Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers return from overseas deployment

ROCKFORD, Ill. - Approximately 265 Soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Marion, Illinois, with units in Effingham, Litchfield, and Mount Vernon, were greeted by family and friends during welcome home ceremonies Dec. 6 in Mascoutah and Rockford.

Approximately 250 additional Soldiers from the unit are scheduled to return to Illinois at a later date.

The Soldiers of the "Black Hawk Battalion" were mobilized in February in support of Operation Spartan Shield and deployed throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, including Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel.

"I want to thank the families for being here today to welcome back these great warriors," said Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard, during the Rockford ceremony. "Without your support, they can't do what we ask of them."

Boyd noted that he assigned the Soldiers two primary tasks before their departure.

"I told them to take care of each other. They did that because they all came home," he said. "I told them to better themselves. They did that as well."

Sixteen Soldiers completed Basic Leader Course requirements during the deployment. In addition, 36 Soldiers earned the Schützenschnur, the German armed forces marksmanship award for proficiency with rifle and pistol. Twenty-six Soldiers also completed the Norwegian Foot March.

According to Lt. Col. Edward Worman, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, the Soldiers conducted security and base defense operations during the deployment, securing critical assets and infrastructure across multiple locations.

"Our Soldiers successfully conducted security and base defense operations in 18 locations and seven countries for more than nine months in austere conditions," Worman said. "They were performing security duties during the Iranian missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Our Soldiers also provided security for two presidential visits in Qatar and Egypt."

Worman said the battalion performed exceptionally well under demanding circumstances.

"The Soldiers were present and performing duties under hostile conditions during the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran," he said. "Hundreds of ballistic missiles and one-way unmanned aerial vehicles passed through our defensive zones."

For serving under those conditions, 37 Soldiers were awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and 54 Soldiers received the Combat Action Badge.

Soldiers also trained and worked alongside the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Jordanian Armed Forces, Saudi Royal Land Forces, Israeli Defense Forces, and other mission partners.

"We are extremely proud of your service," said Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, assistant adjutant general - Army and commander of the Illinois Army National Guard. "You carried forward the legacy of this organization and every veteran who served before you."

Soldiers from the 130th Infantry Regiment received multiple individual and end-of-tour awards, including 10 Bronze Star Medals, 21 Meritorious Service Medals, 506 Army Commendation Medals with "C" device for combat conditions, three Army Commendation Medals, eight Army Achievement Medals with "C" device, and 96 Army Achievement Medals. Worman noted that the battalion was submitted for a Meritorious Unit Citation, which remains pending approval.

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