Maj. Ron Beadenkopf, son of William and Brenda Beadenkopf, of Niles and Edwardsburg, returned Tuesday from his second combat tour of Afghanistan in time for the holidays.
In his time in Afghanistan, Maj. Beadenkopf served in various liaison roles providing military intelligence expertise to multiple commands, most recently with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
He currently lives in Clearwater, Fla., stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, but has extensive family ties throughout Michigan and Indiana.
He is a distinguished military graduate of Western Michigan University, where he received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Infantry.
His 25-year military career has included tours in Georgia, Washington State, Panama, Bosnia, Germany and Korea, as well as two tours in Iraq.
Beadenkopf received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq in 2005, a Meritorious Service Medal for his service at Ft. Gordon, Ga., four Joint Service Commendation Medals for his deployments and service in Korea, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, as well as the Nato Medal for his service in support of NATO forces in Afghanistan.