Harpers Ferry resident honored by Upper Iowa University during Homecoming 2022


Honored among UIU alumni ... Major General Ben Corell of Harpers Ferry was honored with the Service to Country Award at the Upper Iowa University Annual Alumni Awards and Honor Class Brunch held as part of Upper Iowa University’s 2022 Homecoming events October 3-5 in Fayette. Corell is pictured at right above receiving the award from Upper Iowa University President William R. Duffy II, who is pictured at left. Submitted photo.

Five Upper Iowa University (UIU) graduates were specially honored during the annual Alumni Awards and Honor Class Brunch as part of the University’s “Peacocks Take Flight 2022” Homecoming celebration held October 3-8 on the school’s Fayette campus. These alumni were recognized for their accomplishments either professionally, as an emerging alum or through service to the University, community or country.

Among those honored Upper Iowa University alumni was Major General Ben Corell of Harpers Ferry, who received the school’s Service to Country Award. Corell received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Upper Iowa University in 1995 and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2009.

Major General Ben Corell enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in 1986 with the goal of serving his country and earning some additional money for his young family. That decision led to a notable career 37 years strong, and counting, of protecting this nation. He received his officer’s commission through the Iowa Military Academy’s Officer Candidate School in 1989.

Corell has commanded and deployed units overseas at the Company, Battalion, Brigade and Division levels. His deployments include Saudi Arabia in 2000, where he commanded an Infantry Company supporting Operation Desert Spring; Egypt in 2003, as an Infantry Battalion Commander supporting the Multi-National Forces and Observers peacekeeping mission; Al Anbar Province in Iraq from 2006-2007, as an Infantry Battalion Commander, Afghanistan from 2010-2012, as Commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; Bucharest, Romania from 2016-2017, as Deputy Commander for NATO’s Multi-National Division-Southeast; and Kuwait from 2017-2019, as Commander of the 34th Infantry Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2019, Corell was selected as the 27th Adjutant General of Iowa, leading 9,000 soldiers and airmen across the state. Corell’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Multinational Forces and Observers Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.