A group of Missouri National Guardsmen, including one Florissant man, was honored recently for their actions in April against Taliban forces.

Lt. Col. Andre Edison received the combat action badge along with more than 45 other guardsmen who received a number of other awards and medals, including 15 Purple Hearts.

The team was stationed in Afghanistan in March to help Afghan famers with creating a sustainable agriculture program, which has been in development for years.

April 15, Taliban insurgents breached the compound area, where the soldiers were, and a firefight broke out between the forces. Several soldiers were wounded and one Afghan solider was killed in repelling the forces.

“We trained for months for this mission not only to be proficient, but if necessary, to protect ourselves,” Edison said in a press release. “Our job is not to go after the insurgents but to improve the agribusiness capacity of the populace.  As Missouri Guardsmen, we were tested, but tremendous training prepared us and I could be no prouder of the team.”