LEXINGTON, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear will join 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
tomorrow's game between UK and Loyola at Rupp Arena.

Headquartered in Ashland with units in Cynthiana, Hazard, Jackson, Olive
Hill, Pikeville and Prestonsburg, the 201st was mobilized in March 2008 to
conduct route reconnaissance and area clearance operations in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom. The 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.

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. Sgt. Daniel
Wallace, 27 of Dry Ridge, Grant County, Ky. was killed Friday, 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.