Soldiers from Delta Company, 1st Battalion of the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard, receive an outdoor welcoming ceremony at the Quad City International Airport, in Moline, Illinois, April 9, 2021, after returning home from deployment in Qatar.
Nicknamed the “Ironman Battalion” labeled after the division was noted to have the most combat days in the European theater during World War II, 1st Battalion deployed 550 Soldiers to several countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar for missions supporting security and force protection.
Greeted by the Moline Fire Department, the 1st Battalion was also met by family members, standing outside due to COVID-19 mitigation measures, after their plane landed on the runway. The guest speaker for the ceremony was Col. Timothy J. Sulzner of First Army, G-3, who has a son in the unit,
“This welcome home ceremony, although it be small, it’s outstanding, and it’s well deserving of what you guys have done. So welcome home, welcome home Ironmen for a job well done.”
Col. Sulzner also spoke about the prestigious history of the division, known as the “red bulls”, and personally thanked the Soldiers for their duty and sacrifice, “You guys now set a new chapter in history for the red bulls.” After being dismissed, the Soldiers were met by their families outside.
Date Taken: | 04.09.2021 |
Date Posted: | 06.01.2021 09:48 |
Story ID: | 393862 |
Location: | MOLINE, ILLINOIS, US |
Web Views: | 122 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Iowa National Guard Unit Returns Home, by SGT Tyler Morford, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.