French Award Medal to Little Falls National Guard Colonel

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (AP) - A colonel in the Minnesota Army National Guard has been awarded a French National Defense Gold Medal.

Col. Shawn Kempenich received the award earlier this month at the French embassy in Washington.

He was recognized for his role as an adviser to the Afghan Joint Defense College in 2009. In that position, he established ties with his French counterparts and assisted in a training program for senior Afghan officers.

A Brainerd Daily Dispatch report said Friday that Kempenich received the award Aug. 1 from French Navy Capt. Yves Postec.

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