224th Engineer Battalion honored as nation's top National Guard unit

The 224th Engineer Battalion of the Iowa Army National Guard has been recognized as the top superior unit in the United States.

      The Walter T. Kerwin Jr. Readiness Award was presented to Brig. Gen. Mark E. Zirkelbach, Lt. Col. Todd Jacobus and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Bayliss during the Eisenhower Luncheon Oct. 10, part of the 2006 Association of the United States Army Conference in Washington, D.C.

      Jacobus and Bayliss formerly were part of the 224th Engr. Bn.'s command team, and Zirkelbach, second in command of the Iowa Army National Guard, is from the Deputy Adjutant General office.

      In a letter to the 224th Engr. Bn. command team, Jacobus wrote about "the utmost respect and admiration that the senior leaders of our Army have for their service and performance during the battalion's deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06."

      Army leaders and dozens of active and reserve field grade officers and senior noncommissioned officers "lauded the performance of our engineers while executing two of the most challenging missions in-theater ? convoy security escort and route clearance," said Jacobus. "Our soldiers' performance during this deployment did not go unnoticed by our higher headquarters."

      Two Walter T. Kerwin Jr. Readiness Awards are presented: one to the top Army National Guard Battalion; and the other to the top United States Army Reserve Battalion.

      The award is named for Gen. (Retired) Walter T. Kerwin Jr., who the 224th Engr. Bn. representatives were able to speak with during the luncheon.

For a complete story, read the Oct. 26 Fairfield Ledger.