Illinois' Top Military Officer Receives Prestigious Polish Army Medal

Please Note: This version corrects the Polish Minister of Defense's name

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WARSAW, POLAND (09/30/2011)(readMedia)-- With a Polish Army band, military parade and a "dress and review,' Governor Pat Quinn's top military officer, Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, of Belleville, the Adjutant General of Illinois, received the Polish Army Medal on Friday during an official visit to Poland with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Thomas Lamont.

"As Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois National Guard, I know the quality of the leaders within its ranks," said Governor Quinn. "We have the best National Guard in the United States and the best Adjutant General. This medal shows the positive impact our National Guard has not only here in Illinois and in the United States, but across the world."

In receiving the Gold grade of the medal, Enyart joins a short list of American generals to receive the award including former Army Chief of Staff Gen. (ret.) George W. Casey, former Central Command Commander and current CIA Director Army Gen. (ret.) David Petraeus, African Command Commander Army Gen. Carter Ham, and Marine Gen. John R. Allen, the Commander of International Security Assistance Force- Afghanistan and United States Forces – Afghanistan.

The medal was signed by Polish Minister of National Defense Tomasz Siemoniak and was approved by the Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski.

"I am both humbled and honored to receive this medal from Poland," Enyart said. "This honor belongs to the Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who have worked side-by-side with the Polish for close to 20 years."

Enyart commands the 13,000-member Illinois National Guard, which has had a State Partnership Program with Poland since 1993. Aside from military-to-military and military-to-civilian exchanges and co-training, the Illinois National Guard also co-deploys with Polish forces, first to Iraq and now to Afghanistan. The Illinois National Guard's Bilateral Embedded Support Team (BEST) has approximately 20 Soldiers serving with a Polish brigade in Afghanistan today.

In May, Illinois National Guard troops who specialize in responding to domestic attacks and disasters trained with Polish troops in preparation to Eurocup 2012, which Poland is hosting. As part of the planning, Enyart met with Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Gen. Franciszek G?gor.

This week, military attorneys from the Illinois National Guard and the Polish military are discussing military law and the military legal systems in the two countries. Enyart, who holds a law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law, was instrumental in setting up this exchange.

After an April 10, 2010 airplane crash in Russia killed Polish President Lech Kaczy?ski and many of Poland's top civilian and military leaders, Enyart rushed to Poland to offer his personal condolences to the Polish people.

"I knew most of these men personally and was blessed to consider them friends and colleagues. Several of my troops served under these officers in combat and will forever be grateful for their inspired leadership," Enyart said in April 2010.

After a volcano in Iceland prevented further travel from the United States to Poland, Enyart represented the U.S. Secretary of Defense and was the senior military representative of the U.S. government to attend the Polish officials' funerals.

Poland has been a staunch ally of the United States in Europe and throughout the world.

PHOTO #1 CAPTION: Photo Courtesy of Polish Ministry of Defense/ Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart of Bellville, Ill. receives the Polish Army Medal from Polish Land Forces Commander Lieutenant General Zbigniew Glowienka on Sept. 23.

PHOTO #2 CAPTION: Photo Courtesy of Polish Ministry of Defense/ Pictured here is the Polish Army Medal that was awarded to Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart on Sept. 23. The Polish Army Medal is awarded to recognize service to the Polish Army by foreign civilians and military personnel.

PHOTO #3 CAPTION: Photo Courtesy of Polish Ministry of Defense/ Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart of Bellville, Ill. shown here marching next to Polish Land Forces Commander Lieutenant General Zbigniew Glowienka Lt. Gen. Zbigniew Glowienka on Sept. 23.

For high resolution photos, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil

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