embassy events 2009

Exceptional Distinction in Ghazni, Afghanistan

24 March 2009

(l-r) Colonel Rajmund Andrzejczak shaking hands with Michael Keays; Commander Timothy Callaham. Photo by Jacek Matuszak.

On Friday, March 20, Polish Task Force White Eagle Commander in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Colonel Rajmund T. Andrzejczak, awarded prestigious Polish Army Medals (Medal Wojska Polskiego) to PRT Commander Timothy Callaham and U.S. State Department Representative, Michael C. Keays.  Col Andrzejczak praised the medal recipients for promoting cooperation between the Polish and U.S. militaries in Afghanistan.  “Today, humanitarian and reconstruction operations are truly important, their execution requires precisely the same kind of courage that is required in patrols or cordon and search operations, you have to take risks similar to those that are taken during battles” he said. “Thus I decided to request that the Minister of Defense awards these medals to Timothy and Michael.”  Commander Callaham received the silver medal, and Michael Keays received the bronze medal.  Michael Keays served as Political-Military Officer in the Political Section of the U.S. Embassy from July 2000 through May 2005. 

Commander Callaham and Michael Keays were asked to appear at the morning muster of the Polish troops early in the morning on Friday, March 20. After they arrived, the Polish troops in Col Andrzejczak’s headquarters formed up and the Polish flag was raised.  Col Andrzejczak called both men forward and presented them with Polish Army medals. 

Instituted by the Act of Parliament of September 3, 1999, Polish Army Medals are conferred in three grades (gold, silver and bronze) to foreign nationals, military or civilian, who rendered merit in cooperation between the Polish Armed Forces and the armed forces of other countries, in particular by supporting peacekeeping operations of the Polish Armed Forces.  They are also conferred to those who rendered merit in the area of cooperation of international military units including Polish units, contributed to the growth of military potential of the Polish Armed Forces or to propagating Polish military history or traditions abroad. The medal is the counterpart of the Medal for Merit to Country Defense for foreigners.  

Polish officers were awarded American Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (Medals for service in the Marine Crops and Navy).  Commander Callaham, a regular officer in the U.S. Navy, presented medals to:  the head of the Polish part of PRT Ghazni, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Pierzchala; the commander of the CIMIC support group, Major Pawel Chabielski, as well as the chief of the S-5 section, Major Pawel Polak.  All three officers serve in the Central Civil-Military Support Group in Kielce.