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Volume 12 , Number 6 November-December 2004

Families Face Challenges, page 5 Heartbreak in New York, pages 6,7

By Lt. Col. Paul FanningGuard Times Staff

Thousands of military family members jammed Fort Drum’s Magrath Gymnasiumon the day after New Year’s to welcome their heroes home — more than 700members of the New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantryand its attached supporting units, Jan. 2.

“Task Force Hunter” had returned to the post from where they had left morethan 10 months ago for Operation Iraqi Freedom, to begin out-processing fromactive duty. Nearly 2,000 cheering family members, relatives and friends withbanners, signs, ribbons and balloons were on hand. The Sunday eveningceremony saw a record turnout of news organizations from across the state.

The Adjutant General of New York, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Maguire, Jr. formallyreceived the unit – the symbolic return to state control of a federally activatedGuard unit and during his remarks, praised the Soldiers for their service andprofessionalism. He went on to praise family members and friends and the FortDrum Garrison for the support that was rendered throughout the mobilizationperiod. In closing, General Maguire called forward Camden Russell, age 3, whowas dressed in his own desert battle dress uniform, and reunited him with hisfather, Spc. Alan Russell, before the cheering and delighted crowd.

Federally activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom II on Oct. 1, 2003, the 2ndBattalion, 108th Infantry is the first N.Y. National Guard infantry organizationordered to federal active duty for wartime service since World War II.

History-Making NY National Guard UnitThe 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry is one of three infantry battalions assigned

to the 27th Separate Infantry Brigade (Enhanced) of the New York Army NationalGuard. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and the War on Terror waslaunched, these infantry units have been heavily used in either state or federalactive duty for Homeland Defense inside the state of New York, including serviceat Ground Zero, airport security and protecting New York’s nuclear powerfacilities.

From Ground Zero tFrom Ground Zero tFrom Ground Zero tFrom Ground Zero tFrom Ground Zero tooooo the Sunni Triangle the Sunni Triangle the Sunni Triangle the Sunni Triangle the Sunni TriangleHomecoming Ceremony Held for ValiantGuard Infantry Battalion at Fort Drum

FORT DRUM

Story continued on page 2Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry render honors during theplaying of the National Anthem. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

EXPANDED

PATRIOT PLAN

YOUR '05 BENEFITS INSIDE!

In the summer of 2003, the Pentagonactivated several Army National Guardenhanced brigade combat units forOperation Iraqi Freedom II and an infantrybattalion from N.Y.’s 27th Brigade was called

up. The 2nd Battalion, 108th was identifiedsince the 105th Infantry had already begunArmy scheduled reorganization and manysoldiers of the 1st Battalion, 108th Infantrywere already on federal active duty protectingmilitary air bases inside New York State. Theplanned conversion of the 2nd Battalionwas to come after the other two units hadcompleted their conversion, so, at the time of

the call up, its membership was intact.The readiness levels of infantry soldiers in

all three battalions and the chance to servein a combat assignment drew many additionalvolunteers from the 105th Infantry and alsofrom the 1st Battalion, 108th Infantry. As aresult the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry wascomprised of some of the best, most readyand highly motivated infantry Soldiers ofthe elite 27th Brigade and the New YorkArmy National Guard. The 2nd Battalion,108th Infantry comes from the followingcommunities:

Headquarters and Headquarters Company– Utica Armory

(Reinforced with Soldiers from the formerHeadquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 105thInfantry, Schenectady)

Company A – Leeds, Camp Smith inCortlandt Manor

(Reformed primarily with soldiers fromCompanies A, B and C of the 1st Battalion,105th Infantry from New York City, CampsSmith and Leeds)

Company B – Morrisonville (Plattsburgh),Saranac Lake, Whitehall, with formerdetachments in Malone and Ogdensburg(Comprised mostly of original Company Bmembers of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry)

Company C – Gloversville, Glens Falls(Comprised of original Company C members

from Saratoga Springs, which transferred to

Guard TimesPage 2

the Glens Falls armory. Some Soldiers fromthe New York City-based companies of the1st Battalion, 105th Infantry were alsotransferred into this unit.)

Company D – Rome (Mostly original 2ndBattalion soldiers from this armory,reinforced with selected soldiers from the1st Battalion, 108th Infantry, Syracuse andOswego, and former members of CompanyD, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry, Troy)

For the deployment, additional supportelements were added to the battalion taskforce from other 27th Brigade units. Theseincluded:

Medics – From Company C, 427th SupportBattalion, Glens Falls.

Engineer Platoon – From the 827th EngineerCompany from the Connecticut St. Armory,Buffalo.

Artillery Forward Observers (known asthe Fire Support Team or FIST) – FromHeadquarters and Service Battery 1stBattalion, 156th Field Artillery, Kingstonand Rochester.

The combined task force strength for thedeployment was 760 troops.

Combat Assignment andPreparations

The battalion was activated at the sametime as the North Carolina 30th SeparateMechanized Infantry Brigade (Enhanced).The light infantry structure of New York’s2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry contributed toits selection by Army Forces Command asreinforcing element to the 30th Brigade.

Prior to deployment, the Army informed

the 2nd Battalion that, although it was trainingat the same time as the 30th Brigade andwould move into the Iraqi theater along withthe 30th, it would actually be operatingseparately from the brigade throughout mostof its mission. The 30th performed most ofits training at Fort Bragg, N.C., while the 2ndBattalion, 108th Infantry trained at Fort Drum.

The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry linked upwith the 30th Brigade for a major exercise atthe Army’s Joint Readiness Training Centerat Fort Polk, La., in January 2004. Ironically,the 2nd Battalion completed a rotation at theJRTC in 2001 along with the entire N.Y. 27thBrigade. These troops returned to N.Y. justthree weeks prior to the terrorist attacks inNew York City and Washington on Sept. 11,

Homecoming,continued from cover page

“The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantryhas proven that reservecomponent units can not onlydo the mission, but...can beamong the best in the Army.”

—Maj. Gen. John Batiste,Commanding General, 1st InfantryDivision

Family members cheer for 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry Division Soldiers at the Magrath Gymnasium,Fort Drum, during the homecoming ceremony Dec. 2. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

Getting acquainted with dad. (Photo by Spc. Dennis Gravelle)

Soldiers await reunion with family. (Photo bySpc. Dennis Gravelle)

Guard Times Page 3

Family members personalize a welcome home sign for Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry.(Photo by Spc. Dennis Gravelle)

Lt. Col. Mark Warnecke, Commander, TaskForce Hunter, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry.(Photo by Spc. Dennis Gravelle)

Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Maguire, Jr., holds Camden Russell, son of Spc. AlanRussell, before reuniting them. (Photo by Spc. Dennis Gravelle)

Left: Soldiers, family and friends at the Magrath Gymnasium. Right: A family member applauds with the arrival of 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Soldiers. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

2001.In the wake of 9-11 service and in between

state and federal missions, 27th Brigadeinfantry troops, including the presentlyassigned members of the 2nd Battalion, 108thInfantry participated in a number of intenseinfantry-related exercises at home andoverseas in 2002 and 2003. These includedsmall unit exchange training programs, urbanwarfare exercises in Germany, England andat various other sites.

Following months of training, a send offceremony for the battalion was held lastFebruary at Fort Drum. Eleven members ofCompany A took the oath of U.S. citizenshipat a departure ceremony in the MaGrathGym. Sadly one of these Soldiers, Spc.Segun Akintade, an immigrant from Nigeria,was lost on Oct. 28, 2004.

Service in IraqThe 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry deployed

to Iraq in February 2003 and was assigned tothe U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division, “theBig Red One.” The various subordinateinfantry companies were given separateassignments and performed a variety of othermissions with Big Red One units. Theseincluded area security, patrols, raids andoffensive operations.

