Around 250 members of the Iowa National Guard are returning homeWednesday after a nine month deployment in the Middle East.
Families and friends in Des Moines and Sioux City are preparing to welcome our heroes home, as KCCI reports.
Andy Newton’s wife, Staff Sgt. Patricia Newton, has been overseas supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
It’s a sacrifice soldiers and their families know they’ll have to make when they join the Guard. But a year-long deployment hits a little differently when you have a little one at home.
Newton, who served in the Iowa Guard for over a decade, has been pulling dad and mom duty caring for their three-year-old daughter Grace.
Andy will get to embrace Patricia again, and watch as Grace reunites with her mother.
“It’s all about our daughter at this point,” he told KCCI. ”I can’t wait to see her reaction.”
It’s not lost on Andy how lucky he is to have Patricia back. Especially after the tragic loss of two fellow members during her deployment.
“Getting these days back is a huge relief,” Newton shared.
The Iowa National Guard says Sioux City’s ceremony will be at 1:45 p.m. at Ascension FBO Network in the Sioux City Airport.
Des Moines will have two flights in, with 94 soldiers at 3:30 p.m. and 51 at 5 p.m. at the 132d Air Wing of the Des Moines International Airport.
The public is welcome to attend but must bring ID to clear through security.
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