VFW Eagle Award
PA Guard Sgt. 1st Class Matthew S. Reilly, Valley View, received the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars' Eagle Award for Service in the War on Terror.
Reilly was honored during the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars' Mid-Winter Conference by more than 600 VFW leaders and members, receiving the award and certificate for his outstanding service on deployment in the War on Terror. The department presents this award to recognize significant contributions of Pennsylvania Guard troops in the War on Terror and in other operations to protect and preserve freedom.
A member of VFW Post 8237, Valley View, and a State College native, Reilly was nominated for the award by PA Guard leadership at Joint Forces Headquarters at Fort Indiantown Gap. He serves with the guard's 1st Battalion on the 166th Regiment as the quality assurance NCO.
Reilly distinguished himself through exceptionally meritorious performance of duty while serving as the Regional Corps Training Team Two, Normandy Tactical Command Post, Combined Joint Task Force 101, G7/Engineer NCO Partner to the HQ of the 203rd Regional Corps, working with the Afghan national army in 2010 and 2011 to support Operation Enduring Freedom. He oversaw construction projects totaling more than $1.8 million at the Afghan army's Forward Base Thunder.
Reilly, who has earned campaign medals for foreign service in Afghanistan and Kosovo and became a citizen soldier in 1998 after active duty with the Army, humbly accepted the award with his family present.
"I am honored to receive the VFW Eagle award," he said. "To me, this award represents the VFW's ongoing support of the deployed Pennsylvania Guardsman and their families. While I was deployed, although not a VFW member yet, I received care packages from the VFW on a regular basis, which was greatly appreciated."
Reilly said he was welcomed into the VFW's ranks upon his return home, and the organization contacted him to participate in a veterans program at Tri-Valley elementary and high schools, where his six children are students.
Reilly's military decorations and honors include the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (third Award); Army Commendation Medal (second award); Army Achievement Medal (fourth award); Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal-NATO Service South West Asia; NATO Medal-NATO Service Former Republic of Yugoslavia; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device (second award); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal (second award); Noncommissioned Officers Prof Development Ribbon (third award); Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal; Airborne Badge; Driver and Mechanic Badge; Army Physical Fitness Badge (second award); Gen. Thomas J. Steward Medal; Maj. Gen. Thomas R. White Jr. Medal, and the PA Service Ribbon.
Besides his current service to the Guard's 166th Regiment, Reilly has also served that regiment as a readiness NCO/BN master gunner, training NCO/cavalry instructor and PLDC instructor. His citizen soldier career also includes serving as an engineer mentor with the PA Stability Transition Team, squad leader and team leader with the 104th Cavalry and gunner and ammo team chief with the 108th Field Artillery unit.
Prior to joining the PA Guard, his active duty service in the Army included assignments with the A Battery 1st BN 319th FA REGT, Fort Bragg, N.C. (1995-1998); Division TAC 2, 101st Airborne Division/Air Assault (2010) and Division TAC 2, 1st Cavalry Division (2011).