INFORMATION ON 133RD BATTALION FROM MAINE

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Susan Collins was informed today by the office of the Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard that the 133rd Engineer Battalion came under attack in Iraq at 2:00am EST today. Brigadier General John Libby's office reported that the battalion was in a convoy near Mosul when a device exploded nearby and the unit then came under small arms fire.

"This news is extremely troubling. Our office has already received calls from concerned family members of the 133rd. We will support them in any way we can. My prayers go out to the guard members in Iraq and their families in Maine," said Senator Collins. "I am in close contact with the Maine National Guard and the Department of Defense. The first priority is to ensure that the families get the information and support they need."

The 133rd Engineer Battalion is headquartered in Gardiner and Portland with several detachments in Belfast, Gardiner, Lewiston, Norway, Portland, Saco, Skowhegan, and Waterville. It is a heavy combat engineer unit that performs construction projects, such as building roads, airfields, and buildings, including the installation of electrical wiring and plumbing systems.