After 10 months in the Middle East, Minnesota National Guard returns home — with 11 bronze stars
More than three dozen soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard flew home to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday after serving a 10-month deployment in the Middle East — and 11 of the soldiers received the Bronze Star Medal for "for heroic and meritorious service."
The approximately 40 National Guard members are part of the 204th Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) based in Cottage Grove. They were in the Middle East to support Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.
They worked primarily in three countries, including Iraq and Syria, and treated 1,846 patients and worked 30 medical evacuations during the deployment.
'We are extremely proud of the exceptional Soldiers of the 204th Medical Company Area Support who excelled in their Mission in the Middle East,' said Army Col. Joel Stamp, brigade commander for the 347th Regional Support Group.
'The accomplishments of this formation are many and have established a higher standard for medical care for our service members and our allies while deployed. This would not have been attained, had it not been for their training preparation, military professionalism, and the enduring support of their families, employers, and communities while deployed.'
View the 12 images of this gallery on the original article
Many of the 11 Bronze Star Medal — the fourth highest individual military award — recipients were exposed to attacks at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, including the threat of ballistic missiles when 180 missiles were launched in an attack on Oct. 1, 2024, according to the National Guard.
A description of each medal-winner's heroism and achievements has been provided below by the Minnesota National Guard.
Distinguished himself through exceptionally superior, meritorious service while serving as the 204 Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) and Al Asad Air Base (AAAB) Role 2E Commander, Joint Task Force Savior – Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), AAAB, Iraq, from 8 September 2024 to 26 May 2024. Additionally, he served as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Role 2E closure operations at AAAB and the OIC of establishment planning of a Role 2E clinic in Norther Landing Zone (NLZ), Syria. Major Reding distinguished himself while serving under combat conditions of significant risk of exposure to hostile actions while operating in both Syria and Iraq. He was subject to a barrage of 44 indirect fire artillery rounds and one UAS while at NLZ, Syria from 9 December 2024 to 10 December 2024. Major Reding served for months under significant risk of almost certain attacks on AAAB, Iraq, evidenced with credible intelligence reports, with multiple UASs sighted and destroyed in the vicinity of AAAB, Iraq, one of which triggered sense and warn sirens at two kilometers away as it was inbound for AAAB. He was also exposed to the threat of theater ballistic missiles on 1 October 2024 when 180 missiles were fired in the vicinity of his location. Major Reding exhibited extraordinary leadership, vision, initiative, and dedication while maintaining a steadfast and calming presence for the 204 MCAS and four supported units.
Distinguished himself by meritorious wartime service, under combat conditions with significant risk of exposure to enemy hostile actions as evidenced by credible threat reporting from the intelligence community. He served as the Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) of the Role 2E, Joint Task Force Savior, Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR), Al Asad Air Base, Iraq from 8 August 2024 to 26 May 2025. His outstanding performance, leadership, professionalism and dedication to duty, while operating in a high-risk environment, provided direct support to units across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA) conducting CJTF-OIR missions to defeat Da'esh and advise, assist and enable missions.
Distinguished himself by meritorious wartime service, under combat conditions with significant risk of exposure to enemy hostile actions as evidenced by credible threat reporting from the intelligence community. He served as the Executive Officer of the Role 2E, Joint Task Force (JTF) Savior, Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq from 8 August 2024 to 26 May 2025. His outstanding performance, leadership, professionalism and dedication to duty, while operating in a high-risk environment, provided direct support to units across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA) conducting CJTF-OIR missions to defeat Da'esh and advise, assist and enable missions.
Distinguished herself by meritorious wartime service, under combat conditions with significant risk to exposure to enemy hostile actions as evidenced by credible threat reporting from the intelligence community. She served as the Operations NCOIC of the 204th Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) Role 2E, Joint Task Force Savior, Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq from 8 September 2024 to 26 May 2025. Her outstanding performance, leadership, professionalism and dedication to duty, while operating in a high-risk environment, provided direct support to units across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA) conducting CJTF-OIR missions to defeat Da'esh and advise, assist and enable missions throughout the area of operations (AO).
Distinguished himself by meritorious wartime service, under combat conditions with significant risk to exposure to enemy hostile actions as evidenced by credible threat reporting from the intelligence community. He served as the Clinic Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Role 2E, Joint Task Force Savior, Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq from 8 August 2024 to 26 May 2025. His outstanding performance, leadership, professionalism and dedication to duty, while operating in a high-risk environment, provided direct support to units across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA) conducting CJTF-OIR missions to defeat Da'esh and advise, assist and enable missions.
Distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious wartime service, as the Ancillary Services NCOIC and sole 68J Medical Logistics NCO for the 204th Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) Role 2 Enhanced (Role 2E), Joint Task Force Savior, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq, from 08 August 2024 to 26 May 2025. Her service was under combat conditions with significant risk of exposure to enemy hostile actions under the threat of almost certain attacks on AAAB, Iraq, supported with credible intelligence reports, and multiple One Way Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (OWUAS) sighted and destroyed in the vicinity of AAAB, Iraq. She was also exposed to the threat of theater ballistic missiles on 1 October 2024 when 180 missiles were fired over her location. Her professionalism, dedication to duty, and care for Soldiers, Airmen, and Coalition Forces were instrumental in the success of the Role 2E's mission to provide medical care, damage control surgical resuscitation, and support the Combined Joint Task Force OIR (CJTF-OIR) to defeat Da'esh across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA).
Distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious wartime service, as the Patient Administration (PAD) NCOIC for the Role 2 Enhanced (Role 2E), Joint Task Force Savior, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq, from 08 August 2024 to 31 May 2025. Her service was under combat conditions with significant risk of exposure to enemy hostile actions under the threat of almost certain attacks on AAAB, Iraq, supported by credible intelligence reports, with multiple One Way Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (OWUAS) sighted and destroyed in the vicinity of AAAB, Iraq. She was exposed to the threat of theater ballistic missiles on 1 October 2024 when 180 missiles were fired in the vicinity of her location. Her professionalism, dedication to duty, and care for Soldiers, Airmen, and Coalition Forces were instrumental in the success of the Role 2E's mission to provide medical care, damage control surgical resuscitation, and support the CJTF-OIR to defeat Da'esh across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA).
Distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious wartime service, as the Administrative NCOIC for the 204th Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) Role 2 Enhanced (Role 2E), Task Force Savior, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq, from 08 August 2024 to 31 May 2025. Her service was under combat conditions with significant risk of exposure to enemy hostile actions under the threat of almost certain attacks on AAAB, Iraq, supported with credible intelligence reports, with multiple One Way Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (OWUAS) sighted and destroyed in the vicinity of AAAB, Iraq. She was also exposed to the threat of theater ballistic missiles on 1 October 2024 when 180 missiles were fired over her location. Her professionalism, dedication to duty, and care for Soldiers, Airmen, and Coalition Forces were instrumental in the success of the Role 2E's mission to provide medical care, damage control surgical resuscitation, and support the Combined Joint Task Force – OIR (CJTF-OIR) mission to defeat Da'esh across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA).
Distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious wartime service, as the Unit Supply NCO for the 204th Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) Role 2 Enhanced (Role 2E), Task Force Savior, Operation Inherent Resolve (OlR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq, from 8 August 2024 to 26 May 2025. His service under combat conditions with significant risk of exposure to enemy hostile actions under the threat of almost certain attacks on AAAB, Iraq, supported with credible intelligence reports, with multiple One Way Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (OWUAS) sighted and destroyed by in the vicinity of AAAB, Iraq. He was also exposed to the threat of theater ballistic missiles on 1 October 2024 when 180 missiles were fired over his AAAB by Iran. His professionalism, dedications to duty, and care for Soldiers, Airmen, and Coalition Forces were instrumental in the success of the Role 2E's mission to provide medical care, damage control surgical resuscitation, and support the Combined Joint Task Force - OIR (CJTF-OlR) to defeat Da'esh across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA).
Distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious wartime service, as the Laboratory Noncommissioned Officer In-charge for the Role 2 Enhanced (Role 2E), Joint Task Force Savior, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), Al Asad Air Base (AAAB), Iraq, from 08 August 2024 to 26 May 2025. Her service was under combat conditions with significant risk of exposure to enemy hostile actions under the threat of almost certain attacks on AAAB, supported by credible intelligence reports, with multiple One Way Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (OWUAS) sighted and destroyed in the vicinity of AAAB. She was exposed to the threat of theater ballistic missiles on 1 October 2024 when 180 missiles were fired in the vicinity of her location. Her professionalism, dedication to duty, and care for Soldiers, Airmen, and Coalition Forces were instrumental in the success of the Role 2E's mission to provide medical care, damage control surgical resuscitation, and support the CJTF-OIR mission to defeat Da'esh across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA).
Distinguished herself by meritorious wartime service, under combat conditions with significant risk to exposure to enemy hostile actions as evidenced by credible threat reporting, as the Assistant Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Role 2E, Joint Task Force Savior, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), Al Asad Air Base, Iraq from 24 November 2024 to 24 April 2025. Her outstanding performance, leadership, professionalism and dedication to duty, while operating in a high-risk environment, provided direct support to units across the Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA) conducting CJTF-OIR missions to defeat Da'esh and advise, assist and enable missions.
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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