Gov. Kristi Noem to send 125 more South Dakota National Guard members to US-Mexico border
National Guard $1 million donor: I didn’t know it would build into a bonfire’
The news comes about a week after Noem announced she would be sending up to 50 soldiers to the southern border for 30 to 60 days, paid for by a $1 million “private donation” from a Tennessee billionaire.
Noem’s administration informed state legislative leaders privately that the foundation of Willis and Reba Johnson has pledged and followed through with payment of $1 million in support for the mission to the U.S.-Mexico border. Willis and Reba Johnson are well-known donors to Republican political campaigns, including former President Donald Trump.
Gov. Kristi Noem to deploy South Dakota National Guard troops to Texas borderTennessee couple paying $1 million to send South Dakota National Guard troops to border
The soldiers, who will be deployed anywhere from nine months to a year and on federal pay status, are members of the South Dakota National Guard’s 1742nd Transportation Company stationed in Sioux Falls and Flandreau, the release states.
Joe Sneve and Jonathan Ellis contributed reporting.