Four Iowa National Guard Soldiers will receive medals for heroism in a ceremony Sunday in Le Mars. Iowa Guard spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Greg Hapgood says the soldiers are being honored for their actions in Kosovo in March of 2004. He says they responded to a series of riots in Kosovo and during the riots he says the soldiers were in situations where they saved lives because of their actions. The soldiers from the first squadron 113th Calvary are: Sergeant Michael Anderson of Des Moines, Staff Sergeant Matthew Krogman of Kingsley, Sergeant Byron Evans of Le Mars and Specialist Jason Stoos (Stohs) of Remsen will be honored with the “Soldier’s Medal.” He says in peace time it is one of the highest medals a soldier can receive for heroism. Hapgood says it’s on the same level of heroics as the distinguished service cross in war time. The 23-year-old Evans spoke with Radio Iowa and filled in some of the details. Evans says they were trying to protect a house and church in village in Kosovo from a rioting mob. He says the mob started the house on fire as it was right by the church and they were trying to burn down the church. They looted the house and then beat up two elderly people and left them in the house. He says he and his fellow soldiers went into the burning house and brought out the elderly people and game them first aid. Evans says the didn’t think much about their own safety, the just wanted to get the people out of the house. He says there was chaos around them the entire time. He says there were four guys fighting off the mob right outside the house as the mob tried to get in to loot the house again. Evans says he doesn’t remember being scared during it all. He says, “When I look back at it, it was kind of scary, not at the time it wasn’t, my adrenaline must’ve been pumping pretty hard.” Evans has little to say about the President deeming their actions worthy of the Soldiers Medal. “Well, I feel it’s a great honor. That’s about all I can really say about it I guess,” Evans said. Happgood says the soldiers will get their medals from the man who commanded them in Kosovo.He says, “The Guard has a great deal of pride with its soldiers and families. They are always ready for duty, whatever it may bring them. They prepare themselves very well, and those soldiers reflect very well on Iowa and all Iowans.” The four soldiers will received their medals in the ceremony and then be a part of a sendoff that will see their unit deployed again to federal active duty.
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