Iowa National Guard soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, stand in formation for a deployment ceremony at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Iowa National Guard via Facebook)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Tribune News Service) — Hands were held a little tighter, hugs lasted longer and tears were a constant reminder of what the day meant.
On Wednesday, 218 members of the Waterloo-headquartered Iowa Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment said goodbye to family, friends and colleagues during a deployment ceremony held at Cedar Falls High School.
Every spot in the school’s 825-seat gymnasium was taken. It was standing room only, with many attendees spilling out into the hallway.
Similar scenes were playing out across the state as 24 such ceremonies were held over three days for about 1,800 soldiers preparing to deploy to the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. They will join coalition forces to provide security and assist in efforts to maintain stability in the region.
Inherent Resolve is an international military operation led by the United States to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It has been ongoing for eight years.
Staff Sgt. C.J. Johanns of Cedar Rapids was surrounded by family as he waited to enter the school. His niece and nephews, Kenzie and Aaron Lee and Kyle Sherman, chatted with him and held his hands while his parents, Brenda and Chris Johanns, and aunt Vicki Lindauer looked on.
This will be C.J. Johanns’ third deployment, having previously served in Afghanistan and Kuwait.
“It’s horrible,” Chris Johanns said about seeing his son leave. “You quit living for a time.”
“But we are so proud,” Brenda Johanns said.
“It’s always hard to leave, but I’m ready to go,” C.J. Johanns said.
Just inside the gymnasium door, Rhyder Henson, 1, sat on grandmother Tracy Noyes’ lap. Rhyder’s father, Izach Henson, is being deployed for the first time since starting a family with his wife, Maecie Henson.
“We will be there for whatever they need,” Noyes said. “They will have good family support.
“Izach loves his job,” she said. “He played soldiers since he was 10 years old protecting the neighborhood in his military uniform.”
Guard members stood in precise lines in the center of the gym floor, dressed in camouflage and looking straight ahead.
Ceremony attendees – ranging from weeks-old babies to seniors in wheelchairs – bowed their heads in prayer, many of them wiping away tears. They stood, hands over hearts, for the national anthem, and respectfully listened as speakers – including U.S Rep. Ashley Hinson and Cedar Falls Mayor Danny Laudick – addressed the crowd.
A toddler could be heard greeting his father from the bleachers.
“Hi, Daddy!” he said.
As the ceremony concluded, guests and soldiers exited the building, the National Guardsmen heading to where four large buses were parked. An array of bags and backpacks lay on the ground waiting to be loaded on to the buses.
At the corner of Hudson Road and Brookside Drive, the family of Pfc. Haydan Pestorious of Northwood stood waiting for the buses to go by. His mother, Lori Pestorious; his sister, Amanda Wunderlich; his nephew, Jaxon Howland, 6; and his grandmother, Ozie Johnson drove about 90 minutes to attend the deployment ceremony, and they wanted one more chance to wave to their soldier.
This will be Haydan Prestorious’ first deployment, but not family members’ first goodbye.
Haydan Prestorious’ grandfather was stationed in Vietnam and Okinawa, Japan, during his time in the military. He served in the Marines and the Army.
“My dad is the reason my son joined the service,” Lori Pestorious said.
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