In addition, Task Force Hunter capturednumerous weapons caches, helped train newIraqi National Guard members, providedmedical, logistical and civil support to Iraqivillages, schools, mosques and families,recovered Thomas Hamill, a Mississippitruck driver who had been kidnapped lastspring by insurgents, and helped recaptureSamarra in September from insurgent forcesduring joint U.S. and Iraqi operations.

During the homecoming ceremony, thebattalion adjutant read the text of a quoteprovided from the commanding general ofthe First Infantry Division, in response to aquestion from the Secretary of the Army

regarding the ongoing role of reservecomponent units. Maj. Gen. John Batistesaid, “The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry hasproven that reserve component units cannot only do the mission, but that they can beamong the best in the Army.”

Sacrifice in the Name of FreedomThree members of the battalion gave the

ultimate sacrifice to the nation and wereKilled in Action and nearly 30 members ofthe battalion have been awarded the PurpleHeart Medal for combat wounds: Apr. 11,Spc. Nathan P. Brown, age 21 – from SouthGlens Falls, assigned to Company C; Oct. 1,Sgt. Michael Angelo Uvanni, age 27 – fromRome, assigned to Headquarters Company,detailed to Company B at the time of hisdeath; Oct. 28, Spc. Segun FrederickAkintade, age 34 – from Brooklyn, assignedto Company A. !

GUARD NOTES

From the desk of New York Air National GuardState Command Chief Master Sergeant Hardy Peirce

Jointness in the military is all about relationships. As I write my first article forthe Guard Times, it is only fitting that I write about the office of the two seniorenlisted leaders at Joint Force Headquarters-New York National Guard.

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt and I have a special relationship for theissues, concerns and the betterment of the enlisted force in our state. Here are a fewcommon concerns at Joint Force Headquarters: families and family readiness,Federal and State Awards and Decoration Programs, pay entitlements, retirementsand the retirement process and mental and physical wellness of our people.

A short overview of a few Joint Force focus items that your two senior enlistedleaders have in their tool boxes:

We continually hear leadership emphasize the importance of our Families becausethe Family is of utmost importance. We all must do our part to not only listen toconcerns family members may have but ensure we work at, and address, issues toremove barriers so our military members may have total focus on their duties andresponsibilities. This is why the Family Readiness Program is so important. Embraceit, support it, and if done so, make it a part of your military tool box.

Recently I was driving on the Thruway from Latham to my home in Newburgh,listening to the news on the radio. The commentator was speaking about Americanssupporting the military in today’s all volunteer service. “When one signs up formilitary service, not only does he or she become a member of the Department ofDefense, but the family becomes a member of DoD,” she said. Those words reallycaught my attention. Family and Family Readiness encompass the entire family.

I learned many years ago that we all like recognition. Some more than others, somewith fanfare, others are low-keyed, some with outward emotions, others emotion iskept within. Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt and I have spent countless hoursdiscussing and lobbying military support associations on the importance of awardsand decorations programs. As your senior enlisted leadership, we know theimportance of recognition, and this will always be a part of our agenda.

If you want to see a unit’s or personal morale go down the tube quickly, well, messup their pay. I don't think I need to say much on the subject. We all understand theimportance and the impact it can have. Pay entitlements has truly been a Joint Forceissue for me as an Air National Guard member. I have on numerous occasions beeninvolved with active duty Army, Air Force, Army Reserves and Army Guard payissues.

The importance on how we treat our members in processing their retirementbenefits and timely recognition is beneficial to the entire organization. Treating allretirees with proper respect can have a lasting effect on your unit. Retirees can, andwill, become our best Recruiter and Retention personnel, spreading the word aboutthe benefits of being a member of the National Guard, sharing their militaryexperiences. If your unit doesn’t have a retirement checklist in it’s tool box, well,one should be developed and the DoD Retirement Benefits website will assist youon what you need to do.

Proper diet and exercise with routine visits to your Health Care Provider is all partof Wellness. Army and Air Force programs may be different, but we have a commongoal: wellness for all of our members. Your senior enlisted leadership in the NewYork National Guard is working on a program within the state to enhance Mental andPhysical Wellness for all of our Guard members. More to follow about the stateprogram 2005. !

JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

SeniorEnlistedLeadership:A JointForce Team

Guard TimesPage4

Get help with Tax ProblemsIf you have been unable to resolve an ongoing tax problem through normal IRS

channels, contact the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate Service.The office is an independent organization within the IRS, headed by the national

taxpayer advocate; the advocate's mission is to help individuals and businessesresolve problems with the IRS.

Call their toll free phone number at: 1-877-777-4778. Find their link on the IRS website at: www.irs.gov. Call the N.Y. Office of the Taxpayer Advocate at: 518-427-5413.Or write Taxpayer Advocate, Leo O'Brian Fed. Bldg., Room 354, Albany, N.Y., 12207.

In order to receive Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits, each soldier must call 1-877-823-2378 on a touch-tone phone monthly or log on to the Veterans Affairs atwww.gibill.va.gov and follow the Web Verification of Enrollment link monthly.

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) congratulates the NationalGuard on its 369th anniversary. The MOAA Scholarship Fund is available to thechildren of MOAA members as well as active duty, Reserve, National Guard orretired enlisted personnel. The application period for the 2005-2006 school yearbegan Nov. 1 and the deadline is March 1. For more information, visit their website at: www.moaa.org and click on Educational Aid.

The Army Tuition Assistance Benefit provides financial assistance to Armypersonnel interested in working on an undergraduate or graduate degree. Thisprogram is open to active duty Army personnel, including members of the ArmyNational Guard and Army Reserve on active duty. Applicants must first visit aneducation counselor to declare an educational goal and establish an educationalplan.

Applicants may enroll in up to 15 semester hours of college courses. Thoseselected for participation in this program receive their regular Army pay and 100percent of tuition at the postsecondary educational institution of their choice butcapped at $4,500 per year or $250 per semester hour, whichever is less. To see thefull scholarship posting, go to http://www.military.com/Education/ScholarShip/Profile/1,14220,0951,00.html.

To search over 1,000 other scholarships, go to http://www.military.com/Education/ScholarShip/newsearch?ESRC=miltrep.nl.

What can you do with a 10 by two inch space? The Guard Times is looking fora new design for it’s cover logo. The Guard Times is a paper for troops and theirfamilies. Weigh in and help make the paper more interesting and in terms of designand style.

Submissions for a new logo are being accepted until Jun. 1. Logos can be sentas art files (drawings, sketches, etc.) that might inspire one of our talentedprofessionals to produce a new design or as electronic, Adobe Illustrator or AdobePhotoshop files. We welcome all submissions, but final decision rests with theGuard Times senior editorial staff.

What we are looking for:Original (uncopyrighted), simple designs that symbolize the traditional and

historical role of the N.Y. National Guard with the guard’s future transformation asa expeditionary force. The logo should contain the words “Guard Times” and asubhead on Guard Times' intended audience (i.e. serving the New York Army andAir National Guard, Naval Militia, New York Guard and families).

Send submissions to: Guard Times, DMNA-MNPA, 330 Old Niskayuna Road,Latham, NY 12110-2224.

Guard Times Logo

Tuition Assistance Benefits

Scholarship Application Period

MGIB Monthly Contact Required

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

By Staff Sgt. Mike R. SmithGuard Times Staff

Because she receives calls fromfamily members missing theirhusbands, wives, moms and dads,

Beverly Keating, a main contact forfamilies of the Stratton Air National GuardBase in Scotia, feels it’s extremelyimportant to have a communication bridgebetween the military and civilian worlds.

