Gienau, Richard "Brian"

GIENAU, JACOBUS, SHAY, EDGINGTON, GARCEAU, SMUTZER

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/12/2005 at 00:21:06

Soldiers of 224th honor slain comrade
By Vicki Tillis, Ledger news editor March 04, 2005

A memorial service was held today in Iraq for the first 224th Engineer Battalion soldier killed Feb. 27 when an improvised explosive device struck the vehicle he was traveling in between Karbala and Ar Ramadi.

A memorial service to remember the life and service of 2nd Lt. Richard "Brian" Gienau, 29, of Peoria, Ill., was held at 4 p.m. in Iraq today, which would have been about 7 a.m. Iowa time.

Gienau, of the Iowa Army National Guard's Company A, 224th Engr. Bn., was killed in the explosion, and four other soldiers were injured.

"The results of this attack have forever changed each and every one of us," wrote 224th commander Lt. Col. Todd Jacobus in a newsletter posted on the 224th's Web site. "We lost an outstanding soldier, a great leader and a loyal friend. Family members back home have lost a father, a son, a boyfriend; and each of them has forever lost a significant part of their lives."

Injured in the attack were St. Timothy Shay, 22, of Muscatine; Spc. Justin Edgington, 23, of West Burlington; Spc. Seth Garceau, 22 of Oelwein and Spc. Dennis Smutzer, 32, of Moline, Ill. They were all assigned to Company A of Burlington.

According Jacobus, the wounded soldiers are being provided with the "very best of care available," and their families are being given current updates on their conditions from the medical personnel at their respective care facilities.

Jacobus wrote "both the Headquarters and Company A leadership teams have been overwhelmed by the kind thoughts and messages that have been delivered our way by our families, our friends, our alumni and our communities.

"Thank you so much for your thoughts as we recover and prepare to continue our mission."

Approximately 500 224th Engr. Bn soldiers were mobilized in October as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism.

The 224th Engr. Bn. is comprised of units Headquarters and Headquarters Company in Fairfield, Company A in Burlington, Company B in Ottumwa, Company C in Mount Pleasant and Detachment 1, Company C in Keokuk. Additionally, the 834th Engineer Company from Davenport, which falls under the command and control of the 224th Engr. Bn., also mobilized selected soldiers in support of the operation.

For the complete story, read the March 4 Fairfield Ledger.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2005