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American Military News
16 hours ago
- General
- American Military News
Families send off Iowa National Guard soldiers in Iowa City for yearlong deployment
During his yearlong deployment with the Iowa National Guard, Jason Vogel will miss the birth of his first biological child. But in the sacrifice, he also is achieving a lifelong goal of serving his country overseas. Vogel reenlisted after more than a decade in the National Guard for the opportunity to deploy and 'support our country one last time before I hang up my boots,' he said. The Iowa National Guard is holding 24 community-based send-off ceremonies Wednesday through Friday this week in honor of about 1,800 Iowa soldiers deploying to the Middle East. Vogel, of Ames, is one of 103 troops in the 133rd Infantry, B Company, sent off Wednesday from the Melrose Readiness Center in Iowa City. The soldiers will support Operation Inherent Resolve, a military operation to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The soldiers will contribute to the operation by joining coalition forces to provide security, support partner nations and assist efforts to maintain stability in the region, according to the Iowa National Guard. Another send-off ceremony will be held in Cedar Rapids at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Cedar Rapids Armory for nine soldiers. An additional 105 soldiers will be sent off during a ceremony at 5 p.m. Friday at the Armory in Cedar Rapids. B Company began their journey to Louisiana Wednesday evening where they will receive training for about a month before continuing to the countries of Kuwait, Iraq or Syria, Capt. Brandon Donoho said. Donoho said the send-off ceremony is 'a first step on a path that leads us home.' The families of the soldiers have 'our eternal gratitude,' he said. 'We're going to protect the force, we're going to complete the mission, and we're going to come home … We have trained for this, and we are ready. We have a proud legacy to continue, and I know we will not fail,' Donohue said. Retired Sgt. Leo Pins — who deployed four times when he was in the service — urged the soldiers to write letters home. 'They will keep that with them forever,' he said. 'Know that your soldiers will be taking care of each other. They'll be watching out for each other,' Pins said during the ceremony. Vogel's wife, Allyson Vogel, said it was one of her biggest fears that he would be deployed during the birth of their child, a girl they plan to name Evelyn. 'God has a sense of humor,' she said. Allyson said she is trying to continue 'calmly and carefully,' remaining strong for her two children — Jason Vogel's stepchildren — Connor Rhodes, 7, and Johanna Glauner, 3. 'If I break down and just completely lose it, I don't want to scare them,' Allyson said. Allyson said she is 'putting my trust in God,' engaging in support groups for families of deployed soldiers and reminding her husband that he has a family who loves him and expects him to return home safely. Devon Kregel, of North Liberty, hugged his five-month-old son Jameson close ahead of the send-off ceremony. His wife Addison and son Logan, 8, also gathered near him. 'I'm excited to go. It obviously stinks leaving the little ones, but it's what we signed up for,' he said. Valerie and Eric Key, of Marion, tearfully said goodbye to their son Ryan Key, 19, who is deploying. Valerie said she's nervous and proud. Jerrell Hinson, 19, of Tiffin, said he's overwhelmed to be deploying. 'It's sad, leaving. But I know I'm doing it for a good cause,' he said. ___ © 2025 The Gazette Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What you need to know before you go: May 29, 2025
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Here are the top headlines from this morning. Hundreds of Siouxlanders gathered to show their support to loved ones deploying to the Middle East through the Iowa National Guard. Iowans say farewell to National Guard members deploying overseas Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill to incentivize medical students to practice in Iowa. Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bill to help grow rural hospital workforces South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson spoke to students in Vermillion. Rep. Dusty Johnson speaks to students in Vermillion about moves being made in Washington Check out these headlines and more in the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Iowans say farewell to National Guard members deploying overseas
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — On Wednesday, hundreds of family members and friends came together to show their support for their loved ones who are deploying. A total of 83 members of the Iowa National Guard out of Sioux City were given a send-off ceremony at Bishop Heelan High members are from the 113th Cavalry HHT & Company D of the 334th Brigade Support Battalion. They will be part of a total of 1,800 soldiers being deployed, serving a one-year deployment to the Middle East. This is in support of operation inherent resolve. Story continues below Top Story: Midwest Honor Flight still raising money for June 3 trip Lights & Sirens: Officials searching for Monona County resident after going missing on Missouri River Sports: Local Iowa high school girls playoff soccer highlights and scores (5-28-25) Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here 'I know it brings great pride to a lot of our members. I know, especially to me, to be able to represent the State of Iowa, United States and the military, to be able to go and serve for our country, have a fulfilling mission and then be able to come home and be welcomed home,' said Captain Blair Emerson-Brown. Operation Inherent Resolve is a rotational deployment that has been going for on for the last eight years, with different National Guard states and active duty units taking part in fulfilling the mission. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Families part ways with 1,800 Iowa soldiers at deployment send-off ceremonies
