RELEASED BY:Lt Col. Greg Hapgood

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
OFFICE:   (515) 252-4582
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RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

JOHNSTON, IOWA…
 

IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD UNIT HONORED WITH FOUR NATIONAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Following a year-long deployment, which saw its Soldiers engaged in intensive combat operations in insurgent stronghold areas of the Al Anbar province and Ar Ramadi, Iraq, the Iowa Army National Guard’s 224th Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Mechanized) has been recognized by the U.S. Army for excellence with four national awards.
 

The battalion, with armories located in Burlington, Fairfield, Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant and Ottumwa, was recently awarded the following accolades:
 

Company A, 224th Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Mechanized), of Burlington, Iowa, earned the Gen. Emerson C. Itschner award;

2nd Lt. Nicholas P. Jones from Company B, was recognized with the Outstanding Engineer Platoon Leader award in the Army National Guard category;
 

Sgt. 1st Class David R. Zulaica, Company A, was recognized as the Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer in the Engineer Regiment, receiving the Sturgis Medal in the Army National Guard category; and
 

Capt. Doug Houston of Company C, was named the Gen. Douglas MacArthur award recipient for outstanding company grade leadership.

Itschner Award

Company A received the prestigious Itschner Award at the Regimental Engineer Ball at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. in late May.The Itschner award, named in honor of Lt. Gen. Emerson C. Itschner, the 39th Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is presented annually to the most outstanding active duty, Reserve and National Guard Engineer units in the Army. It was first awarded in 1960.
 

“This award is a tribute to all of the soldiers within the company,” said 33-year old Capt. Jason Wisehart, of Cedar Rapids, Company A commander. “All of their hard work and bravery won this award. It’s just a great accomplishment for our soldiers.
 

“I think it’s due to the combination of training and preparation we completed in order to deploy. It took the hard work and dedication of each individual Soldier involved within Alpha Company (Company A),” he added.
 

The unit was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, from January 2005 to December 2005. The unit previously deployed to Germany as part of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1991.
 

During their Iraq deployment, Company A established tactics, techniques and procedures in urban route clearance operations while under fire, integrating both Navy and Marine Corps Explosives Ordnance Disposal Teams and Air Force Joint Tactical Air Command liaisons. Their efforts were instrumental in the substantial reduction of Improvised Explosive Devices and for providing greater security to coalition forces and the Iraqi people.
 

In addition, the company performed mobility support directly to Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen in Multi-National Forces West, with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team 2nd Infantry Division, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team 28th Infantry Division, Regimental Combat Team 1, Regimental Combat Team 2, Regimental Combat Team 7, Regimental Combat Team 8, and to more than 20 battalions within these organizations.

While engaged in intensive combat operations in the insurgent stronghold areas of the Al Anbar province and Ar Ramadi, Company A lost three Soldiers at the hands of insurgents and earned 17 Purple Hearts for Soldiers wounded in action, more than half of the total Purple Hearts earned by the entire Battalion.
 

In order to be eligible for the Itschner Award, a unit must win at every level, such as battalion, brigade and major command, in order to advance to the Army level. At the Army level, the Engineer branch evaluates the nomination packets and selects a winner.

Outstanding Engineer Platoon Leader award

2nd Lt. Nicholas P. Jones from Company B, 224th Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Mechanized), was recently recognized with the Outstanding Engineer Platoon Leader award in the Army National Guard category.
 

Presented by the Army Engineer Association (“AEA”), the “Grizzly” statue is presented annually to the Outstanding Engineer Platoon Leader.
 

Jones, 25, a health and safety coordinator in Altoona, is the first Iowa Army National Guard Engineer to receive this award.
 

“It was a pretty neat deal to get it,” said Jones, “and to be recognized from among all the Engineer platoons in the National Guard. It was a really great honor.”
 

Jones said he and his team left Iraq a better place than when they got there. All in all, he said, it was all about the team.

