Dallas Guardsman Receives Army Commendation Medal

Georgia Army National Guard Specialist Robert Schrader of Dallas was awarded the Army Commendation Medal Feb. 10 by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan.

According to a news release from the Georgia Department of Defense, on Sept. 10, 2011, Combat Outpost Sayed Abad suffered a major enemy attack when a vehicle born improvised explosive device [VBIED] detonated outside the main gate. The VBIED was packed with approximately 1500 pounds of homemade explosives.

Schrader was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his actions following the attack.

"It was an extreme honor to be awarded this medal by General Dempsey," Schrader said. "It's not every day that you get to meet the highest ranking officer in the United States military—much less get presented an award by him."

Schrader serves as an agricultural specialist and security force specialist with the Georgia Agribusiness Development Team 1. He recently .