Governor Kim Reynolds was in the Middle East this week to visit Iowans serving in the military as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Reynolds’ office says she and Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Osborn went to Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait. Nearly 1,800 Iowa National Guard members are deployed in the region.
Two Iowa National Guardsmen were killed last month in an attack in Syria. Reynolds presented the Purple Heart to an Iowa soldier who was wounded in that attack.
Reynolds n a statement said it was an honor to visit deployed soldiers and to personally thank them for their service.
*In related news, Governor Jim Pillen announced that Nebraska’s National Guard will be deployed to Washington D.C. next month.
The Chief of the National Guard Bureau had asked if Nebraska had the capacity to send troops and help keep the capital safe.
The primary mission of the Nebraska troops will be in areas of monument security and roving patrols.
Troops from 10 other states have been at the capital more than 120 days and are ready to rotate out.
During his term, Pillen has deployed the National Guard multiple times, including to the southern border. He said the deployment will be fully paid by the federal government.
