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| Galesburg, Oquawka Soldiers Among Those Honored in Weekend Ceremony |
Ten Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers from throughout Illinois were honored Sunday by the National Guard Bureau Freedom Salute Campaign for their sacrifice and service in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom as part of liaison teams with Polish forces.
Honored at the ceremony in the Illinois National Guard's Marseilles Training Area were:
1st Lt. Matthew Kreiter of Chicago - Army Commendation and Afghanistan Campaign Medals
Capt. Eric Selstad of Chicago - Bronze Star and Afghanistan Campaign Medals
1st Lt. Dash Wilson of Galesburg - Army Commendation and Afghanistan Campaign Medals
Chief Warrant Officer James Zeilstra of Oquawka - Bronze Star and Afghanistan Campaign Medals
1st Lt. Lance Beier of Park Ridge - Army Commendation, Afghanistan Campaign, and Iraq Campaign Medal
Maj. Loren Easter of Chatham - Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Afghanistan Campaign and Iraq Campaign Medals
1st Lt. Shawn Haronik of Milan - Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Afghanistan Campaign, and Iraq Campaign Medals
Col. David Matakas of White Heath - Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Afghanistan Campaign, and Iraq Campaign Medals
Lt. Col. Jodi Padavana of Monroe Center - Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Afghanistan Campaign and Iraq Campaign Medals
Sgt. Maj. James Wall of Virden - Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Afghanistan Campaign and Iraq Campaign Medals
Another six Soldiers were part of the mission, but could not attend the ceremony. They will be honored separately.
The Illinois citizen-Soldiers were called to federal active duty in March 2008 in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Eleven Soldiers were originally sent to Iraq as part of the Multi-National Division Central-South. Their mission was to help train and mentor the Iraqi army.
Five Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Their mission was to assist the Afghan government to extend its authority across the country, conduct stability and perform security operations. The Soldiers also mentored and supported the Afghan national army and supported Afghan government programs to disarm illegally armed groups.
The two groups were combined in October 2008 and were renamed the ISAF Operation Maintenance and Liaison Team and were stationed in Afghanistan. The group's mission was to provide the Polish Battle Group liaison support in managing areas of Commander's Emergency Response Program.
(Illinois National Guard 1st Lt. Dash Wilson of Galesburg listens to the poem "I am the Guard" after receiving an Army Commendation Medal for his service in Afghanistan during a Freedom Salute Ceremony at the Guard's Marseilles Training Area on Sunday, Aug. 30.)
(Brig. Gen. Robert Pratt of Pekin, Commander of the Illinois National Guard's 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, pins a Bronze Star Medal on Chief Warrant Officer James Zeilstra of Oquawka at the Guard's Marseilles Training Area on Sunday, Aug. 30. Story and photos submitted by Illinois Army and Air National Guard.) |
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| 08 31 09 by Newsroom |
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