The 832nd Engineer Company of the Iowa National Guard is on its way home after serving nearly a year in Afghanistan
KEOKUK, IOWA -- UPDATED: July 18 at 4:30 p.m.
The 832nd Engineer Company of the Iowa National Guard is on its way home.
The unit from Keokuk and Mount Pleasant has served in Afghanistan for nearly a year.
Annie Ross of Keokuk is the mother of one of those soldiers, Sergeant E-5 Jody Ross.
KHQA's Jarod Wells sat down with her as she anxiously awaits the arrival of her son.
An American flag flies outside the Ross home in Keokuk. On the inside the excitement builds as a family waits for its soldier son to come home.
Annie Ross said, "Oh, I get goose bumps when I think about it."
Her son, Sergeant E-5 Jody Ross has served in the Iowa National Guard for 12 years and plans to stay enrolled.
Ross said, "He believes in what he's doing, he really does. He has a heart for it."
He previously served in Iraq, so this isn't the first time Annie Ross and her husband have been waiting for their son to return, but nevertheless...
Ross said, "It'll be emotional, but he'll be mad if I get too emotional. So I'll try to put a happy smile on my face, but breathe a sigh of relief."
A sigh of relief that the entire unit made it home.
Ross said, "I can't repeat this enough, but they've been through a lot. We didn't lose anybody, I know that's good, but they've seen a lot."
We asked Annie if there were any plans for their family once Jody comes home.
Ross said, "No plans whatsoever. You don't want to make plans for him. It's his deal, whatever he wants to do."
The unit arrived at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin last week.
There is no set time for when the unit should arrive back in Keokuk, but there is a welcome home ceremony planned for this Wednesday, Thursday or Friday depending on what day the soldiers arrive home.
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Some Iowa National Guard soldiers are on their way home after a long deployment to Afghanistan.
The 832nd Engineer Company of the Iowa National Guard arrived at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin last week, after serving nearly a year in Afghanistan. The unit has armories in Keokuk and Mount Pleasant.
Preparations are already underway for a possible welcome home ceremony later this week.
Annie Ross is the mother of Sgt. E5 Jody Ross of Keokuk. She says everyone in town is excited to welcome their hometown heroes back to the Tri-States.
Ross’ son also served with the 224th Engineer Battalion in Iraq during a previous mission. Her son has served in the Iowa National Guard for 12 years and plans to stay in it, she said.
KHQA's Jarod Wells is talking to her Monday. Tune in Monday night on KHQA's evening news at six.
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