HVNAWelcome to the Village
HVNA
Presenter: Lt. Col. Mike LARKIN, USAF Retired
Algiers played a critical role during the American Civil War that is largely forgotten. This talk will center on the camps, people and significant events that took place or emanated from Algiers during the Civil War. These events include the “Fox Incident” when a Confederate blockade runner was intercepted by Union troops stationed in Algiers because the Rebels had forgotten to take down the telegraph lines to the Union troop’s headquarters.
There is also the investment of the intact Opelousas Rail Road by the Federals, giving them access to an open railway line and all its rolling stock. Just after taking over the city, Union Commander Gen. BUTLER sent one of his Colonels and a company of Indiana troops on a train ride through Confederate-held territory, all the way from Algiers to BRASHEAR City, later named Morgan City, and back again without being challenged by even one Rebel soldier.
LARKIN will also discuss the Belleville Foundry, its importance to the Union efforts to subdue Southeast Louisiana; its use as a Camp of Distribution; and more importantly, its significance as a source of ammunition for young Algiers Point boys armed with slingshots, in the 1930s.
Lt. Col. Mike LARKIN, USAF Retired, was born in the Irish Channel, but raised in Metairie. He attended RUMMEL High School; earned a BA in History from UNO; and a Masters in Management from Troy State, in Alabama.
He joined the Navy during the final months of the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged from the Navy and graduating from college, LARKIN worked in the offshore oil business as a completions engineer, conducting surveys and setting off explosives in oil wells.
He rejoined the military, this time in the U. S. Air Force (USAF), where he became a full time reservist working on the armament systems of the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jet. He received his Commission in 1990 as a munitions officer, just in time to be deployed to Saudi Arabia, for Operation Desert Storm.
LARKIN then transferred to USAF Security Forces and became commander of a number of Security Forces Squadrons, where he made deployments to Korea, Germany, Egypt, Qatar and Britain.
In 2004, he deployed to Iraq and was the Defense Force Commander at the American Airbase at Kirkuk. He retired from the USAF, in 2005, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
After LARKIN’s notable military career he went to work for FEMA following Hurricane Katrina where he acted as Emergency Management and Safety Officer for all FEMA operations in Louisiana. Then he taught Emergency Management to police, fire and EMTs at Tulane University for nine semesters.
Afterwards, he began writing about New Orleans and the American Civil War, which he hopes to get into print, late this summer.
Married to Paula, his wife of more than 54 years, they reside with their two rescue dogs, in Old Metairie.
Location: Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Dr. in Algiers. Large, first floor meeting room. Library phone: 504-596-2641.
AHS meetings at the library are free and open to the public and media. Also, they are not affiliated with or endorsed by the New Orleans Public Library.