Local soldier recovering
<p>JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Flags, balloons and flowers decorate the Idaho National Guard's unit sign Tuesday in Post Falls for Spc. Nathan R. Beyers, 24, and Spc. Nicholas W. Newby, 20, both of Coeur d'Alene, were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) during an attack by insurgent Thursday in Baghdad.</p>
A local soldier injured in Iraq last week is recovering and was headed back to the United States on Tuesday, according to the Idaho National Guard.
Staff Sgt. Jason Rzepa of the 145th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team based in Post Falls suffered serious injuries to both legs during a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad on Thursday.
"I'm told that he's in good spirits and handling this situation very well," said Col. Tim Marsano, the Guard's spokesman.
Marsano declined to comment on the details of the injuries and was unsure which military hospital he was headed to.
"He's got a period of recovery that he needs to go through," Marsano said.
After the injuries, Rzepa was stabilized and transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for further treatment.
Spc. Nathan R. Beyers, 24, and Spc. Nicholas W. Newby, 20, both of Coeur d'Alene, were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) when insurgent forces, which appeared to be Shiite militia, attacked their convoy, according to the Department of Defense.
Local memorial services for Beyers and Newby are pending.
The 116th is on a year-long mission in support of Operation New Dawn. It is expected to return in September.