Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré has stepped up and began to provide the first real leadership in the efforts to rescue stranded New Orleans. 

He commands the First Army, and coindentially is from southern Louisiana. 

An example:

The general came to rescue of one young mother trying to carry her twin babies down the street in the terrible heat and humidity of New Orleans, Starr reported. The mother was so exhausted the children were almost falling out of her arms.

The general went up to the woman and took both of her babies, handing them off to soldiers to carry, as he promised the mother that they were going to get her some help. The troops helped the three hurricane victims to a Coast Guard ship, where they were treated for exhaustion and dehydration.

His cell-phone interview on CNN was stirring, with the General calmly explaining the steps being taken and absentmindedly punctuating his answers with a simple "over" as if he was transmitting orders to subordinates.   

The general wows them wherever he goes, says his deputy commander Maj. Gen. John A. Yingling:

"He’s like a rock star — ‘Mick Jagger’ Honoré."

Here he is demonstrating his "hobby"--tomahawk throwing:

He's as good at getting the job done as he is at throwing those tomahawks.  The results are showing already--

There were quick successes. Minutes after the military convoy halted near the convention center, Guard members were hiking up the ramp to where thousands were waiting — some cheering, some cursing. The soldiers set up mess lines for food and water, ladling out pork rib lunches and bottled water to the famished refugees.

Said New Orleans Mayor Nagin, previously critical of the slow response of the federal government:

That's one John Wayne dude down here that can get some stuff done.  He came off the doggone chopper and he started cussing and people started moving.

Not a second too soon.