BRAINERD, Minnesota — An Army National Guard unit from central Minnesota is being honored with the U.S. military’s highest award.
A ceremony was held Friday for the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, based in Brainerd, for the lives saved during the evacuation of Afghan civilians and allied personnel.
It was a moment three years ago that most Americans and Afghans will never forget.
The images from Kabul, Afghanistan and the thousands of people trying to leave the country as US troops withdrew and the Taliban took over.
Minnesota residents assigned to the 1st Combined Arms Battalion worked with the Air Force and Marines to keep vulnerable Afghans and American citizens out of harm’s way.
“It was an incredibly volatile and rapidly changing situation,” said Major Michael Popp.
Popp was part of the forces that rescued more than 124,000 American civilians, U.S. government employees, and Afghan refugees in less than 15 days.
“It was a surreal moment when we stepped off the plane. There were refugees whose homes had been destroyed and refugees trying to flee the country,” Popp said.
The unit will receive three awards. The Meritorious Unit Commendation award, the Superior Unit award, and the Presidential Unit Citation award, which is given to units for extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy.
“It’s the equivalent of receiving a distinguished service cross, which is an individual award. It’s the highest honor a unit can receive,” Popp said.
The Presidential Unit Citation Award was presented to the same battalion during World War II.
The unit mobilized in February 1941 and arrived in the Philippines before the war began. When Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, they simultaneously attacked the Philippine Islands and the battalion was part of the defense of the Philippines.
“This is not just an award for the 194th, but an award for the Minnesota National Guard and for the people of Minnesota as a whole,” Popp said.
The Minnesota National Guard is the most active National Guard in the country, consisting of more than 13,000 soldiers and airmen serving in 58 communities across the state.
Reg Chapman
