FORMER ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF RECEIVES LEGION OF MERIT

Story by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

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Col. Chris Lawson of Springfield, is presented the Legion of Merit by Brig. Gen. Daniel Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Jan. 17 at Camp Lincoln.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (01/18/2013)(readMedia)-- Col. Chris Lawson of Springfield, with the Illinois Army National Guard was awarded one of the U.S. military's most prestigious awards Jan. 17 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, presented Lawson with the Legion of Merit for his dedication to the Illinois National Guard in the development of the Joint Staff and serving as its first Joint Chief of Staff.

The Illinois National Guard's Joint Staff aids the plans and conducting of joint missions, and training exercises between the Illinois National Guard and civil agencies and non-governmental organizations and international partners.

Lawson, a Hamilton native, enlisted into the Illinois National Guard in 1985 and later received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1987 after completing the Reserve Officer Training Course at Monmouth College in Monmouth. Lawson has served on missions and operations in Bolivia, Germany and Poland. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008 and 2009.

Lawson will command the Bilateral Embedded Staff Team scheduled to co-deploy with Polish Land Forces to Afghanistan this spring in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Legion of Merit is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a friendly foreign nation who has distinguished himself or herself through exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

The Legion of Merit is the U.S. military's sixth highest award. A few other notable Legion of Merit recipients include former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Michael Mullen, U.S. Sen.John McCain, British Gen. Bernard Montgomery, French Gen. Charles De Gaulle, and Polish officers Col. Stanislaw Wozniak, Gen. Franciszek Gagor, and Lt. Gen. Wladyslaw Anders.

Photo 1) U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Col. Chris Lawson of Springfield, with the Illinois Army National Guard was awarded one of the U.S. military's most prestigious awards Jan. 17 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Brig. Gen. Daniel Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, presented Lawson with the Legion of Merit for his dedication to the Illinois National Guard in the development of the Joint Staff and serving as its first chief.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Col. Chris Lawson of Springfield, is presented the Legion of Merit by Brig. Gen. Daniel Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Jan. 17 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. Lawson received the award for his dedication to the Illinois National Guard in the development of the Joint Staff and serving as its first Joint Staff and serving as its first chief.