“They need to feel they can call me andfeel comfortable with that,” said Mrs.Keating, a family readiness coordinatorfor the New York Air National Guard . “Ithelps to dissolve anxieties, uncertaintiesand provides someone to turn to in anemergency.”

New York’s Soldiers and Airmen leavingand returning on deployment know thevalue of peace-of-mind when it comes tocommunication through family readiness.

“Readiness emphasizes preparingSoldiers, Airmen and their families,readiness is the key to our work,” saidSgt. Maj. Charles Steele, State FamilyProgram Director.

The sergeant major and his staff oversee90 Army National Guard readiness groupsand the Air National Guard’s mandatorygroup per air wing. Spread out acrossNew York, each group is as unique as itscommunity, a daunting task: assuringeach group is keeping families informed.

“We are dispersed all over the place,”said the sergeant major. Unlike activeduty brethren where families live around abase, there are no support facilities forfamilies to get information. “So they haveto be creative on where theyget…support,” finding what’s available intheir communities.

This may seem challenging enough, butadd a war on terrorism, historical numbersof deployments and a military intransformation and the challenge shiftsinto overdrive. That’s where the value ofstrong family readiness comes in.

Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) are thekey components to a Soldier or Airman’ssuccessful deployment overseas and onthe home-front.

New York's FRGs continue to meet theunique and historical challenges taskingtoday’s National Guard.

There is a new mind set with long-termdeployments and the danger that comeswith them, said the sergeant major. Heexplained that getting information flowingbetween families and units is a challenge

for FRGs. “Information is the key,” saidthe sergeant major. “On the whole theyare doing very well.”

In his Family Programs Office are stacksof pamphlets on stress management,benefits, wills, budgeting and otherinformation families might need while aloved one is away. The office alsomaintains a directory to keep track offamilies across the state. Mostimportantly is the readiness groupinformation binder. Hand made for groupleaders, they are frontline reference toolsfor New York’s scattered FRGs.

Once a year, the Latham-based familyprograms office holds classes for the leadvolunteers across the state. An essentialFRG 101, the class empowers leaders withknowledge of group dynamics andinformation that allows them to organizeeffectively.

“If they are new, we will go to trainthem,” said Patricia Jensen, State FamilyProgram Assistant, Latham. Mrs. Jensenexplained that the goal is “..to have thegroup function on its own, helping thefamilies.”

“We got up and running around April,”said Headquarters, 42nd Infantry(Rainbow) Division FRG co-leader, KathyAndonie, who’s husband and Soldiersdeployed to Iraq for a one yeardeployment.

“They guided us in thebeginning...provided suggestions onwhat committees to form and what wasneeded to do.”

Her FRG has about 278 family memberson register, of that, she said, around 30members take an active role disseminatinginformation through meetings and fund-raisers at the Troy armory.

“We would like to see more peoplebeing active,” said Mrs. Andonie. Sheexplained that the added tasks of thegroup can often overload volunteers,who work regular jobs and support theirfamilies while loved ones are away. Totackle the work-load, the group split upresponsibilities. “We made committees,”said Mrs. Andonie.

Mrs. Andonie and co-leader DonnaAntal, who’s son is also deployed, saidthat the group is productive, they haveguest speakers, fund-raisers and aresending their first care packages to thedeployed Rainbow Division.

“We had a good turn out,” said Mrs.Antal on building the care packages.

Back in Latham, the sergeant major saidthat groups often invite guest speakersfrom Tri Care (health care), the Red Crossand military pay specialists to help

Guard Times Page5

FFFFFamiliesamiliesamiliesamiliesamilies,,,,, R R R R ReadinesseadinesseadinesseadinesseadinessGrGrGrGrGroups Ovoups Ovoups Ovoups Ovoups OvererererercomecomecomecomecomeHHHHHistorical Challengesistorical Challengesistorical Challengesistorical Challengesistorical Challenges

families get detatiled information.“Of course normal activities like

gathering to make care packages providesan outlet to share experiences andemotions,” he said.

At some meetings the families “justtalk”. “We just go around the room tellingabout ourselves and such,” said Mrs.Andonie, who admitted it’s one of hermore favorite things to do.

“Before deployment the focus is

readiness, during and after thedeployment the focus is support,” saidMrs. Jensen. Her husband recentlyreturned to Fort Drum from a year in Iraqas Bravo company commander, 2ndBattalion, 108th Infantry. As a wife of adeployed Soldier, “the group kept meinformed of the unit,” she said.

As a State Family Program Assistant,Mrs. Jensen makes a lot of trips aroundthe state supporting the 90-plus FRGs.She encourages volunteers to continue

LATHAM

their information management afterSolders or Airmen return fromdeployment.

“We try to encourage them to stay on,”she said. “Just because the deployment isover doesn’t mean FRGs are not needed.”She went on to say that maintainedreadiness is important, Soldiers andAirmen still deploy for their two weekstraining, and to keep information flowingto the families.

“When the family is happy, the Soldieris more likely to stay.”

Again, “the key is communicationsamong themselves, sharing knowledge,and the emotional support they give eachother,” said the sergeant major.

Back at the Stratton Air National GuardBase, Mrs. Keating, who has managed theFamily Readiness Office for three years,says that Airmen understand her role andvalue to their families as an open andconfidential office to turn to for help andinformation.

“Just listening to them helps and is themost rewarding to me,” she said. “It’struly crucial.” !

EDITOR’S NOTE: Families are encouragedto contact their armory, air base or the StateFamily Programs Office for information onreadiness meetings and volunteeropportunities; call toll free 1-877-715-7817.

42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division Headquarter’s Family Readiness Group co-leaders, KathyAndonie (right) and Donna Antal (left) stack care packages for deployed Soldiers. Their group isone of over ninety readiness groups statewide. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

Stephanie Duell, Family Program Assistant,takes a phone call at the N.Y. National GuardFamily Program Office in Latham.

Stacks of information pamphlets on varioussubjects await distribution from the FamilyPrograms Office to N.Y.'s families.

Sgt. David M.

Fisher

Age 21, Green

Island

KIA Dec. 1, 2004

Company D,

1st Battalion,

101st Cavalry

Staff Sgt. Henry

E. Irizarry

Age 38, Bronx

KIA Dec. 3, 2004

Company A,

1st Battalion,

69th Infantry

Guard TimesPage 6

By Spc. Erin E. Robicheaux256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

Some may say Sgt. ChristianEngeldrum had the most significantjob following the attacks of Sept.

11, 2001. In the famous picture of New YorkCity firemen hanging a United States flagon a pole rising from the rubble, Engeldrumwas the burly man holding the ladder.

He was steadying the way for hiscolleagues of Ladder 61, Co-op City, tofollow him to the gates of freedom. Fouryears later, Sgt. Engeldrum once again ledthe way, this time for three of his fellowSoldiers.

Only this time, he’s holding the ladder tothe gates of heaven.

In less than a week, the 256th BrigadeCombat Team said good-bye to fourhonorable veterans: Sgt. ChristianEngeldrum, Spc. Wilfredo Urbina, Spc.David Fisher, and Staff Sgt. Henry Irizarry.

Sgt. Christian Engeldrum was loved byeveryone who crossed his path. He

was a loving father and devoted husband.As a firefighter, he lived for life in Co-opCity. He was a key player in the recoveryof New York City following the terroristattacks and believed in the cause sodeeply, that he took the fight to Iraq.

Sergeant Engeldrum was very mission-oriented and a constant positive sourcefor his company and his platoon. Nomatter what challenges faced him and histroops he surged onward and refused toquit until the task was complete. He keptthose around him calm and level-headedand cooled the occasional hot tempers bythe mere soothing calm of his presence.Though his sense of humor has beendescribed by some as a little stale, hisfriends get a good laugh when they recountthat the huge man’s favorite movie was“Clueless.”

