Another Iowa National Guard unit is preparing for duty overseas. Guard officials say the Iowa City-based 109th Medical Battalion is being deployed to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt along the border with Israel. There are 95 Iowa soldiers taking part in what will be at least a one-year mission.
They’ll get a hand from soldiers from several other Iowa Guard units based in: Iowa City, Johnston, Centerville and Washington. They’re assigned to provide command and control to three companies which provide logistical, medical, aviation and explosive ordinance removal support. A send-off ceremony is being planned for next month before the troops head for training in Washington state, then on to Egypt.
For some soldiers in the unit, it’ll be their second trip overseas — the 109th was deployed to Iraq in 2003.