Illinois Unit Honored for Service in Afghanistan with Polish Brigade

Related Media

see cutline 1

WHEATON, IL (03/06/2016)(readMedia)-- Members of Illinois' Bilateral Embedded Staff Team A15 were recognized for their service in Afghanistan during a Freedom Salute ceremony at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois, Mar. 5.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner spoke to those in attendance of the importance of the ongoing mission in Afghanistan and the important partnership Illinois has with the Polish forces. He said BEST A15 played a vital role in that partnership.

"The deployments in Afghanistan are critically important to America's safety and the safety of the world, the ongoing campaign in Afghanistan is critical and our partnership with the military in Poland is one of the most important partnerships America has," said Rauner.

Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and Congressman Peter J. Roskam, 6th Congressional District, echoed the governor's sentiments praising the Soldiers for their service and welcoming them home.

Lt. Col. Michael Beierman of Monee led the six-man team, which mobilized in May 2015. The team was comprised of Maj. Brice Graber of Morton Grove, Illinois; Capt. Kenneth Allison of Pekin, Illinois; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gordon Goodwin of Chicago and Sgt 1st Class Robert Brogdon of Chatham, Illinois.

Brogdon, a 24-year veteran of the military, has served and deployed with the U.S. Navy and the Illinois Army National Guard and said there have been a lot of changes over the years during deployments, one significant change being communication with families.

"Being deployed in the '80s, communication was limited to phone calls and letter writing," said Brogdon. "Now we are able to talk almost every day through e-mail and video chat."

Brogdon and his wife, Jenny, said that reintegration was not as difficult as previous deployments because of the continuous, daily communication.

Prior to their deployment, Beierman spoke to his team about the page in history they were about to write. He concluded that the First Division Museum which houses exhibits from not only World War I and World War II, but later U.S. wars as well, was very fitting for their ceremony.

"Here at Cantigny, in the midst of some of the great Soldiers of the world, your page is written in that book as well," said Beierman.

Cutline 1: Brig, Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Illinois, Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Illinois National Guard, shakes hands with Sgt. 1st Class Robert Brogdon, also of Chatham, Illinois, at the Bilateral Embedded Staff Team A15, Freedom Salute ceremony, March 5 at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, Illinois. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti and Congressman Peter J. Roskam were also on hand to honor the team after their seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. James Sims, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Cutline 2: Illinois' Bilateral Embedded Staff Team A15 was recognized for their service and presented with the Freedom Salute awards at a ceremony, March 5, at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, Illinois. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti and Congressman Peter J. Roskam were on hand to welcome honor the team after their seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. James Sims, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)