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa –Thousands are gathering this week at community send-offs for Iowa National Guard soldiers. 1,800 soldiers from Iowa will be deploying to the Middle East to partake in Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission to defeat ISIS. This is Iowa's largest deployment since 2010. The ceremony at West Des Moines Readiness Center Thursday afternoon had 214 troops who were honored before heading out on this 12-month assignment. This send-off is just one of 24 happening this week across the state. The crowds were full of friends and family, including many Blue Star Mothers of America Iowa. The group is made up of moms, grandmas, parent figures, etc. This support group has been crucial for many loved ones, because the sendoff, and thereafter, is never easy. Construction is halfway complete on new Des Moines airport terminal 'I think the hardest one for me was when you could hear the children in the crowd going, oh, there's my dad. Not fully understanding that at the end of the ceremony you're getting in the car and dad isn't,' Blue Star Mothers Iowa spokesperson April Conway said. 'And all of these ceremonies all across the state, we are trying to make sure that Blue Star Moms will be there to offer a hug. We've ordered 400 packages of Kleenex to bring with us because we know what it's like, but we also know what it's going to be like when you go home. I want every spouse and child and mother and friend and sister to know that when you get home, it's okay to cry. Fear is a natural thing that comes with deployment. Just keep in mind the joy that you're going to feel when that coming home ceremony gets here. And we'll be there for that one, too.' This year, Blue Star Mothers Iowa will be sending 2,500 care packages to every single Iowan that is deployed later this year for the holidays. If you'd like to donate or want more information, you can visit their website. They also want you to know, if you need support, you can message them on Facebook and a mother will answer within an hour. 'It takes a village. And even though these deploying soldiers are not our own flesh and blood, they're our Iowa family,' Conway said. 'While they're gone, we want to be able to stand in the gap for their families that are left behind. Because, you know, in a week, life does go on. And the community, they will move on with their own lives. But for these family members left behind, the next 12 months are going to feel a lot longer than 12 months, and we're going to be there for them to help carry them through it.' Iowa News: Forecast: Thursday raindrops, then heat Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bill aimed at growing rural hospital workforces Families part ways with 1,800 Iowa soldiers at deployment send-off ceremonies Funnel clouds reported in Iowa today Pella Middle School teacher earns Golden Apple Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-US Attorney, Democrat Kevin Techau announces campaign against US Rep. Ashley Hinson
Democrat Kevin Techau, a former Iowa commissioner of public safety and U.S. attorney, has announced he will mount a campaign against Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. 'I've spent my life fighting for what's right and serving my country and Iowa through the Air Force, Iowa National Guard, Iowa Department of Public Safety, and as U.S. Attorney for Northern Iowa," Techau said in a news release. "I'm fed up with politicians in Washington selling out Iowa working families and farmers by letting the billionaires and big corporations scam the system. Holding Washington accountable and making government work for people starts right here in northeast Iowa. And it's why I'm running for Congress.' According to a news release, Techau is a sixth-generation Iowan who worked on the assembly line at the Square D Company in Cedar Rapids and as a track laborer on the Chicago North Western Railroad to help pay for college at the University of Iowa. He served seven years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force before spending nearly 20 years as an officer in the Iowa National Guard. He retired as a colonel and received the Legion of Merit medal. As Iowa's commissioner of public safety, he oversaw state law enforcement under Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack. And in 2013, he was nominated by President Barack Obama to become the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, where he oversaw the prosecution of federal crimes for 52 Iowa counties. 'We're paying the price for downright corruption in Washington — driven by an unelected, unaccountable billionaire. The special interests are getting billions in special tax breaks — while we get stuck with the bill," Techau said in a statement. "Ashley Hinson marches in lockstep with Elon Musk and his reckless, ruthless war on the middle class. We just can't afford it any more.' More: Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads Iowa's US House campaigns in fundraising, topping $1 million Techau and his wife, Stephanie, have two adult children. National Democrats have added Hinson to their list of targeted Republicans as they look to win back seats in the 2026 midterm election. But the 2nd District is not expected to be as competitive as others in Iowa, such as the 1st and 3rd district races. Nonpartisan election analysts at the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball do not include the race as one of the competitive contests they're currently tracking. 'Kevin Techau is a radical Leftist who wants to return to Biden's open border agenda and push the woke policies that Iowans rejected in November," Hinson campaign spokesperson Addie Lavis, said in a statement. "Kevin is out of touch with Iowa values and would be a rubber stamp for AOC's squad of radicals in Congress. Iowans will reject a Hillary Clinton supporting, Obama appointee, Biden donor.' Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@ or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Democrat Kevin Techau to oppose US Rep. Ashley Hinson in 2026 midterms
