Declaration of 'Ironman Battalion Day'

Photo By Maj. Ramah Knox | Lt. Col. Garrett Gingrich, commander of the 1st Battalion, 133d Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard, thanks Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green for declaring July 11 ‘Ironman Battalion Day’ during a city council meeting in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on July 18, 2022. The declaration is a tradition that began in 2020, when several members of the 1-113d deployed to Qatar. It has been recognized annually since, and the mayors of nearby Waterloo and Waverly worked together to make it happen. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Ramah Knox)  

JOHNSTON, IA, UNITED STATES

07.18.2022

Story by Capt. Ramah Knox 

135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - On July 18, 2022, Lt. Col. Garrett Gingrich, commander of the 1st Battalion, 133d Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard, thanked Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green for declaring July 11 ‘Ironman Battalion Day’ during a city council meeting.

The declaration is a tradition that began in 2020, when several members of the 1-133d deployed to Qatar. It has been recognized annually since, and the mayors of nearby Waterloo and Waverly worked together to make it happen. Gingrich said he was grateful for the support and partnership of their communities.

Over 700 Soldiers in the Ironman Battalion support the community in both state and federal roles. Gingrich has been a fireman and paramedic for the city of Waterloo for 14 years, so he has had the opportunity to serve his community in many capacities. In 2008, members of the 1-133d were activated to assist in the aftermath of the Parkersburg tornado and flooding in Cedar Falls.

One goal of the declaration is to educate the public about some unit history that often gets overlooked. The Ironman Battalion is headquartered in Waterloo and earned its name after Soldiers served in combat for 611 consecutive days during World War II. The 1-133d is a small fraction of the Red Bull division that spans eight states across the Midwest.

Decades later, the 1-133d made history again when they participated in the largest battle the division had fought since World War II. On May 25, 2011, 40 U.S. Soldiers and over 20 coalition counterparts thwarted an ambush and killed 200 insurgent fighters in the Nuristan province. The battle lasted seven hours and no lives were lost.

With just under three months left in command, Gingrich hopes this tradition will be carried on in the future.

• Date Taken: 07.18.2022
• Date Posted: 07.19.2022 15:27
• Story ID: 425324
• Location: JOHNSTON, IA, US
• Hometown: CEDAR FALLS, IA, US
• Hometown: WATERLOO, IA, US
• Hometown: WAVERLY, IA, US