Vets & Soldiers

The Department of Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) honored the more than 13,000 members of the Illinois National Guard (ILNG) as the organization’s 2021 Hometown Heroes of the Year at its 100th annual State Convention June 11 in Springfield, Illinois.

“Each one of the men and women who responded to our missions in 2020 and 2021 got a call, they packed their bags, put on their uniforms, laced up their boots really tight and responded to the call of not only their nation, but their state and community. But every one of them volunteered to go,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, of Springfield, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. “It is a real honor to be here as the Adjutant General and the Commander of the Illinois National Guard to receive this award honoring their outstanding performance.”

VFW State Commander Laurie Emmer, of Sycamore, highlighted the efforts of the ILNG prior to presenting the award.

“In early 2020, when businesses changed how they serve the public and people started working from home, the Illinois National Guard was activated to assist in the state’s COVID-19 response operations,” she said. “The men and women activated for this mission conducted hundreds of thousands COVID-19 tests, sorted and shipped personal protection equipment to locations throughout Illinois and performed admirably other duties asked of each of them. And if the pandemic wasn’t enough, they also responded to other domestic operations in addition to overseas missions. They lived up to the National Guard motto ‘Always Ready, Always There’.”

The ILNG was nominated for the award by VFW District 15 Commander Gary Fravel, of Thompsonville, a retired U.S. Army first sergeant, who outlined their achievements in the nomination letter. District 15 covers the lower 12 counties in Illinois. Approximately 13 VFW Posts are within the boundaries of the district.

Chicago native, Seaman Ronald Smith was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal aboard USS Constitution, February 18.

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is awarded to service members who perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature.

“I am glad I was able to give back to my community and represent the Navy in a positive way,” said Smith.

Smith has served in the Navy for two years, and Constitution is his first duty station.

Smith is a 2018 graduate of Proviso East High School.

Duty aboard USS Constitution is one of the Navy’s special programs, and all prospective crewmembers must meet a high standard of sustained excellence and interview to be selected for the assignment.

USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

The active-duty sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution normally provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people each year as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history, maritime heritage, and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.

USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels.

The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. 

Full story available in all 14 Southwest Messenger Press Newspapers

U.S. Navy Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Anton Thauer, from Evergreen Park, makes pizza in the galley of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) February 12, 2021. Bunker Hill, part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 

As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific Region. 

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandie Nuzzi. 

Full story available in the Evergreen Park Courier, Bridgeview Independent, Burbank Independent, and Scottsdale Independent

Five Illinois National Guard Soldiers who deployed in May as part of Bilateral Embedded Staff Team (BEST) A25 returned home in time for Christmas, wrapping up combat missions with the Polish military in U.S. Central Command that has lasted more than 15 years. 

“These missions were vital for our national defense as the country of Poland was part of the U.S. coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighting together as brothers and sisters in arms strengthened the Illinois National Guard’s unique State Partnership Program relationship with the Polish military,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, The Adjutant General and Commander, Illinois National Guard. 

BEST A25, whose mission it was to advise and support the Polish military contingent in Afghanistan, deployed in early May to the U.S. Central Command area in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, arriving in theater amid the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

The Soldiers are from various communities in Illinois, including Champaign, Chicago, Frankfort, Tinley Park and Collinsville. The Soldiers were selected for the mission based on their training and skills.

Full story available in all 14 Southwest Messenger Press Newspapers