Guard to the rescue

The 1140th, the Missouri National Guard battalion based in Cape Girardeau, has had a busy couple of years. In March 2005 the battalion returned from a year in Iraq, where the dangerous mission in part involved clearing improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance from roads. In Iraq, members of the battalion completed more than 3,700 combat patrols. All 476 guardsmen who went to Iraq returned.

Last September, the 1140th Engineer Battalion spent more than a month helping reclaim New Orleans from the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.

Last month, while undergoing training at Fort Leonard Wood, the guardsmen were dispatched to St. Louis to help clean up the massive amounts of limbs and trees downed by two severe storms.

Over and over again the members of the 1140th Engineer Battalion have proven their mettle and value to their state and nation. We salute each of you.