Army Spc. Gregory L. Tull

Died November 25, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of Pocahontas, Iowa; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, Iowa Army National Guard, Storm Lake, Iowa; killed Nov. 25 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in the Anbar Province, Iraq.

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Fallen soldier remembered as the “go-to guy”

The Associated Press

POCAHONTAS, Iowa — During his three years in the Iowa Army National Guard, Sgt. Greg Tull earned a reputation as a soldier who wanted to be in the thick of every mission.

That’s how Tull, 20, of Pocahontas, was remembered during his funeral Dec. 3 at the Faith Lutheran Church, where the sign out front read: “Sgt. Greg Tull, The Go-To Guy.”

Tull was killed Nov. 25 when an improvised explosive device blew up next to the Humvee he was traveling in near Hit, Iraq. He was a member of the Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery.

An Army National Guard officer described Tull as the “go-to guy” in the unit when the soldier’s death was made public.

Hundreds of people including family, friends and fellow soldiers gathered at the Faith Lutheran Church to remember the fallen soldier at services Saturday, while officers from each law enforcement agency in Pocahontas County stood watch outside.

Burial followed at Indian Mound Cemetery, south of Humboldt, where military rifle volleys were fired into the air.

Tull graduated from Pocahontas Area High School in 2003 and enlisted in the National Guard in April 2002. He attended South Dakota State University before volunteering for Operation Iraqi Freedom in November 2004.

He arrived in Iraq early this year.

Tull was posthumously promoted to sergeant from his former rank as specialist at a separate ceremony attended by family members and Army National Guard officers. He also was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Mississippi Medal of Valor and the Combat Action Badge.

At the time he was killed, Tull was temporarily assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery, of the Mississippi Army National Guard.

Tull’s Iowa unit is headquartered in Fort Dodge; he was assigned to the Storm Lake armory.

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Iowa soldier killed in Iraq by improvised explosive

By Melanie S. Welte

The Associated Press

JOHNSTON, Iowa — An Iowa National Guard soldier who was scheduled to come home within the next month was killed in Iraq, the Department of Defense said.

Spc. Gregory L. Tull, 20, of Pocahontas was the gunner on an armored Humvee that was near an improvised explosive device when it was detonated at around 2 p.m. Iraq time Nov. 25, said National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Gregory O. Hapgood.

“He was a gunner in an armored vehicle and the blast was detonated right next to the vehicle,” Hapgood said. “He didn’t have a great deal of protection other than the protective gear he had on. You’re somewhat exposed from that particular kind of blast in that position on that vehicle.”

The attack occurred near Hit, Iraq, about 40 to 50 miles northwest of Baghdad, Hapgood said.

Tull was assigned to the Iowa Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, based in Storm Lake.

Tull was born in Phoenix, Ariz., in December 1984 and graduated from Pocahontas Area High School in 2003. Tull enlisted in the National Guard in April 2002. He attended South Dakota State University before volunteering for Operation Iraqi Freedom in November 2004.

He arrived in Iraq early this year.

Hapgood said Tull was proud of his service.

“He was very confident in what he did, a very bright young man and he really was a go-to guy in his unit,” Hapgood said. “He was a guy who didn’t shirk his duty. He wanted to be where it was happening.”

The mission commander and driver of the Humvee were also injured. Hapgood said their names and conditions have not been released.

Tull is survived by his mother and father, Eileen and Gary Tull, and, brother, Bryan, all of Pocahontas.

He is also survived by his grandparents, Bill and Janet Velau of Garner, and Erland and Phyllis Nelson of Humboldt.

A National Guard representative identifying herself as Becky Coady answered the phone at the home of Tull’s parents. She said the family was not prepared to talk about Gregory’s death.

The number of U.S. service members killed since the Iraq war started in March 2003 was at least 2,106 as of Nov. 26, according to an Associated Press count.