North Dakota National Guard

Uploaded videos

National Guard Marathon Team

Kidney Transplant

In the most simplistic military sense, it's a reallocation of assets. The story of how one N.D. Guardsman's kidney now filters the blood in his battle buddy's body, however, isn't nearly that basic. It spans two Afghanistan deployments, about 17 months of dialysis, worried family members, painful surgeries and an incredible amount of "selfless service."

Sgt. Francisco "Cisco" Raatz didn't have to think long on living up to that Army Value even as his worried mother questioned, "Are you sure you want to donate a kidney?"

Yes, he was sure. "I've got to do this, mom," he told her.

He had seen Spc. John Chase's quality of life diminish as he spent hours connected to a dialysis machine, leaving him tired but trying to do what he could despite restrictions on what he could lift, eat and drink. Through it all, John tried to help others. It was time somebody helped him, Cisco says. Plus, having been adopted, John's closest relatives truly are his "brothers and sisters in arms" in the National Guard Family.

Listen to this story in the participants' own words here, see related photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/sets/72157627786994176/ and read teh story in the November 2011 issue of the North Dakota Guardian, which will be posted here: http://www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil/news/guardian/Pages/default.­aspx

Historical NDNG

Happy Hooligans

Best Warrior Competition

North Dakota National Guard Spc. Ryan Lindberg, with the Jamestown-based 817th Engineer Company (Sapper), competed his way through numerous intense competitions before being named the "Best Warrior" out of all enlisted Soldiers nationwide in the Army National Guard. In October 2011, he competed against the top warriors across the entire Army and performed very well. While at Fort Lee, Va., for the competition, he was won the enlisted combatives tournament.

219th Security Forces Squadron

Training

State Partnership Program - Ghana

Military Youth

Honors and Awards

188th Army Band

Holiday & Spritual

Holiday & Spritual from the North Dakota National Guard