Sergeant Engeldrum remains immenselyloved by his fellow Soldiers. Staff Sgt.Mike Brown, a close friend of 13 years,says that he and the rest of the Soldiers ofCompany A, 1st Battalion, 69th InfantryRegiment, will have a long year ahead ofthem without their beloved buddy.

“The hardest part is that there’s nothingthat you can do,” Brown said.

“We don’t even know who to get angryat. Do you get angry at the insurgents? Doyou get angry at the civilians becausethey know what’s going on but won’t talkbecause they’re scared? You get madbecause it doesn’t feel like it’s worth yourbuddy’s life.”

Four N.Y. Army NationalGuard Soldiers Find FinalGlory in Baghdad, Iraq

Specialist Urbina was one in a million tohis friends of 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry

Regiment. He was truly excited to beserving in this war as an infantryman.

To bring to light the kind of person thathe was, when he learned that a close friend,Spc. Nicholas Wilson, could not be eligiblefor the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) dueto the fact that he was an engineer, he toldhim, “I will get that award for you.”

Urbina had goals and wanted to makethe Army a permanent occupation. He

wanted to be a leader and he took all taskswith the notion that everynoncommissioned officer was watchinghim. Urbina not only wanted himself tolook good, but what others thought of histeam, his squad and his platoon also madea difference to him. His courageousbehavior fueled his ambitions onsucceeding in today’s Army.

According to friends, Engeldrum andUrbina were closer than any two Soldiersin Company A’s 2nd squad. Engeldrum wasa person who demanded perfection. Heloved to look good. Urbina loved to lookgood in front of Engeldrum and this onlymade him stronger and their relationshipmore cohesive. It is believed by their fellowSoldiers that Urbina devoted himself toevery task partly because he wanted Sgt.“Drum” to be proud of him, and that madehim a vast asset to the 1-69th team.

An asset to D Troop, 101st Cavalry, Spc.David Fisher was born on June 12,

1983 in Albany, N.Y.. He was a very proudolder brother and referred to his 11 year oldsister, Andrea, as his princess. Danny, hislittle brother, was the spitting image of hiselder sibling and looked up to him verymuch.

Sergeant Fisher came from a very closefamily to include his parents, grandparents,and his girlfriend of one year, Tara. Hisfather was a police officer and, afterreturning home from the deployment toIraq, Sergeant Fisher had plans to attendthe police academy and follow in his dad’sfootsteps.

His best friend, Spc. Christopher Holland,has been an inseparable part of his lifesince the first grade, so much so that theycame across the world together to defendthe United States in the war on terrorism.

On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, both Soldierswere in school at Hudson Valley CommunityCollege in Troy. When the attackshappened just two hours away from theirfront doors, they went home together towatch the coverage on television. Onlythree weeks earlier, the best friends haddiscussed getting out of school to dosomething different. When the terroristsstruck the World Trade Center, the militaryseemed like the perfect answer. Twomonths later they were officially tankers inthe New York National Guard and wereattending basic training at Fort Knox, Ky.

Holland recalled an incident thathappened shortly after returning home.

“For one of our first drills we went downto New Jersey and they had brand newM1A2 tanks,” Holland remembered. “Theylet us drive them and when Dave wasparking it, he clipped the side of the brandnew tank on the side of the brand newgarage. It couldn’t have happened to amore perfect person.”

Holland explained that Sergeant Fisherwas the kind of person who would have afriend everywhere he went. He was alwaysthe center of attention but he neverintended for it to be that way. It was justthe kind of personality he had. According

to him, Sergeant Fisher was quiet arounda big group of strangers, but if he was ina room with four or five friends he lit up theroom.

Sergeant Fisher was a jokester and lovedto play pranks when no one was expectingthem. During the ‘Y2K’ New Year’s Eve,he snuck out of the room as the countdownwas happening, and at the stroke ofmidnight he turned all of the lights in thehouse off. Moments later, the lights in thehouse came back up and he walked intothe living room with a big grin on his face.

Holland also recalls that his buddy wasvery athletic and competitive. He saidFisher was also a leader.

“Dave was the organizer of our flagfootball team but his passion wasbasketball,” recalled Holland. “If he would

BAGHDAD, IRAQ Staff Sgt. Philip

Engeldrum

Age 39, Bronx

KIA Nov. 29, 2004

Company A,

1st Battalion,

69th Infantry

Spc. Wilfredo F.

Urbina

Age 29, Baldwin

KIA Nov. 29, 2004

Company A,

1st Battalion,

69th Infantry

Sgt. Engeldrum holds a ladder at Ground Zeroas a fellow Ladder 61, NYC firefighter securesthe American Flag over the rubble of Sept. 11.(Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)

Soldiers of the 256th Brigade Combat Teamhonor four fallen Soldiers in a week’s time. Allof the Soldiers were New York natives. (Photosby Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th Brigade CombatTeam)

Sgt. Divid M. Fisher's funeral service on Dec. 4.(Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

Continued on next page

Four fallen Soldiers are honored by the 256th

Brigade Combat Team in Iraq. All of the Soldierswere from the New York Army National Guard.(Photos by Sgt. Thomas Benoit, 256th BrigadeCombat Team).

Sgt. Joseph O.

Behnke

Age 45, Brooklyn

KIA Dec. 4, 2004

Battery C,

1st Battalion,

258th Field Artillery

LATHAM

By Capt. Kathy SweeneyGuard Times Staff

In Baghdad, Iraq, the New York ArmyNational Guard lost a Soldier from the1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery Regiment

out of Brooklyn.Cpl. Joseph O. Behnke, 45 of Brooklyn,

was killed Dec. 4 when the vehicle he wasriding in struck a barrier and overturned.

Corporal Behnke worked for the Veteran'sAdministration Hospital in Manhattan as acarpenter for the last 17 years, and he ownedhis own business, American Way GeneralContracting.

Corporal Behnke’s awards include theBronze Star Medal (Posthumous), ArmyGood Conduct Medal (Posthumous),National Defense Service Medal, Global Waron Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, GlobalWar on Terrorism Service Medal, Army

Guard Times Page 7

Glory, from previous page Fighting 69th

Soldier PaysUltimateSacrifice

Service Ribbon and the WeaponsQualification Badge (Expert M16A2).

Corporal Behnke is survived by his wifeMiriam Behnke, his five children, Travis,Desire, Joseph, Patrick Limage and JasonLimase, and five grandchildren, PirscillaMorales, 14, Kayla Limage, seven, PatrickLimage Jr., seven, Anthony J. Torress, four,Nyah Limage, three.

A military funeral for Corporal Behnke washeld Dec. 11, 2004, at St. Bernadette’s Church,and he was buried at Greenwood Cemetery,both are located in Brooklyn. !

Lt. Col. Paul FanningGuard Times Staff

Once again, the New York NationalGuard and the community havecome together in sorrow to mourn

the loss of a superb young warrior.Tragic news came to the Buffalo suburb of

West Seneca just before Thanksgiving whenthe community learned that one of its mostpatriotic sons and high school star athleteshad become the Guard’s fifth combat losssince Operation Iraqi Freedom began.

On November 20, a popular andaccomplished young warrior gave his life forhis comrades and for his nation duringcombat action near Baghdad. Spc. David L.Roustum, age 22, assigned to BravoCompany, 1st Battalion, 108th Infantry waskilled in action when his up-armored humveewas attacked by insurgent forces with rocket-propelled grenades; Roustum was killed andhis three comrades were injured. He wasposthumously promoted to the rank ofSergeant.