“I try to work with my guys, rather than trying to make them work for me. I feel we accomplish a lot more that way. It’s a team approach.”
 

While all the platoon leaders did an excellent job, then-unit commander, Capt. Douglas Post said Jones and his troops actually did both missions well – the convoy escort team mission and then the route clearance mission.
 

“He was the one person in our whole battalion that got hit with the most IEDs (“Improvised Explosive Devices”), at least 26 to 29 IEDs. He didn’t have a single fatality, just a couple of minor injuries. There were other platoons doing that mission who had a couple of fatalities and lot of wounded. At that time in history, the city of Ar Ramadi was the worst city in the world and he was getting through it.
 

“He had a good attitude and was always willing to do anything to get the mission done. His troops really respected him and that was a bonus while we were over there. He was one of those who got along well with his troops and his troops would do anything for him.”
 

The AEA is a non-profit organization which supports the Army Corps of Engineers total family of soldiers and civilians, with programs and services not available elsewhere.

Sturgis Medal

For Sgt. 1st Class David Zulaica, a platoon sergeant with the Burlington-based unit, the award was a total surprise.
 

“I was really shocked that I was nominated, let alone winning it,” said Zulaica, 35, a West Liberty native who now resides in Johnston. “It’s a pretty awesome award.”
 

However, according to Capt. Jason Wisehart, his company commander, Zulaica ably proved himself throughout the unit’s recent Iraq deployment.
 

“Sgt. 1st Class Zulaica performed as the Officer in Charge (OIC) and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) for the movement of all equipment and personnel from Forward Operating Base Duke to Camp Ar Ramadi one day after his platoon leader was killed by an improvised explosive device,” said Wisehart.
 

“Zulaica was the NCOIC for the internal security of Operation Terrapin III, a mission in which over 80 Unexploded Ordinances were recovered and two IEDs disabled,” he said. “Zulaica was also NCOIC during Operation Tar-Heels I-III a route clearance operation that reduced improvised explosive device attacks in the city of Ar Ramadi on coalition forces from 73 percent to 47 percent.”
 

He also cited Zulaica’s ability to care for his troops.
 

“While conducting route clearance operation in Ar Ramadi, a soldier from Zulaica's platoon was killed in action by sniper fire,” Wisehart said. “Zulaica effectively conducted a cordon and search operation, in addition to evacuating the casualty. Zulaica's actions were instrumental in securing his platoon's position in the kill zone and continuing their mission.
 

This was a lot of responsibility for someone suddenly thrust into a higher leadership position.
 

“We lost our platoon leader within our first month in-country, so I then had to serve as both platoon leader and sergeant. I was busy in IED reduction, route clearance, and being dad for 31 guys.
 

“Three of the four Soldiers we lost in Iraq, were out of my platoon. Getting the rest of my guys back safe and sound was what made it all worthwhile,” said Zulaica.
 

Zulaica works with mobilization readiness in the Joint Forces Headquarters, at Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa.
 

Company A, 224th Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Mechanized), was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, from January 2005 to Dec. 2005. The unit previously deployed to Germany as part of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1991.
 

The Burlington unit lost three Soldiers at the hands of insurgents and sustained more than 17 purple hearts, more than half of the total Purple Hearts earned by the Battalion, while engaged in combat operations in the hotly-contested area of the Al Anbar Province and Ar Ramadi.
 

The Sturgis Medal, named in honor of Lt. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, Jr., a former Chief of Engineers, is presented annually by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) to an active enlisted Soldier in recognition of outstanding contributions to military engineering by demonstrated technical and leadership ability. It was first awarded in 1955.

MacArthur Award

Capt. Doug Houston, commander, Company C, 224th Combat Engineer Battalion, was named the Gen. Douglas MacArthur award recipient for outstanding company grade leadership.
 

