CHICAGO - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn joined Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, May 19, and Army Maj. General William Enyart, the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard, to honor Illinois National Guard members Army Sgt. First Class Ryan Ahern and Army Capt. Tom Bozzay with Silver Stars for valor.
Dempsey presented the awards to Ahern and Bozzay for their heroic actions in Afghanistan in December 2009 while protecting a French military unit.
"As we honor our military heroes on Armed Services Day, we must never forget their sacrifices," Quinn said. "Sergeant first class Ahern and captain Bozzay are genuine heroes and a shining example of Illinois' best."
Ahern and Bozzay are both assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group in Chicago. While deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and while under attack from a large enemy force, Bozzay moved under fire to provide medical care to five unit members who were seriously injured. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Bozzay repeatedly used his body to shield wounded comrades from incoming fire.
Ahern was unconscious when the unit received fire, which wounded him and four others. After regaining consciousness from the blast, Ahern identified and fired at the enemy long enough to allow other members of the unit to reinforce their positions.
"The actions of captain Bozzay and sergeant first class Ahern prove they are not only heroes, but they are true protectors of this country," Enyart said. "They were selfless and fearless without hesitating to simply do their job. They are an inspiration to me and our fellow Illinois National Guardsmen."
The Silver Star is the third-highest military decoration that can be awarded to any branch of the U. S. military. Saturday's ceremony on United States Armed Services Day at the Pritzker Military Library occurred just as the Illinois National Guard played a key role in the weekend's historic NATO summit in Chicago.
Three additional Illinois National Guard Soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 20th SFG (Airborne) were also recognized on the field during Armed Forces Day at Wrigley Field.
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Meister, Army Staff Sgt. Scott Blindt and Staff Sgt. Dan Schwarz were recognized, along with five other service members before the game, by Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.