Photo By Barbara Wilson | Capt. John Kuhn, Commander, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, based...... read more read more
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Approximately 550 Illinois Army National Guard from the Blackhawk Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Blackhawk Battalion, headquartered in Marion, were joined by family and friends at mobilization ceremonies in various locations Feb. 8-9 as they prepare to deploy for an overseas mission to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
“You are trained. You are ready, and it’s time to knock this mission out of the park,” said Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, The Adjutant General of Illinois, and Commander of the Illinois National Guard.
Boyd was on hand at the ceremony honoring the approximately 130 Soldiers from Company B, based in Effingham, Feb. 8.
The battalion, which has units based in Marion, West Frankfort, Effingham, Litchfield, and Mount Vernon, will conduct additional training at Fort Bliss, Texas, before deploying to the U.S. Central Command. While overseas, the battalion will be headquartered in Jordan and will have Soldiers in 17 locations in seven countries in support of Operation Spartan Shield. The unit’s primary missing will be securing and protecting U.S. and allied forces and will also include training with allies and partners in the region.
Boyd thanked the families of not only Company B’s Soldiers, but also the families of all the deploying Soldiers.
“Thank you for supporting these young warriors over the years and your continuing support during this deployment,” he said. “You are the reason these Soldiers can wear the uniform and serve this great nation.”
He asked three things of the Soldiers while they are deployed.
“Keep the lines of communications open with your families. They will be worried about you. I ask the families to be patient. They’re not always going to be able to call you right back, but they will contact you when they have time,” Boyd said. “Take care of each other. You are only as strong as your weakest link.
“Support each other. Everyone won’t have a great day every day, but collectively you will be successful on this mission. Each day you go out to do your job, give it 110 percent,” he said. “And lastly make a personal goal and work to achieve it. Whether it's to improve your physical fitness, read a book, or take an online course. Fix something about yourself.”
Capt. Andrew Klein, Commander, Company B, thanked the families of the Soldiers for stepping up to pick up the slack at home while their Soldier is deployed.
“I know the responsibilities don’t go away even during deployments,” he said. “I know the families will be picking up the slack more with their Soldier gone. Thank you for that.”
Klein told the Soldiers being away from home won’t be easy, but they are up to the task at hand.
“It’s not going to be easy. There will be hard times and there will be challenges,” he said. “Embrace those times with your friends on your left and right. Those will likely be the memories you take with you the longest following the deployment. You will look back at them the fondest.”
State Rep. Brad Halbrook, 107th legislative district, thanked the families and Soldiers for the sacrifices they make because of the deployment.
“Operation Spartan Shield is taking you to one of the most violent places in the world,” he said. “It takes a tremendous amount of courage to willingly deploy and takes character and patriotism. America is worth fighting for and defending. You are living proof of that profound truth.”
Sgt. Evan Oliver, a fire team leader and training noncommissioned officer of Company B, has set two goals for his time away from family.
“During my free time I hope to work out more to keep myself motivated,” he said. “I also plan to finish my bachelor’s degree this summer.”
Oliver took Boyd’s advice about family to heart.
“My wife Anna is my biggest supporter,” he said. “She constantly motivates and pushes me to do my best.”
Oliver is already counting down the days until he is back with his loved ones.
“I’m looking forward to spending quality time with my family and taking my dogs on a nice long walk,” he said.
Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, told the Soldiers and families at the Feb. 8 ceremony for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Marion, they have already answered the most sacred call to defend their nation and its citizens.
“You have already answered the most sacred call to serve, protect, and defend this nation and its citizens,” said Williams. “Each deployed mission has its own unique requirements, but it all starts with Soldiers willing to stand up and volunteer to leave their loved ones to serve something greater than themselves.”
Williams told the families of the Soldiers at Company B in Litchfield, the battalion is ready for this mission, only because of the support structure of family, friends, and their communities.
“It takes a community; it takes a village to support a Soldier so they can go do what they are trained to do with a clear mind and peace of mind that everything is taken care of back home,” he said.