A full-time technician with the Iowa Army National Guard, he serves as the 67th Troop Command’s Logistics Officer in Iowa City, Iowa. Houston, 37, a Fort Dodge native who now lives in Watkins, wasn’t aware of the Gen. Douglas MacArthur award until Lt. Col. Todd Jacobus, his battalion commander and a former MacArthur winner, discussed it with him.
 

“I didn’t even know about the award until my battalion commander talked to me. I didn’t really understand the significance of it, the big picture. It’s gone to different people out there and what they’ve done to receive the attention from their command to get the award. It’s pretty select company, so I’m fortunate to be nominated and selected.”
 

In submitting the award packet, Jacobus noted how Houston led his Engineer company through a dangerous, yet exciting and rewarding deployment.
 

“His Route Clearance teams were tasked with clearing IEDs for Marine and Infantry forces in the 2nd Marine Division battlespace in Western Iraq. His company excelled in this task, finding approximately 222 IEDs. In addition, his Sappers and Engineer Equipment operators executed a dozen enemy weapons cache sweeps, locating over 20,000 rounds of ordnance. These finds deny the insurgents in Iraq a valuable source of IED-making material to attack Coalition Forces.”
 

He also pointed out how Houston would look at each event or mission and determine where he could positively impact the most and then focus his efforts at that time and place.
 

“During the deployment, Capt. Houston felt individuals and organizations supporting his company and Family Support Group should receive special thanks. He designed a Certificate of Appreciation to be presented with an American Flag flown in Iraq honoring over 20 individuals and organizations who provided their support. Capt. Houston continues to strive for balance during his deployment by maintaining open communication with his family, friends, church and community members.
 

“Upon his return, Capt. Houston conducted several presentations of his experiences in Iraq to school and community groups, helping to share the unit’s positive story,” Jacobus wrote.
 

To say that Houston is “generous” with his time and energy would be an understatement.
 

He said he doesn’t mind sharing his time with people, or doing that extra piece of work for someone. In giving your time to help, it’ll come around. People will pay it back, and if not, that’s okay too, he said.
 

“All actions have their consequences. You pay it forward. By being generous, the things you’re doing now are an investment in your future with friends, family and community.
 

“By spending that time and energy, and you’re doing it for a worthwhile or good end, the reward will come around. You don’t look for it, but it’ll come. People will pay you back, people are willing to come around, because you have deserved it or someone wants to help.”
 

Among the organizations receiving his assistance are the Johnston Country Combined Federal Campaign, American Legion and Linn County Safe Kids Coalition.
 

Even while in Iraq, Houston found ways to help benefit the lives of others.
 

In al Anbar province, a predominantly Sunni area, the unit established a community service project in a not exactly “permissive” environment. After contacting friends, family, and the family support group, the unit accumulated 1,450 backpacks to provide kids in the community of Zangora.
 

“When the backpacks finally got there, we asked for volunteers to get out of camp and interact with the local people,” Houston said. “Civil affairs helped us pick the spot, and we passed out the backpacks. It was pretty neat to interact with the kids, parents and teachers, and we even met the local sheik.
 

“It had to make their day and week,” he said. “There were lots of smiles. Some things are just universal, like happy, smiling kids.”
 

Volunteerism, Houston said, is something everyone should be doing.
 

“It’s all about volunteering, serving your country, being active in your community and helping out where you can. I never go into it looking for any recognition or anything. I simply feel it’s the right thing to do. I encourage other people to do it, since you can help a lot through volunteering.
 

“If the people you help truly show thankfulness and then other people volunteer because it makes them feel good, that’s reward enough for them.”
 

For questions concerning this news release as well as additional information about the operations, training, and activities of the Iowa Army and Air National Guard, please contact Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Officer by e-mail at gregory.hapgood@ia.ngb.army.mil or (515) 252-4582 (office), (515) 971-6385 (cell), (515) 986-5725 (home), or Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden at duff.mcfadden@ia.ngb.army.mil or (515) 252-4666.

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