Military HonorsTwo platoons from Bravo Company were

mobilized in January 2004 and deployed withthe Arkansas Army National Guard's 39th

Infantry Brigade. The tightly knit team ofinfantrymen, comprising roughly half of thecompany, left with pride and determination.Several members of the unit, includingSergeant Roustum, were part of the Guard’s

Western New York based Military HonorsDetachment, which provides military honorsat veterans’ funerals. Prior to the War onTerror, the military honors detail normallysupported World War II-generation vetswho had come to the end of their natural life.Sergeant Roustum had personallyparticipated in more than 200 such funerals.In October 2003, Sergeant Roustum helpedrender honors for the late Spc. MichaelWilliams from the 105th Military PoliceCompany in Buffalo. He was the Guard’ssecond death from OIF. In reflection ofsupreme irony, Sergeant Roustum becamethe recipient of the honors that he himselfhad been rendering.Quiet Professional

Sergeant Roustum joined the Guard rightout of high school along with another friend,who was wounded in the same attack. Hewas very popular and forged friendshipseasily, yet according to those who knew him,was very focused and disciplined. He had away of making his presence felt withoutfanfare. He was a leader. The companycommander, Capt. Michael Batt praisedSergeant Roustum and referred to him as “aquiet professional, who always did the jobthe only way he knew how—above thestandard.”

According to Captain Batt, SergeantRoustum will always be remembered as anoutstanding troop, an athlete–captain of thehockey team, star quarterback for the footballteam and all around great American son.

“His star was on the rise in the Army and

he took great pride in his team,” wrote thecaptain. “We will always have an emptyplace in our formations.”

“Sergeant Roustum was one of the goodguys, a good Soldier,” wrote battalionCommand Sgt. Maj. David Piwowarski. “Hewas a very young man who understood thathe had made a commitment to the Army andhis country and who showed that he wasresponsible in honoring his commitmentdespite the risks.”

But probably the most descriptive andappropriate praise came from the stateCommander-in-Chief, Governor George E.Pataki, who referred to him as “a true herowho loved his country and was not afraid toput his life on the line in the fight for freedomand fight to rid the world of terror.”Outpouring and Tribute

Sergeant Roustum’s body was flown backto Buffalo from Dover Air Force Base, Del.,on Dec. 2. Members of his unit formed anhonors detail to receive the flag-drapedcasket, including several members who werehome on scheduled leave from Iraq. Allactions stopped at the gate as the Roustumfamily and relatives received their son onthe tarmac. Onlookers in the passengerterminal stood, looked on in silence throughthe windows, sharing in the collective griefthe moment had brought.

Hundreds from the community turned outfor the wake in Orchard Park, including theextended family, friends, former school and

Heartbreak in Western N.Y.Guard and CommunityGrieve Fallen Warrior

WEST SENECA

Sgt. David L.RoustumAge 22, WestSenecaKIA Nov. 20, 2004Company B,1st Battalion108th Infantry

Sgt. David L. Roustum's funeral service Dec. 6.(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Pettibone)

have played in high school, he would haveprobably earned a scholarship.”

Sergeant Irizarry was looked toby his fellow Soldiers for his leadership,

guidance, sense of humor and his abilityto emit a positive light into any situation,regardless of the circumstances. He wasa loving father, grandfather, and a devotedhusband. Those who served with himdeem him as a devoted Soldier whosewilling service to his country speaks foritself.

“Izzy” will be remembered by those whoknew him for his friendly smile, his calmpresence, and his kind demeanor. Thoughhe was widely known for his sense ofhumor, Sergeant Irizzary was a mission-oriented Soldier who was always readyand willing when duty called.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on theWorld Trade Center, he served with theFighting 69th at Ground Zero. He furtherdemonstrated his patriotism and allegianceto the unit by volunteering for duty withthe Fighting 69th for Operation Noble Eagleat the U.S. Military Academy.

When the 1/69th was called upon insupport of Operation Iraqi Freedom, onceagain, "Izzy" was there.

He deployed in the difficult capacity asa section leader in the Scout Platoon. Hewas chosen for this position due to hisproven competence and courage. There

was never any doubt that he wascompletely devoted to the success of theunit and that he would give everything hehad in order to ensure the success of theSoldiers in this squad.

Lt. Col. Geoffrey Slack, commander of the1-69, isn’t surprised with the impact thatthe four Soldiers have made on the rest ofthe Fighting 69th.

“It hurts them immensely, especiallysince they all knew each other so well,” hesaid. Colonel Slack also said that thebrigade chaplain and a few mental healthprofessionals have come to the aid of hisSoldiers, helping them through this difficulttime with their services.

The fact that the terrorist attackshappened to New Yorkers more than anyother collective group of Americans iscompounded by the tragedy that, to date,the deaths in the 256th BCT have all beenSoldiers from New York. Slack said thisfuels a fire within his Soldiers that is beyondcompare.

“The mood of the battalion is much moredangerous,” he said. “Their anger ischanneled, and they are more focusedthan ever on what they do.”

Three years ago the United States wasshown that, in an instant, the world can beturned upside down. In early December,four Soldiers, their families, and all 3,900members of the 256th ‘Tiger’ Brigade arestill being shown daily that everythingcan change...in a New York minute. !

Continued on next page

Guard TimesPage 8

By Staff Sgt Raymond Drumsta42nd Infantry Division Public Affairs

The vanguard of the New York National Guard’s 42ndInfantry Division and Task Force Liberty has departedfor Operation Iraqi Freedom 3.

More than 500 Soldiers of the Rainbow Division’s advanceparty left at the end of October after training at Fort Drumand at Fort Dix, N.J. They headed for staging areas inKuwait, in order to smooth the way for Task Force Liberty,according to Brig. Gen. Tom Sullivan, 42nd Infantry Divisionassistant division commander for support and commandand control for the advance party.

Among other things, the advance party will drawequipment, aquire dining facilities and billeting, and provideinformation for the main party, Sullivan said.

Task Force Liberty Soldiers will deploy throughout theremainder of the year and early 2005.

“I think the advance party smoothes the way by takingthe unknowns out of the deployment,” Sullivan said. “Inother words, we’ll be over in Kuwait before the units. We’llbe able to call back to the unit commanders and tell themwhat to expect.”

“The purpose of the advance party is to get everythingprepared to receive units,” said Lt. Col. Mark Moser,deputy chief of plans, operations. “In this case, the advanceparty is setting up RSOI in Kuwait.”

"RSOI" stands for Reception, Staging and OnwardIntegration—a process which equipment and personnelare broken out and prepared for movement into Iraq.

4242424242ndndndndnd Inf Inf Inf Inf InfantrantrantrantrantryyyyyDivision advanceDivision advanceDivision advanceDivision advanceDivision advanceparparparparparty Dety Dety Dety Dety Deploploploploploysysysysys

“The advance party represents a little bit of everybody,but a big chunk of [Division Artillery],” Moser said. “Theyrun the RSOI.”

Other section representatives will ensure section-specificneeds are being met, Moser said.

“If problems come up, they coordinate with the rearelements to solve them.”

One of these problem solvers is advance party memberSpc. Pete Baesemann, motor sergeant for the 173rd LongRange Surveillance Detachment . He said his job is to readyhis unit’s vehicles “so LRSD can use them effectively.”

“I expect to be very busy,” Baesemann said. “I’m goingto get our vehicles off the boat, maintain them, acquire theup-armored Humvees, and basically get all our ducks in arow for the rest of my unit.”

That involves the infantry mentality – a commitment to“check, double check, and triple check everything,”Baesemann said.

“If you don’t do that with everything, something won’tbe there when you need it,” he said.

Thanks to the advance party, task force Soldiers also willget training. Divisional units deploying to Kuwait willundergo 14 days of intense training, to include M-2 and 240Bravo machine guns, M-16 and M-4 rifle, said Master Sgt.

