OTTUMWA — Keep the 833rd Engineers in your thoughts and prayers, said church leaders Sunday — word that an explosion hit an occupied vehicle has community members worried.

Though officials have yet to publicly confirm the attack, the initial news from Iraq still shakes family members of the Iowa Army National Guard unit, which has 100-plus members based out of the armory in Ottumwa.

“I want everybody to know it hits close to home. It hurts,” said the wife a soldier currently deployed with the 833rd. “I just want them to come home.”

A source in Iraq indicated four soldiers were injured, possibly by a mine or improvised explosive device, while riding in a truck. No names of the injured were available through the military or from family members.

And though conditions were not released, two soldiers have been airlifted to Germany. The other two soldiers are being treated in Iraq.

The Iowa Guard’s public information officer, Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, was unable to confirm the incident on Sunday.

But he added that releasing the name of any injured soldier would not be possible until the soldier in question agreed to have their name released publicly.

The reason for that, said Hapgood, is new medical privacy laws.