National Guard Troops Deal with Heat on the Border

Alex Cabrero reportingA few Utah National Guard troops have been dealing with 100-plus degree heat along the Mexican Border.

They were in those long sleeved, dark green camouflage clothes, working hard, and doing fine.

Shad Loveland: "It's not all that hot. 110 degrees."

110 degrees, and Sgt. Shad Loveland acts like it's Alaska.

Shad Loveland: "I've been hotter."

Many of the same Utah National Guard soldiers were in Iraq last year, where things really get hot. But still, 100-plus degrees along the Mexican border, without any shade, doing hard-manual labor...

Sgt. Nathan Southam, Utah National Guard: "It's hot. Ha ha ha!"

Sgt. Nathan Southam is in charge of welding the fence, meaning he has to wear a leather top and a welding helmet.

Sgt. Nathan Southam, Utah National Guard: "Gets hot. I don't know how to describe it. It's intense with the hood down and everything. You just start sweating a lot."

Many of those soldiers wear those Camelback backpacks, which keeps water just a tube away.

Sgt. Nathan Southam, Utah National Guard: "Definitely gotta keep hydrated."

But even the sand gets hot , the tools you're working with get hot, and wearing long sleeve clothing can't help all that much.

Derrick Frame, Utah National Guard: "I think it was like 115. My opinion is past 100, it's hot, and it all feels the same. Ha!"

Fortunately for these soldiers, this is only a 2-week mission. That means Southam can get back to Vernal very soon.

Sgt. Nathan Southam, Utah National Guard: "I miss the 70 degrees. That's what I think about all day long."

And Derrick Frame can get back to seeing mountain snow in the Salt Lake Valley.

Derrick Frame, Utah National Guard: "I like seeing the mountains on both sides of you. You feel comfortable."

Those soldiers are expected to be back home this Saturday, where hopefully, it'll be a little cooler for them.

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