National Guard members being sent overseas

An infantry battalion from the Iowa Army National Guard is heading to Southwest Asia next week. Guard spokesman, Colonel Robert King, says approximately 100 guard members will provide security in support of patrols over the “no-fly” zones of Iraq.The guard members are from the 133rd Infantry Battalion stationed in Dubuque. The 133rd includes soldiers from Waterloo, Charles City, Oelwein, Hampton and Iowa Falls. King says this is the first time this unit has been activated by the federal government to go overseas.Colonel King says the soldiers are preparing to be gone for four or five months.The Iowa unit leaves Saturday, September 23rd and they’ll be gone until February..