RELEASED BY: LT. COL. GREG HAPGOOD

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

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS WOUNDED IN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE ATTACK
 

Four Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers serving in Iraq were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (“IED”) attack on October 13 in the Salah Din Province of Iraq, near Samarra. While conducting combat operations at approximately 9 a.m., local Iraq time, insurgents detonated an IED in the immediate vicinity of the Soldiers’ vehicle, injuring the Soldiers. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening.
 

The Soldiers, members of the 833rd Engineer Company, based in Ottumwa, Iowa, were evacuated to a U.S. military hospital near Balad for treatment. Two Soldiers were treated and returned to duty, and two Soldiers were evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Names of the Soldiers and condition reports for the evacuated Soldiers are unavailable at this time per federal law.
 

Approximately 120 Soldiers were mobilized June 10, from the 833rd Engineer Company (formerly known as Company B, 224th Engineer Battalion). After additional training and preparation at their mobilization station at Fort McCoy, Wis., the unit deployed to the Central Command theater of operation.
 

Based in Ottumwa, Iowa, the unit’s mission is to increase the combat effectiveness of United States and coalition forces by removing physical obstacles, identifying and reducing minefields and explosive devices, executing mobility missions, emplacing barriers, constructing protective positions, and performing infantry missions as required. This unit was last deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2004 to December 2005.
 

For questions concerning this 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 email at gregory.hapgood@ia.ngb.army.mil or (515) 252-4582 (office), (515) 971-6385 (cell), or (515) 986-5725 (home. You my also contact Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden at (515) 252-4666 (office), (515) 480-7647 (cell), (515) 251-7335 (home), or by e-mail at duff.mcfadden@ia.ngb.army.mil.

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IOWA NATIONAL GUARD
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