Christopher Parker, sergeant of the Operations TrainingSection.

Parker said preparing this training for the main bodyinvolves many people and lots of coordination, a job hedescribes as “difficult but doable.”

“It’s kind of hard preparing for something until you’veseen it,” he said.

In addition to tracking vehicles and helping with barracksand equipment, advance party member Sgt. April Haradji,42nd Military Police Company, said preparing her familyfor her deployment – especially her eight-year old son – isalso part of her job.

“My son is getting older,” Haradji said. “My son knowswhat time means. He understands months and years. Heknows it’s 2004, and that I won’t be back until 2006. Heknows that’s a long time.”

Haradji deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in2003. She bought a globe for her son, and ran a string onit from her home state of New Hampshire to Afghanistanto show him where she was located. For this deployment,she taught him to use e-mail – and moved the string.

“We just had to switch it to Iraq,” she said.Haradji said she doesn’t find it difficult to leave before

everyone else.“I want to be on the advance party. I already said good-

bye to my family. I don’t want to go through that again. Myfamily is supportive. My mom knows that I want to do this,and that I’ll be taken care of,” she said.

Baesemann also said his family supported him.“They told me they loved me, and to go over, get the job

done so I can come home.”Spc. Craig Jasco, assigned to the division tactical command

post, said his family and friends sent him off with manygoing-away parties, reading material and a St. Michaelmedallion.

“They told me to be safe and keep my eyes open,” Jascosaid, “and to stay alert.” He said he wants to stay focusedand physically fit so he can perform his duties.

“We have all the equipment and all the training we need,”Sullivan said. “We are going to be very successful.” !

42nd Infantry Division advance party Soldiers depart for Iraq.(Photo by Staff Sgt. Ray Drumsta)

FORT DRUM

teammates, teachers and coaches andmembers of the military of all service branchesincluding other Guard units.

Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Jacques from theOregon Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion,162nd Infantry traveled across the country topay respects to the Roustum family. Jacqueswas on convalescent leave from Iraq for hisown combat wounds as his unit had servedalong side the Soldiers from Buffalo.

“I remember meeting them (SergeantRoustum’s unit) at Fort Hood. They arereally tight and we were impressed withthem,” he said.

Sergeant Jacques presented SergeantRoustum’s parents with a coin on behalf ofhis command, with the gratitude andappreciation of the members of BravoCompany. According to Sergeant Jacques,the brotherhood of warriors extends Army-wide and across state borders in the Guard.

Inside the funeral home were dozens ofphotos of Sergeant Roustum as a student, asan athlete, and as a Soldier. His old footballuniform and helmet were on display. A specialtribute came from 5th grade students at theCharles Upson Elementary School, Lockport.

The class had adopted the unit for thedeployment. Now a series of letters writtenby Sergeant Roustum to his elementaryschool pen pals served as a window to thespirit of a gentle warrior, and in celebrationof his life and example to others. A supportingletter to sergeant Roustum’s parents wasposted next to the memory board to explainand expand on their son’s contributions tothe students, including several letters, whichhad arrived only days before his death.

“Dave made a huge impact on the lives ofour children, especially some at-riskstudents, who finally felt connected to amale role-model,” wrote teacher SherrySansone, whose brother serves in the unit.“Please understand that your sonestablished relationships with students fromour school and community,” she wrote. “Wewill never know how far his touch will reachand continue to reach throughout the yearsto come.”

As evidenced by the turn out for this fallenwarrior, on the day of the return of his body,at the wake and at the funeral with fullmilitary honors, the memory of SergeantDavid L. Roustum and the relationships thathe formed and that have been formed aroundhim will long be remembered right along withhim. !

Roustum, from previous page

Honoring our eighth President, Deputy Adjutant General, Col. David F. Sheppard,places a red, white and blue wreath on the grave site of President Martin Van Buren at aceremony honoring his birth Dec. 5, 1782. (Photo by Master Sgt. Jeannine Mannarino)

By Sgt. 1st Class Doug SampleAmerican Forces Press Service

Deputy Defense Secretary PaulWolfowitz got a warm welcome at atown hall meeting here at this wintry

northwestern New York State base Dec. 17.The roughly 600 soldiers from units of the

42nd Infantry Division’s headquarters andTask Force Liberty stood and gave a standing,rousing applause when DoD’s No. 2 civilianleader entered the room. The division taskforce is deploying to Iraq.

Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief, NationalGuard Bureau and division commander ArmyMaj. Gen. Joseph Taluto were among seniorleaders joining the deputy secretary.

Wolfowitz reminded the assembly of thedivision’s proud history – past tales thatsome were too young to remember and recentones that none of them will ever forget.

He talked about how the division helpedend Nazi rule in Germany during World WarII by capturing enemy strongholds inSchweinfurt, Nuremburg and Munich, andliberating concentration camps.

And Wolfowitz reminded the soldiers howjust three years ago the division responded

Deputy Secretary Visits Deploying Task Force Liberty

to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in their ownNew York City backyard. Division battalionsfrom New York armories respondedimmediately. And thousands of soldiers fromthe rest of the division’s New York NationalGuard and the division headquarterssustained security and recovery operations

in Manhattan as part of Joint Task Force 42.The deputy secretary singled out division

soldier Army Maj. Chris Ciccone as anexample of those who were among the firstto respond to the World Trade Center attacks.

A high school teacher in New York City’sEast Greenwich area, Ciccone said he had

“seen what terrorism can do and I don’t wantto see that ever happen again.”

“So if (this deployment) means taking onterrorism where it starts, that’s what our jobis,” the military intelligence officer declared.

Task Force Liberty soldiers appreciatedWolfowitz’s visit. “It shows concern thathe’s coming down to see the troops that aredeploying,” said Sgt. 1st Class FranklinSmith, 48, a military policeman.

Added Pvt. Nathaniel Deitch, 19, one ofthe task force’s younger members: “That’strooping the line. You know, every goodleader should do that.”

Division elements, part of the third rotationof troops to Iraq, began their movementtoward Iraq in October. The division willlead Task Force Liberty.

In his remarks, Wolfowitz pointed out howthe U.S. military has helped liberate 50 millionpeople form brutal tyranny and that theUnited States is now safer because of militaryaction taken in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Years from now when the history of theglobal war of terror is written, it will be yourstory — the story of how courageousAmerican soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marinesand Coast Guardsmen helped make ourcountry safer and the world more free,” hesaid.

The deputy secretary also issued a warningto terrorists still hiding in Iraq: “The 42ndInfantry Division is coming … and believeme, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” !

Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz greets Soldiers of Task Force Liberty after his Dec. 17 town hallmeeting with them at Fort Drum. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample)

FORT DRUM

By 1st Lt. Rodney RichmondJoint Forces Headquarters

Three competitors from the NewYork National Guard Combat RifleTeam were recently selected torepresent the nation on the AllGuard Combat MarksmanshipTeam.

1st Lt. Rodney Richmond of theSmall Arms Readiness and TrainingSection (STARTS), Joint ForcesHeadquarters, Tech. Sgt. BillBednarowski of the 109th AirliftWing and Sgt. Tom Scott of the204th Engineer Battalion competedat the Armed Forces Skill at ArmsMatch held at Camp Robinson,Ark., in October. The match pitsthe finest military competitivecombat shooting teams in the worldagainst one another.

All three guardsmen are activemembers of the New York CombatRifle Team. The team is the currentAll Army Champions, 2004 Military

Advisory Council Region 1, andcame in second place at the 2003Winston P. Wilson Match where,additionally, all three won thecoveted Chief’s 50 Award;Richmond and Bednarowski areDistinguished Marksmen, andScott won the last two pointsneeded at the Winston P. WilsonMatches to join the USA team.

