Guard's 224th out of Iraq, starting long trip home

By WILLIAM PETROSKI
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Copyright 2005, Des Moines Register and Tribune Co.

December 6, 2005


About 500 soldiers from the Iowa Army National Guard's 224th Engineer Battalion have arrived in Kuwait, completing a year-long tour of duty in Iraq, said Lt. Col. Gregory Hapgood, the Guard's public affairs officer.

The final group of soldiers from the unit arrived in Kuwait today. The battalion has its headquarters in Fairfield with companies in Burlington, Ottumwa and Mount Pleasant and a detachment in Keokuk.

The 224th is one of the largest units of Iowa Guard or Reserve soldiers that has served in Iraq.

The soldiers are expected to be flown from the Persian Gulf region to Fort Sill, Okla., later this week, depending upon the availability of aircraft flights, Hapgood said.

The troops will still need to undergo processing in Oklahoma to be released from active duty and will likely return to Iowa next week for homecoming ceremonies, he said.

Four soldiers from the 224th were killed in action and others were seriously wounded as the battalion performed route-clearing missions and convoy escort duties in the Sunni Triangle, one of the most dangerous areas of Iraq.


Welcome home! good to have all of them coming home.