No Ordinary Heroes:. Demaree Inglese
NO ORDINARY HEROES
8 Doctors, 30 Nurses, 7,000 Prisoners, and a Category 5 Hurricane
Demaree Inglese, M.D.
with Diana G. Gallagher
CITADEL PRESS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
To my mother and father, who gave me
unconditional love and taught me that anything
was possible if I worked hard enough.
—DI
With love and gratitude to family and friends
who have helped me realize my writing ambitions.
—DGG
Acknowledgments
This is a true story. I interviewed many people to gather the information necessary to construct an accurate timeline and reliably re-create dialogue, especially in situations where I myself was not present. I would like to express my gratitude to the many medical personnel who submitted to endless hours of questioning: Cheryl Blake, Kentrisha Davis, Yolanda Dent, Marcus Dileo, Carol Evans, Hedy Hartzog, Lakesha Favis, Lillian Ford, Gary French, Robert Gates, Samuel Gore, Michael Higgins, Pebles Jones, Scarlatt Maness, Chuck Perotto, Daphne Powell, Jan Ricca, Brady Richard, Denise Sarro, Paul Thomas, Duane Townzel, and Victor Tuckler. I am also indebted to the security personnel from the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office who assisted me: Jim Beach, Gary Bordelon, Robert Brown, William Devlin, Mary Goodwin, Gerald Hammack, Sidney Holt, William Hunter, Chuck Jones, Mary Baldwin Kennedy, John Lacour, Matthew Mills, and John Phillips.
I would like to thank the individuals who furnished photographs for the book: Jim Beach, William Devlin, Samuel Gore, Michael Higgins, John Netto, Jan Ricca, David Skeins, Pam Laborde and Charles Warren from the Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, and Patrick Garin Photographer. Also, Jarred Zeringue provided the excellent maps that appear in the book.
While I cannot possibly thank all of the incredible security personnel who fought to keep inmates, staff, and civilians safe during our ordeal, I would like to express my appreciation to the Correctional Center deputies I worked with personally. We owe these brave men and women a great deal, possibly our lives: Danny Boersma, James Brunet, Shandreka Cobbins, Chris Dietz, Patricia Ross, Richard Skyles, Allen Verret, and Lance Wade. I would also like to express my appreciation to Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. and Louisiana Secretary of Corrections Richard L. Stalder for their assistance in evacuating everyone from the jail.
I want to acknowledge my friends Tony Guidry and Jerremy Brum, who took Sam Gore and me in after our departure from Houma. Later, they supported me with friendship and a place to bunk when I first returned to Louisiana. I also want to thank Sheriff R. Jack Strain, Jr., for providing me with food and lodging for weeks after the storm.
I will forever be indebted to Jerry Purcell, who opened his home to me for many months while my own house was being renovated. In addition, his technical support was invaluable to me as this project developed.
I would like to thank Joan Tapper, who assisted with shaping and sharpening the narrative, my agent, Tim Wager, who supported this project from its inception, and my editor, Michaela Hamilton, who helped guide this book to publication.
I must mention my longtime friend, Betsey Wilcox, without whom this book would not have been possible. Betsey introduced me to my coauthor, Diana G. Gallagher, and provided encouragement as we struggled to tell this story.
Finally, Diana Gallagher and I were truly equal partners in the writing of this book. Her ideas and experience were essential, and it was both a privilege and a pleasure to work with her.
Contents
Prologue: Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Sunday, August 28, 2005The First Day
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Monday, August 29, 2005The Second Day
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Tuesday, August 30, 2005The Third Day
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Wednesday, August 31, 2005The Fourth Day
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Thursday, September 1, 2005The Fifth Day
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Friday, September 2, 2005The Final Day
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Epilogue