BRAINERD, Minn. — A central Minnesota Army National Guard unit is being honored with the U.S. Military’s highest unit award.
On Friday, a ceremony was held for the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, based in Brainerd, for lives saved during the evacuation of Afghan citizens and Allied personnel.
It was a moment in time three years ago that most Americans and Afghan people will never forget.
The images from Kabul, Afghanistan and the thousands who tried to leave the country when American troops pulled out and the Taliban took over.
Minnesotans assigned to the 1st Combined Arms Battalion worked alongside Air Force and Marines to get vulnerable Afghans and American citizens out of harm’s way.
“It was an incredibly volatile and rapidly evolving situation,” said Major Michael Popp.
Popp was part of the fighting force that rescued more than 124,000 American citizens, U.S. government employees and Afghanistan refugees in under 15 days.