Features

DPAA Identifies Remains of Illinois Army National Guard Soldier from World War II
April 19, 2024 — Rosemary Dillon, of Chicago, was about five years old when her Uncle Harry, who was serving in the Illinois Army National Guard’s Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, was activated for federal service, arriving in the Philippines just days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the next day, the Philippines. On Oct. 4, nearly 83 years after the start of World War II, Dillon’s Uncle Harry, Pfc. Harry Jerele, will be buried with full military honors at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood. ... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Pfc. Harry Jerele, 26, of Berkeley, Illinois. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced April 18 Jerele’s remains were identified Dec. 20 and will be returned to Illinois for burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Oct. 4.

College Student from Arlington Heights and Pekin Police Officer Top Honors in Illinois National Guard's Best Warrior Competition
April 16, 2024 — Pfc. Nathan Johnson of Arlington Heights was named the Illinois Army National Guard’s “Soldier of the Year” and Sgt. Terry Lair of Pekin was named the “Noncommissioned Officer of the Year” after a grueling 3-day competition at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois, that pitted the top placers from each of the Illinois Army National Guard’s major subordinate commands against each other. ... MORE

Sgt. Terry Lair of Pekin, Illinois, was named the Illinois Army National Guard's "Noncommissioned Officer of the Year" at the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition from April 12-14 at the Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

Illinois National Guard Friends Complete Marathon Challenge
April 1, 2024 — Pheidippides, the original marathon runner, was a Soldier in the Greek Army who ran roughly 26 miles to Athens to give news of the Greek victory at Marathon. Then he died. Illinois Air National Guard Lt. Col. Kira Tierney of Middletown, the commander of the 183rd Force Support Squadron based in Springfield, and retired Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rachelle McKay of Hartselle, Alabama have run six marathons, roughly 160 miles.  Both are still alive! ... MORE

Illinois Air National Guard Lt. Col. Kira Tierney of Middletown, the commander of the 183rd Force Support Squadron based in Springfield, and retired Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rachelle McKay of Hartselle, Alabama have run six marathons, roughly 160 miles.

Chicago Business Consultant and Illinois National Guard Soldier Graduates from Ranger School
November 29, 2023 — While Anton Hopkins walks in the Chicago Loop to his civilian job at L.E.K. Consulting, many don’t see the “rough” man who stands ready “to do violence” on behalf of the United States so others can “sleep peacefully in their beds” - as the famous quote goes. But Illinois Army National Guard 1st Lt. Anton Hopkins is a U.S. Army Ranger-qualified infantryman with the military and leadership skills to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and our democracy. Hopkins completed the intense 62-day, three-phase Army Ranger School on Oct. 13 after first attending the National Guard’s Ranger Training and Assessment Course in June. Ranger School starts at Fort Moore in Georgia and includes mountain and swamp training. Less than half of the Soldiers who started the course with Hopkins were able to finish it. And Soldiers are intensely screened just to get into the course. In uniform, Hopkins is the sniper section and scout platoon leader for the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment based in the General Richard L. Jones Armory on Chicago’s South Side. ... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard 1st Lt. Anton Hopkins graduated from Ranger School in October.

Soldier Inspired to Serve by Operation Desert Storm Ends Military Career as Illinois National Guard's Command Senior Enlisted Leader
November 21, 2023 — The year was 1990 and a future Illinois National Guard member watched Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm unfold on national television and was inspired to “do something that means something.” “I had graduated high school and knew I wanted to go to college but didn’t know how I was going to pay for it because my parents couldn’t afford it,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Dena Ballowe of Carlinville, who retired as the Illinois National Guard’s top enlisted service member on Oct. 31 after 32 years of service in the Illinois Army National Guard. “I had moved to Indiana to live with my grandmother to see what Indiana had to offer.”... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Dena Ballowe, the outgoing Illinois National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader, thanks family, friends, and fellow Illinois National Guard members, for their support during her time as the ILNG CSEL. Ballowe relinquished responsibility and authority as the CSEL to Command Sgt. Maj. Kehinde Salami, Sept. 8 at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois. Ballowe retired Oct. 31 after 32 years of service in the Illinois Army National Guard.

Combat Leader, Relationship Builder, and Master of Movie Lines: Major General Mark Jackson has Retired After 38 Years
November 6, 2023 — Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Barber, then a squad leader, took a position on a rooftop in the Abu Graib neighborhood of Baghdad in 2005 so he could get a better vantage point on the enemy’s attack on his Soldiers. “Black Hawk Six is in enroute” he heard over his radio. Maj. Gen. Mark Jackson of Frankfort, Illinois, then a lieutenant colonel and his battalion commander, had decided to see the situation firsthand... MORE

Maj. Gen. Mark C. Jackson of Frankfort, Illinois, then a brigadier general, thanks the many people that aided his career during a promotion ceremony at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, Aug. 5, 2017. Jackson retired after more than 38 years of service this year. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Spreitzer)

Illinois National Guard NCO to Join Polish Bicycle Rally to Honor Fallen Allies
August 3, 2023 — When Senior Master Sgt. David Schreffler started riding with Gold Star Mission it was a great way to combine two of his greatest passions, bicycle riding and a desire to honor and remember fallen U.S. service members. The Illinois Air National Guard NCO never thought it would bring him across the ocean to ride in honor of the fallen service members of our nation’s staunch ally, Poland. But, from Aug. 8-12, Schreffler will join five other volunteer U.S. riders and two volunteer support staff on the first Polish Veterans Bike Rally. “It is a great way to ensure the fallen are not forgotten,” said Schreffler, the Chief of Quality Assurance with the 217th Engineering and Installation Squadron, 183rd Wing, based in Springfield... MORE

Illinois Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. David Schreffler (right) receives a plaque from his sister, Col. LaDonna Schreffler, after he reached 30 years of Air Force service.

Determined, Resilient and Smart: High-Flying General Retires After 38 Years of Service
June 29, 2023 — Both Silvasy and Caster are now airline pilots, Silvasy for United since 1996 and Caster for Delta. Silvasy retired from the Illinois Air National Guard on June 3 during a ceremony at the 183rd Wing in Springfield. Those who knew him marveled at how he was able to balance his full-time job as a United Airlines pilot, his extensive military career, and his family life... MORE

Illinois Air National Guard Brig. Gen. James Silvasy retired after 38 years of service in June.

Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Selected for All-Army Women's Softball Team
June 27, 2023 — Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Mary Joan “MJ” Patten’s love of softball began when she was five years old, playing T-ball for the Rockford, Illinois, Park District. Patten, now of Caledonia, Wisconsin, continued playing softball throughout middle school, high school, and college. On July 18, Patten will don another softball uniform – as the only National Guard member competing in the 2023 All-Army Women’s Softball training camp and the Armed Forces Women’s Softball Championship... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Mary Joan Patten, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion, based in Decatur, during training with the Illinois Army National Guard.

Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidates Travel Back in Time to Battle of Shiloh for Staff Ride
May 20, 2023 — Gen. Ulysses S. Grant called the Battle of Shiloh, fought April 6-7, 1862 at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, “the severest battle fought in the West during the War.” More than 110,000 men fought at the Battle of Shiloh near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. More than 23,000 men were wounded or killed during the battle, including 3,957 Illinois militiamen. The Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG) Officer Candidate School’s (OCS) Class 68-23 visited Shiloh National Military Park during their annual Staff Ride May 20... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Class 68-23 and cadre pause in front of the Mother of Illinois monument dedicated to the Illinois Militia who fought during the Battle of Shiloh as part of the staff ride to the Shiloh National Military Park near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, May 20.