St. Louis (KSDK) -- More than 40 Missouri National Guard members spent the Fourth of July stationed in Afghanistan. It was their first Independence Day since a deadly attack on their base last April.
Twenty-eight members of the unit received medals for their courage under fire.
The Missouri Agribusiness Development Team is an all-volunteer unit designed to help Afghanistan farmers.
Although is stationed at a forward operating base, they're a non-combat unit. That all changed on April 15.
"We were hit by a vehicle-borne IED," said Sgt. First Class Joseph Schicker. "Suicide bomber driving a vehicle into the wall. The blast knocked me to the ground inside a concrete building."
Sgt. Schicker said the base erupted into chaos. Taliban fighters killed an Afghan soldier and threw grenades at Missouri National Guard members, starting widespread fires.
One grenade landed feet from Schicker, who said he was saved when another guardsmen pulled him inside a building. He said the Missouri team handled the attack with bravery and skill.
Schicker is one of five team members who received the Army Commendation Medal with Valor and one of 15 awarded a Purple Heart. It's the second time he was wounded in combat.
Schicker said all the medals are a bittersweet reminder of one of the toughest days of his life and are a means by which soldiers like those in his unit can begin to heal.
Below is a list of Missouri National Guardsmen who received awards as a result of the attack. Each name is followed by the individual's city of residence and the awards they received.
Sgt. 1st Class Dennis C. Allred, of Jackson; Combat Action Badge
Senior Airman Brandon Bumbales, of St. Louis; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge; recommended for Bronze Star with Valor
Spc. Daniel F. Burr, of Sedgewickville: Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. Sean E. Cochran, of Jefferson City; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge
Master Sgt. Kevin L. Craig, of Mokane; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge; recommended for Bronze Star with Valor
Senior Airman Ryan Derickson, of Chillicothe; Combat Action Badge
Lt. Col. Andre L. Edison, of Florissant; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. Charles B. Gilbert, of Meta; Combat Action Badge
Tech. Sgt. Troy A. Green, of Cameron; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge
Spc. Byron R. Helton, of Jefferson City; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge
Spc. Matthew G. Huffman, of St. Joseph; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge; Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip M. Lederle, of Hartsburg; Combat Action Badge; Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Sgt. Derek M. Logsdon, of Bevier; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. Robert E. Mathis, Jr., of Monett; Combat Action Badge
Spc. Joshua D. O'Donnell, of St. Charles; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge; Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Spc. Arthur J. Johnson, of Eldon; Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge
Sgt. John K. Larson, Jr., of Nevada; Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge
Spc. Richard A. Messenger, of Kansas City; Purple Heart; Combat Medical Badge; Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Sgt. 1st Class Jeffory S. Owens, of Marshfield; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. Nicholas A. Rowden, of Vienna; Combat Action Badge
Spc. Daniel L. Sadler, of St. Joseph; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge
Spc. Michael L. Saunders, of Auxvasse; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge
Maj. Dominic G. Sansone, of O'Fallon; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. 1st Class Joseph M. Schicker, of St. Louis; Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge; Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Spc. Bobby L. Smith, of Linneus; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. Keith S. Truelove, of De Soto; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. 1st Class Alexander Worth, of Kansas City; Purple Heart; Combat Action Badge
Sgt. Charles N. Bradley, of Blue Springs; Combat Medical Badge
KSDK