The All Guard Team representsthe U.S. in various matches aroundthe world including England,Australia, South Africa, Canadaand Germany.

The team has a reputation as aleader in the world ofmarksmanship. These Soldiers andairman, having distinguishedthemselves, provide a wealth ofexpertise to the New York NationalGuard.

For more information on NewYork’s Combat Shooting Teamscontact Maj. Dana Brewer or 1st Sgt.Randy Ross at STARTS on theDMNA website at: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/sarts/index.htm, or (518) 786-4644. !

By 1st Lt. Rodney RichmondJoint Forces Headquarters

The New York National GuardCombat Marksmanship Teamcompeted in Vermont Aug. 21 thru22, 2004 against the top teams inthe Northeast Region for honors inboth rifle and pistol at the MilitaryAdvisory Council (MAC) Region1 Combat MarksmanshipCompetition.

The Vermont National Guard atCamp Ethan Allen, Vt., hosted thecompetition.

The Combat Rifle team wascomposed of 1st Lt. RodneyRichmond of the Small ArmsReadiness and Training Section(STARTS), Joint ForcesHeadquarters (JFHQ), Sgt. TomScott, of the 204th EngineerBattalion and Master Sgt. WarrenChristman, Master Sgt Terry Potter,Tech. Sgt. Bill Bednarowski andTech. Sgt. Allen Lederhouse of the109th Airlift Wing.

The Combat Pistol Team was

composed of Master Sgt. DavidSmith and Spc. Douglas MacQueenof the 204th Engineer Battalion, Sgt.1st Class Derrick Banning of the152nd Engineer Battalion and Sgt.Joe Dee of the SARTS JFHQ.

The New York Soldiers andAirmen placed first in both rifle andpistol team events and are the MAC1 Region Champions. In additionto winning the team events,shooters received individualawards including, in the rifleprecision match, Richmond, whotook first place, and Bednarowski,who took second place.

In the excellence in competitionrifle match Sergeant Bednarowskitook second place, and Richmondtook third place.

In the overall rifle champion,Lieutenant Richmond came in firstwith Bednarowski and Scott firinginto second and third placerespectively.

In pistol, Bannin took first placein the combat pistol match withDee taking home second place. Atthe Precision pistol match,MacQueen shot for first place andSmith came in second.

Overall pistol champion wasawarded in first place to Banningand Dee in second place.

Competitive marksmanshipprovides a unique opportunity forthe New York National Guard. Inaddition to the chance to competeand showcase outstandingmarksmanship ability, Soldiers andairmen receive invaluable trainingthat they bring to their respectiveunits.

The New York Combat ShootingTeams went on to compete in the2004 Winston P. Wilson Matchesheld in Camp Robinson, Ark. inOctober representing the New Yorkstate National Guard.

Each year, shooters areencouraged to participate in theNew York National Guard TAGCombat Matches held at CampSmith.

For more information on NewYork’s Combat Shooting Teams,contact Maj. Dana Brewer or 1st

Sgt. Randy Ross at STARTSthrough the Department of Militaryand Naval Affairs http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/sarts/index.htm, or call (518) 786-4644. !

New York National Guard Combat ShootingTeam Sweeps Regional Championship

New York’s finest combatriflemen to Represent U.S.A.at International Competition

LATHAM

LATHAM

Guard Times Page 9

Guard TimesPage 10

1st Lt. Anthony L. BucciPublic Affairs Officer

Two recruiters of the 174th Fighter Wingwere recently awarded Flying UnitRecruiter of the Year and Rookie

Recruiter of the Year respectively for the AirNational Guard's Region Five.

Master Sgt. Brad Addison received the“Flying Unit Recruiter of the Year” awardand Tech. Sgt. Joe Call received “RookieRecruiter of the Year” award and will behonored in April at the Air National Guardnational conference and will be presentedwith a gold recruiting shield.

Master Sgt. Addison has been in the 174th

Fighter Wing for more than 10 years, the lastfive being in the recruiting office. He startedhis career in personnel before making theswitch to recruiting in 1999. “Since the firstday I saw a gold shield as a recruiter itimmediately became my goal. I live my life bysetting goals for myself, once I achieve oneof them it’s time to set new ones” saidAddison.

Tech. Sgt. Call has been in the unit for morethan seven years, spending the first six in thefuels department. “I was surprised when Iwas informed that I had won the award. It isone of those things that you shoot for andhope that maybe someday I can get it.” Healso said that without his wife’s support hiswinning this award would not have beenpossible, “My wife is very supportive of mycareer, she thinks that recruiting is a greatjob. She is definitely very happy for me!”said Call.

There are numerous factors within theselection criteria that need to be met in orderto win one of these awards. The enlistment

the highest position is the state’ssupervisor. A recruiter has the opportunityto win a gold shield for each of theaforementioned categories.

They now have the opportunity tocompete on the national level against all thewinners from the five regions to determinewho the overall winner is for their respectivecategory. If they win on the national levelthey are allowed to wear the gold shield forthe remainder of their recruiting career todistinguish themselves as top performerswithin the recruiting field. It is the first timefor the 174th Fighter Wing to have twoaward winners from the recruiting section.

“Both are extremely capable in all aspectsof recruiting and go above and beyond therequired processes. Their accomplishments

Recruiters of the Year Awarded at the 174th Fighter WingSYRACUSE

Master Sgt. Brad Addison, left, and Tech. Sgt. Joe Call, right, review enlistment information forpotential members of the 174th Fighter Wing. (Photo by 1st Lt. Anthony L. Bucci, 174FW)

quota per month measured overall duringthe fiscal year, the ANG standard is three permonth and 36 for the Fiscal Year. Master Sgt.Addison had 52 enlistments, while Tech.Sgt. Call bested him with 53 for FY 2004.However, Tech. Sgt. Call did say he owes alot of his success to Master Sgt. Addison,“Master Sgt. Addison was instrumental inhelping me to be a successful recruiter. Heliterally taught me the ropes; from variouscall back techniques to navigating throughthe Air Force Recruiting Information SupportSystem” said Call.

The next factor looks at communityinvolvement both recruiters are heavilyinvolved in. They visited many schools in anattempt to expose area kids to the manyopportunities in the ANG. They participatedin Veterans Day ceremonies, while also beingpresent at the yearly New York State fair. Theselecting committee also looks at whatProfessional Military Education thecandidate has completed. Unit and individualawards also weighed to help in the selectionprocess.

Master Sgt. Addison and Tech. Sgt. Callare allowed to wear the distinctive goldrecruiting shield, which displays theirsignificant achievement. It is a symbol ofexcellence, dedication and teamwork. Theyare allowed to wear this gold shield for twoyears as a symbol of their significantachievement.

There are four categories for a recruiter towin the gold shield, they are: “RookieRecruiter of the Year”, “Flying Unit Recruiterof the Year”, “Office Supervisor of the Year”,and “Recruiting Retention Supervisor of theYear”. The first three categories apply toeach unit’s recruiting section; the lastcategory is open to each state’s RecruitingRetention Supervisor. There is no overallsupervisor for a particular region; therefore

in an extremely difficult recruitingenvironment are especially noteworthy.”said Master Sgt. Richard Doctor, RecruitingOffice Supervisor.

“With the recruiting challenges facing themilitary at the present time, the 174th is veryfortunate to have Brad and Joe performingas they are. Their efforts have achievednational attention not only for themselves,but for the 174th Fighter Wing as well” saidCol.Tony. Basile, Wing Commander. !

WRITER'S NOTE: Region Five is made upof New York, New Jersey and the NewEngland States, with New York State beingthe largest Air National Guard State. This isthe first time since 1991 that New York Statehas won a recruiting award.

