During a ceremony Friday September 6, 2024, on Camp Ripley, the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Combined Arms Battalion of the 194th Armor Regiment based in Brainerd, received three of the U.S. military’s highest unit awards for their efforts during the 2021 evacuation of allied personnel from Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Presidential Unit Citation and two other prestigious awards were awarded to the battalion during the ceremony. More than 30 Army and Marine Corps units received the Presidential Unit Citation for evacuating more than 124,000 civilians from Kabul in August 2021.

“These awards are not just symbols of what the Soldiers have achieved, they are reminders of the lives they saved, the people they protected, and the difference they made in the world,” said Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, the Minnesota National Guard’s adjutant general.

The unit deployed to Southwest Asia in March of 2021 where they supported Operations Freedoms Sentinel and Spartan Shield. The unit, also known as Task Force Bastards in honor of the unit’s linage as the ‘Battling Bastards of Bataan’ at the beginning of World War II, contributed to the hastily assembled force at Hamid Karzai International Airport in August of 2021. They were essential in supporting security and evacuation efforts as thousands of desperate Afghans surrounded the airfield hoping to find a flight out of the country.

“Serving as the Regional Response Force based out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, we were mobilized to help secure the airport during the drawdown,” said Army 1st Sgt. Aaron Rousselange, former battalion master gunner for the unit. “Working alongside the 82nd Airborne as well as the Air Force and Marines, we made up a force that ensured a safe and successful evacuation of vulnerable Afghan citizens and Allied personnel.”

Task Force Bastard comprised is of 1,100 Soldiers, primarily from the battalion, but also from the Minnesota National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion of the 136th Infantry Regiment and the 134th Brigade Support Battalion, which were supporting several missions throughout the region. The remaining 425 Minnesota Soldiers alerted to the new mission had 24 hours to be ‘wheels up’ and ‘boots on the ground’ nearly 1,400 miles away. Rushing from Kuwait to Afghanistan the unit loaded equipment, mission essential necessities, food, water and ammunition as they boarded a plane for Kabul.

“Then it was zero to 1,000: ‘Hey, you gotta go, and you gotta go now,’” said Army Lt. Col. Jake Helgestad, former battalion commander during an October 2021 interview with Stars and Stripes.

The unit received three awards: the Presidential Unit Citation, or PUC, award; the Meritorious Unit Commendation, or MUC, award; and the Superior Unit Award, or SUA. The PUC is awarded to units for extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy. The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit-de-corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions to set it apart and above other units. The MUC is for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding achievement and the SUA is awarded to Army units that display outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission under extraordinary circumstances.

“The prestige of these awards are significant milestones in the lineage and rich history of this battalion, but awards come with a cost and a sacrifice that only the Soldiers and families of the deployed truly understand,” said Army Lt. Col. John Hobot, the current battalion commander. “I am honored to participate in this recognition to celebrate the accomplishments of the Soldiers who made up Task Force Bastard.”

The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after December 7, 1941. The last time a Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to this Battalion was during WWII for their service and sacrifice during the Battle of Bataan which was fought between the United States and Philippine Commonwealth against Japan. It represented the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and ended on April 9, 1942, with the surrender of American and Filipino forces, leading to the horrific Bataan Death March.

“The bravery of the Soldiers on the ground and the dedication of those who supported every evacuation flight exemplify the ideals of service with honor and compassion,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in a release published by the Pentagon. “Until the last aircraft departed, the 82nd Airborne Division and members of [Joint Task Force-82] held the line and provided the safe passage needed to evacuate over 100,000 U.S. citizens, Afghan civilians, and family members. It is a privilege to recognize these Soldiers for their actions during the tumultuous days of August 2021 and to honor their courage at a time when the entire nation relied on them to complete their mission – which they did with great distinction.”

Mr. Tony Housey
Minnesota National Guard
Camp Ripley Public Affairs