In December 2005, members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry made national headlines when they rescued Baby Noor, a tiny Iraqi infant suffering from Spina Bifida. In April 2006, the Gainesville-based unit was honored at the State Capitol by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust with its annual humanitarian award. Eight members of the unit singled out by the Commission, were there to accept the award.

Governor Sonny Perdue was presented the award. A host of other state and federal leaders, including Senator Saxby Chambliss, whose efforts helped get Noor to the U.S. for lifesaving treatment, crowed the Capitol rotunda to view the ceremony.

“It was not their military mission,” said Sylvia Wygoda, commission chairman emeritus when presenting the awards. “It was their mission as human beings.”

The Governor presented the unit with a plaque which will hang in the Gainesville Armory.

The eight soldiers in attendance the capitol were Capt. Anthony Fournier, First Lieutenants Billy Chau, Jeff Moran, and Jeff Morgan, 1st Sgt. Bobby Mayfield, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sonen, Staff Sgt. Archer Ford and Sgt. Nicholas Jelks. These 48^th BCT members were part of the initial group which found the baby while on a raid in Noor’s area.

Past recipients of the annual humanitarian award have ranged from form Senator Zell Miller to Author Pat Conroy.