the Gulf

The sandbagging operation, started on May 13, repaired gaps in the barrier island caused by coastal erosion by dropping large sandbags, ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds each, from helicopters and should mitigate the approaching oil. The Louisiana Guard also completed the construction of an almost six-mile long Tiger Dam shoreline protection system near Venice, La., in the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River Delta.