Williams told the Soldiers they will bring back some of the greatest memories of their military career.
“This deployment will produce some of the greatest memories of your military career because you’re serving something greater, and you’re going to figure that out when you get over there. I promise you that,” he said. “I ask all of you to think about when you’re done with this mission, ask yourself what will be said about you and what you did for the unit, for your peers, comrades, and for your country?”
He asked the Soldiers to do three things during the deployment.
“Do more than is asked of you. Seize the opportunity to achieve greatness,” he said. “Ask yourself what your legacy will be at the end of this mission. The Blackhawk Battalion has some of the richest history in the entire Army National Guard. Know your history and know what you represent.”
Former U.S. Congressman Dr. Glenn Poshard, who serves on the Board of Trustees at John A. Logan College in Carterville, likened his service in the U.S. Army serving in South Korea in the mid-1960s to the Soldiers serving in the Blackhawk Battalion today.
Poshard, who joined the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday, served in Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division along the demilitarized zone.
“The DMZ was and still is one of the most volatile and dangerous places in the world,” he said to the approximately 80 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), based in Marion. “I went there to defend freedom where it was being challenged, some 10,000 miles from my home and family. You go today wearing the uniform of your country, the greatest country on the face of the earth to defend freedom in an equally volatile and dangerous place, the Middle East.
“To go there (South Korea) and wear the uniform of my country was then and remains today the single greatest honor of my life,” he said. “America’s most precious export to the world is freedom. You, the men and women of the National Guard, carry the burden to protect freedom all over the world on your shoulders.”
HHC Commander 1st Lt. Sean Harris said the unit stands as a testament to the true meaning of bravery and strength.
“We do not shy away from difficult tasks, or the challenges others may fear,” he said. “We face them head on with unwavering resolve knowing that what we do is not easy, but it is necessary.”
Harris, who joined the Blackhawk Battalion as a cadet in 2016, said their mission is not for the faint of heart.
“Our duty demands power, courage, and the ability to ack with authority when others hesitate,” he said. “We’re not just Soldiers but the embodiment of resilience, and the driving force that pushes forward even when the path is uncertain. I became a Blackhawk because no matter the time, day, or weather, we’re always ready and I mean always ready to face whatever comes our way.”
Capt. Marcus Bellone, Commander of Company D, based in Mount Vernon, thanked the families during the Mount Vernon ceremony Feb. 8.
“Your sacrifice is immeasurable. You’ll keep the households running, celebrate milestones without your loved ones present, and bear the weight of worry,” he said. “Know your strength does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.”
His message to the Soldiers was simple.
“This deployment asks much of you. You’re trading your work boots for combat boots, and office chairs for Humvee seats,” he said. “You’re putting careers on hold, stepping away from family responsibilities, and venturing into the unknown. But you do so willingly, embodying the best traditions of the National Guard. As we deploy, keep in mind you carry with you the hopes and pride of your communities. Your service reminds us all that citizenship comes with responsibility, that freedom requires vigilance, and that ordinary people can rise to extraordinary challenges.”
Bellone also thanked the Soldiers’ employers, saying without their support, this mission would not be possible.
“Your flexibility and understanding make this service possible,” Bellone said. “You are patriots in your own right, keeping the home fires burning so these brave men and women can focus on their mission.”
State Sen. Terri Bryant, 58th Senate District, whose district includes the Mount Vernon area, told the Soldiers the people of Illinois support their mission.
“Please know the people of Illinois stand firmly behind you as you go forth and represent our state with honor and excellence,” she said. “To the families, please know your sacrifice is just as great and know you have our unwavering support.”
Lt. Col. Edward Worman, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, said this deployment is the culmination of the Soldiers’ dedication, sacrifice, and incredible effort they put forth over the past year.
“It is because of your hard work and commitment that we are ready for the challenges that lie ahead,” he said. “Once again, our nation has called upon us to stand ready. I have no doubt that you will answer that call with the same courage, discipline, and pride that has come to define this unit.”
