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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Story and photos by Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari and Kentucky Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini talk with deployed Guardsmen via Skype from Calipari’s office in Lexington, Ky., Jan. 8, 2013. The call connected the coach with Kentucky Soldiers in Africa and Camp Shelby, Miss. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
LEXINGTON, Ky. — For some Kentucky Guardsmen, being deployed overseas got a little bit easier on January 8, 2013 with a unique opportunity to chat with University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari. A Skype conference from the UK campus connected the coach and Kentucky Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W, Tonini with Soldiers in the Horn of Africa and Camp Shelby, Miss.
University of Kentucky sophomore forward Kyle Wiltjer waves to troops watching a skype conference with coach John Calipari and adjutant general Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini in Lexington, Ky., Jan. 8, 2013. Deployed Guardsmen had the opportunity to talk with Calipari and Wiltjer about UK’s season. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“It was really exciting to have the unique opportunity to speak to Coach Cal, a first for me,” said Staff Sgt. Robbie Simpson of the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, currently in Camp Shelby. “And is was an enjoyable break from the training schedule. It felt like home for a few.”
To see more photos from this story, click here.
Deployed Kentucky Guardsmen have said that one of the worst things about being away from home is being away from UK basketball. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery serving in Djibouti, Africa donned their blue t-shirts and hung a UK flag as a backdrop for the call. The Soldiers of the 1/623rd just recently arrived in Mississippi where they are preparing to deploy to Jordan in the coming weeks.
But for a short time, Djibouti and Camp Shelby might have well been Rupp Arena for the Soldiers, as they reveled in the chance to ask Coach Cal questions and give him their opinions of how the Wildcats are doing this season.
Sophomore forward Kyle Wiltjer also made a surprise appearance to talk with the troops and flash his “three googles,” (you may need to be a UK fan to understand that one).
University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari shows off his 2012 NCAA National Championship ring to deployed Soldiers during a Skype call from Lexington, Ky., Jan. 8, 2013. Calipari took the opportunity to thank the Soldiers for their service and dedication to his team. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Calipari shared his thoughts on the Wildcats, both this year and last, and showed off the 2012 NCAA National Championship ring to the troops. He commended them for their courage, thanking them for their service to Kentucky and the country.
“His remarks and the genuine comments that were made is an example of the true ambassador that he has become for the entire state, not just sports or for the military, but for the citizens as well,” said Simpson.
“Coach Cal has shown an incredible willingness to be with us, to be part of us, we consider him a Guardsman, even though he’s a basketball coach,” said Tonini. “He’s part of our team and everyone knows that and appreciates that.”
Story and photos by Capt. Stephen D. Martin, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
[flickr video=6555432291 secret=fc017c5384 w=400 h=225]
(The above video shows the 201st Engineer Battalion being honored on the floor of Rupp Arena during the UK vs. Loyola Game Dec. 22, when Gov. Steve Beshear and Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini presented the Valorous Unit Award in honor of the unit’s actions in Afghanistan in 2008. Video by Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
Gov. Steve Beshear and Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini presented the Valorous Unit Award to the 201st Engineer Battalion in recognition of the unit's actions in Afghanistan in 2008. The 201st Engineers were honored on the floor of Rupp Arena during the UK vs. Loyola Game Dec. 22.(photo by Capt. Stephen Martin, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
LEXINGTON, Ky.– Governor Steve Beshear joined Adjutant General Edward W. Tonini and thousands of University of Kentucky basketball fans in the presentation of a valorous unit award streamer to the Soldiers of the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 201st Engineer Battalion at half-time during the game between UK and Loyola at Rupp Arena on Dec. 22.
“Today is a very special day to be recognized as a Kentucky Guardsmen,” said Maj. Gen. Tonini. “These Soldiers from the 201st did us proud in Afghanistan and continue to show Kentucky’s Unbridled Service in everything they do for our Nation and Commonwealth.”
The 201st headquarters is in Ashland, with the detachments and companys in Cynthiana, Hazard, Jackson, Olive Hill, Pikeville and Prestonsburg. The unit was mobilized in March 2008 to conduct route reconnaissance and area clearance operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. More than 500 members of the “Workhorse Battalion” were credited for disposing of more than 200,000 landmines and improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan, clearing over a million square meters of terrain.
The 201st Engineer Battalion was honored on the floor of Rupp Arena during the UK vs. Loyola Game Dec. 22, when Gov. Steve Beshear and Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini presented the Valorous Unit Award in honor of the unit's actions in Afghanistan in 2008. (photo by Capt. Stephen Martin, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
“I had a chance to visit the Soldiers of the 201st with then-commander Mike Ferguson while they were in Afghanistan,” said Tonini. “These engineers truly earned this valorous unit award, as they put themselves in harm’s way — every day — to protect our fellow service members as they traversed all throughout Afghanistan.”
Other accomplishments during the 201st deployment to Afghanistan include:
* 65 percent of the Battalion was in direct contact with the enemy earning the 201st Engineer Battalion the Combat Action Unit Streamer.
* 413 Combat Action Badges were awarded to Soldiers for direct contact with the enemy.
* 44 Soldiers received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained from combat.
* 21 Bronze Star Medals for Valor and 32 Army Commendation Medals for Valor were earned for actions while engaging the enemy.
* 9 Combat Medical Badges earned by medical personnel giving aid during active combat.
The 201st lost one Soldier during its service in Afghanistan. 27 year-old Sgt. Daniel Wallace, of Dry Ridge, Grant County, Ky. was killed Oct. 31, 2008 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces while conducting a route clearing mission to remove IEDs in West Paktika Province, Afghanistan.
