RELEASED BY:Lt Col. Greg Hapgood

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
OFFICE:   (515) 252-4582
CELL:       (515) 971-6385
HOME:     (515) 986-5725

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

JOHNSTON, IOWA…
 

VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY VISITS CAMP DODGE

In an historic event for members of the Iowa National Guard, Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney spoke at a rally today for Iowa National Guard Soldiers and Airmen at the National Maintenance Training Center, Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa.

Cheney addressed more than 1,500 members of the Iowa National Guard and their families, community leaders, and selected employers as part of a series of speaking engagements throughout Iowa. He also acknowledged approximately 20 Soldiers from the Joint Forces Headquarters, who returned home this morning following demobilization from federal active duty. Those Soldiers operated as an Embedded Training Team (“ETT”) in Afghanistan for the past year, providing advanced combat training to Soldiers of the Afghan National Army.

While former President William Howard Taft toured Camp Dodge during World War I and Ronald Reagan used to swim in the Camp Dodge pool when he worked as a radio announcer in Des Moines during the 1930s, no sitting U.S. President or Vice President has ever visited the Johnston, Iowa, facility in it’s nearly 100-year history.Following Cheney’s remarks, Cheney and Governor Tom Vilsack shook hands with the returning Soldiers and their families.

Before the ceremony, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, recognized the Dial Corporation and Communication Data Services as the top employers for the Iowa National Guard. In addition, he recognized Company A, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Family Readiness Group (“Keepers of the Flame”) as the recipients of the top National Guard Bureau award for Family Readiness Groups.

The Governor used the opportunity to thank the members of the Guard and their families for their support during recent operations.

“There are many challenges, both home and abroad, confronting our nation.” Vilsack said. “These men and women make me proud and should make us all proud for the service they provide to our state and our country each day. I have been privileged as Governor to serve as Commander-in-Chief of Iowa’s National Guard and to have the opportunity to work with so many brave and dedicated individuals.”

Those challenges, faced on a daily basis by the approximately 9,700 men and women of the Iowa National Guard, were also recognized by Cheney.

“Each one of you follows in a long tradition of service. And you carry unique responsibilities as members of the National Guard. You serve in a time of urgent duties for this country, a period of history that has brought many alerts, mobilizations, call-ups, and deployments. And like generations that came before, you've more than met the challenge. Guardsmen and women lead busy lives and careers on your own, but you've made the commitment to be ready when your fellow citizens need you. The National Guard is ‘Always Ready, Always There’ for Iowa, and for America-- and that's a legacy to be proud of.

“I also want to note that the Guard has recruited and retained outstanding personnel from throughout the state,” Cheney said. “It comes as no surprise that the Iowa Army National Guard is a leader in strength readiness…Part of the reason for the Guard's great strength is the network of support that exists all across Iowa. That network includes employers, large and small, who provide everything from time off, to health benefits, to job security for workers who get called up for Guard or Reserve assignments. Thanks to the understanding and generosity of these employers, many men and women are able to answer the call and focus on their duties. So these patriotic employers deserve the gratitude of us all.

“The support network also includes civic groups and community leaders -- and, above all, families. Service in uniform is very often a family commitment, with many sacrifices that are shared by wives, husbands and children,” said Cheney.

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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IOWA NATIONAL GUARD
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