He thanked the families for their support.
“I understand this year will be difficult for you. There will be birthdays missed, holidays spent apart, and moments of uncertainty,” he said. “Know your support is felt by each Soldier who wears this uniform. It is your strength and perseverance that will enable them to succeed and to thrive, even in the most difficult of circumstances. You are a vital part of this mission.”
His message to the Soldiers is to take care of each other.
“While there will be hardships and moments of uncertainty, it will also be an experience that will shape you as Soldiers and as individuals,” he said. “We are brothers and sisters in arms and that bond will see us through any challenge.”
He told the Soldiers they are mission ready.
“You are prepared. Not just in terms of skill, but also in heart and resolve,” he said. “We are ready for whatever challenges may come our way, and I have no doubt we will accomplish our mission with the same determination that has defined the Blackhawk Battalion since 1809.”
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, 118th Legislative District, which encompasses the West Frankfort area, told Company A Soldiers that few Americans understand the sacrifices they and their families make when duty calls during the Feb. 9 ceremony in West Frankfort.
“As a result of that call, you stand here today, ready to protect me, my family, the people of Illinois, and the citizens of the United States,” he said. “Your decision to serve your country was not made lightly. The courage, discipline, and commitment you demonstrate are a testament for the very best of our country. You represent the proud tradition of the Illinois National Guard – always ready and always there when your state or nation needs you most. I have no doubt you will carry out your duties with professionalism and excellence.”
Col. Seth Hible, Commander, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), was a young Company A executive officer in 2002 when he deployed with the unit. He told the Soldiers it was an honor to stand in front of them as the company prepares to deploy.
“This mission is critical. But it is a mission that will change so I ask you to be flexible,” he said. “You are part of a team. You are a well-disciplined, well trained cohesive unit that embodies the values of the Blackhawk Battalion, the 33rd IBCT, and the U.S. Army.”
Hible urged the Soldiers to maintain contact with their families.
“You are not alone,” he said. “Support each other and look out for each other.”
Hible said the deployment will help Soldiers build memories that will last a lifetime.
“Those memories will be forged in hardship, joy, and sweat,” he said. “Cherish those memories.”
He also urged the Soldiers to become better individuals.
“Find the means to better yourself. Set a goal, whether it’s to take an online course, read a classic novel, or work to get your physically fit. The choice is yours,” he said. “Take the time to improve yourself spiritually, physically, and mentally.”
Hible told the Soldiers they carry the support of the brigade, their families, and community with them on the deployment.
“You are part of something greater than yourselves,” he said. “You are part of a legacy that has served to defend this nation for generations. You are part of the oldest unit and regiment in the Illinois Army National Guard. You are prepared. You are ready. You are part of the greatest fighting force in the world. You are Blackhawks.”
Capt. John Kuhn, Commander, Company A, West Frankfort, said the Soldiers have worked tirelessly to prepare for the deployment.
“The Soldiers are and have been physically and mentally tired, but they still continuously worked to meet the objectives and accomplish the mission,” he said. “Because of that, they can accomplish any mission that lies ahead.”
Capt. Justin Asbury, Commander of Company C, Litchfield, said the months ahead will test the Soldiers.
“There will be moments of doubt, loneliness, and difficulty, but through it all, you will have the Soldiers to your left and to your right,” he said. “Lean on them, support one another. Some of the friendships you will form during this deployment will last a lifetime.”
He told the Soldiers the deployment is an opportunity to learn, grow, and expand their understanding of military operations beyond the Illinois National Guard.
“You will quickly see just how much we work alongside partner nations and their militaries,” he said. “I encourage you to be open-minded, embrace the experience, and take in as much as you can during this.”
Williams paid tribute to the veterans at the ceremonies.
“You have passed the baton on to our younger warriors,” he said. “I assure you; it is in good hands. Look at them! They’re ready to go!”
| Date Taken: | 02.09.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2025 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 492433 |
| Location: | ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
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