By Sgt. Stephanie L. CarlAmerican Forces Press Service

Behind nearly every deployedNational Guardsman or Reservist,there is a civilian employer who iswaiting for an employee to return.

Most civilian employers supporttheir servicemembers. The betterthe relationship these deployedcitizen-soldiers maintain with theiremployer, the better theirreintegration is likely to be uponredeployment.

“Troops need to take the time toinvolve their employers in what theyare doing,” said Maj. Gen. SteveRead, U.S. Army Reserve readinesscommander.

The first step in keeping employersinformed is ensuring they know theinitial timeframe for a deployment,when the deployment is expected tostart and approximately how long itwill last.

All National Guardsmen andReservists fall under the guidelinesof the Uniformed Services

Employment and ReemploymentRights Act. This act provides strictguidance for both servicemembersand employers. Some employerschoose to go above and beyondwhat USERRA requires.

“There have been some employerswho have continued healthinsurance during deployments, orat least until the servicemembersare able to pick up their Tricarebenefits,” said Master Sgt. GregoryJacobs, Army Reserve Affairsretention noncommissioned officerfor Afghanistan. These benefitshelp the families who are left behind,and they help the soldiers by easingthe stress a deployment can induce.

To recognize those employerswho go out of their way to supportarmed forces personnel, there are

various awards at both the stateand federal level.

“In the civilian world there reallyare no awards,” said Lt. Col.Charles Kirchen, Army ReserveAffairs officer in charge forAfghanistan. “To manyemployers, it is a big deal to getthese awards.”

It’s up to the individualservicemembers to recommendtheir employers for awards. Thiscan be done through the NationalCommittee for Employer Supportof the Guard and Reserve Website. But there are other ways toshow appreciation as well.

“Soldiers can show theirappreciation very easily,” saidCapt. James Carmichael, 221stOrdnance Company commander,

Fort Wayne, Ind. “Something assimple as having a flag flown intheir honor and presenting it witha certificate.”

In addition to small tokens ofappreciation, servicemembersshould continue to communicatewith their employers throughouttheir deployment.

“Stay in touch with them, let themknow you’re all right,” advised Sgt.Maj. Scott White, Reserve Affairssenior enlisted adviser forAfghanistan. “Employers are justas concerned about the well-beingof their soldiers as anyone else.”

It all goes back to communication,said White. “If you’re up front andhonest with your employer,” hesaid, “they will be able to supportyou better.” !

Reserve-Component Troops Urged to Keep Employers InformedBAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN

"Employers are justas concerned aboutthe well-being ofSoldiers as anyoneelse."

Second Civil Support TeamMobilizes in Local Exercise

Members of the 2nd Civil Support Team prepare to investigate an abandoned warehouse at theScotia Naval Depot as part of a major exercise held in December. The exercise tested the team'sability to assess, advise and assist in weapons of mass destruction incidents.

By Staff Sgt. Mike R. SmithGuard Times Staff

It was raining when a line of governmentvehicles quietly rolled into a pull-offoutside a depot fence line here one recent

December morning.

Joint-force Soldiers andAirmen Neutralize WMDLab at Abandoned NavyWarehouse

After minutes of silence, black-uniformedpersonnel stepped out with stern glancesamidst sporadic radio noise and converged.They seemed in heavy discussion, and tothe passerby—attentive enough to noticethem—their suspect stance might haveraised an eyebrow, or two.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction, 2ndCivil Support Team conducted a large-scaleexercise at the Scotia Naval Depot on Dec.1 as part of their regular readiness training.

The exercise started on the report that abreak-in investigation of an abandonedwarehouse uncovered possible WMDactivities. An initial joint response team of 13Soldiers and three Airmen were dispatched.

The Soldiers and Airmen are tenants at theStratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia.

“This is our full time job,” said Maj. Matthew

Cooper, 2nd Civil Support Team Commander.He added that the team conducts large-scaleexercises at least once a quarter. Smaller-scale exercises are conducted two to threetimes a week, he said.

With the steady rain, the exercise seemeda soggy puzzle awaiting a solution. Insidethe warehouse was a maze of abandonedhallways connecting lightless rooms whereinstructors previously setup booby trapsand mock chemical agent equipment withina damp air of decay. Making conditions worse,water dripped through a rain-soaked ceiling,mucking up potential evidence before landingin puddles on a broken linoleum floor.

Major Cooper explained that the teamchanges the location of each exercise.

“It’s hard to use the same facilitates overand over,” said the major. “It’s human natureto predetermine the outcome based onhistorical knowledge of a structure or area.”

On a table inside a rear entrance, a spill oftan powder haphazardly formed a messagefor trespassers, and dirty windows allowedenough light to read “JIHAD” handwrittenInstructors previously setup booby traps and mock chemical

agent equipment within a damp air of decay.

in thedust.The 2nd Civil Support Team cut the exercise

into small maneuvers, and the Department ofDefense reports that the Weapons of MassDestruction-Civil Support Teams' commonmission is assessing sites and advisingcivilian responders on what actions to take.If called upon, teams will assist requests forstate and federal assets but, mostimportantly, the concern is saving lives andpreventing human suffering and propertydamage.

Weapons of Mass Destruction-CivilSupport Teams undergo military as well asemergency responder training; teammembers need to acquire approximately 600hours of initial training aside from theirregular military occupations. !

EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2nd Civil SupportTeam is among the first 10 teams authorizedin 1999 to achieve Department of Defensecertification. To date, the DoD reports 32Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil SupportTeams authorized nationwide.

Rain pours down on a 2nd Civil Support Teammember. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

A CST team member from the 2nd Civil SupportTeam cordons off a decontamination stationsetup during the exercise.

SCOTIA

Guard Times Page 11

Keeping Families FirstTech. Sgt. Maralyne Fleischman andhusband, Master Sgt. Louis Fleischmandisplay Maralyne's awards as the N.Y. AirNational Guard Family Readiness Memberof the Year. The award recognizes thosewho ensure National Guard families,Airmen and Soldiers are prepared forseparation during deployments. Twoawards are presented each year todeserving members of NY's Air and ArmyNational Guard. Left to right: Brig. Gen.Dana B. Demand, Commander 105th AirliftWing, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Maguire, Jr.,Adjutant General, Master Sgt. LouisFleichsman, Tech. Sgt. MaralyneFleischman, Mrs. Kathy Laramee, 105AWFamily Program Coordinator, Mrs. PattyJensen, State Family Program OfficeAssistant, Joe Fryer, Maralyne’sSupervisor.(Photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael R.O’Halloran, 105AW)

By Joseph Collorafi, Brig. Gen.retiredN.Y. Veterans Affairs

When most people hear theterm VeteransAdministration or VA,

they think only in terms of hospitalsand medical care. In reality, theDepartment of Veterans Affairs isan agency with a diverse structurenot unlike the Division of Militaryand Naval Affairs (DMNA). WhereDMNA has the Army and AirNational Guard and the NavalMilitia as separate subordinateorganizations, the VA has theVeterans Health Administration(VHA), the Veterans BenefitsAdministration (VBA) and theNational Cemetery Administration.Through these three organizations,the VA offers a wide variety ofprograms and services for thenation’s 26 million veterans.

Health care is provided by theVeterans Health Administration(VHA) and is one of the mostvisible of all VA benefits. VHA iscomposed of 23 VeteransIntegrated Service Networks(VISN). There are two health carenetworks in New York—the VAHealthcare Network Upstate NewYork (VISN 2) and the VA NewYork/New Jersey VeteransHealthcare Network (VISN3). They operate 12 majormedical centers in NewYork, plus an extended carecenter at St. Albans.

These facilities provide afull range of medicalservices, including acutemedical, surgical,psychiatric and nursinghome care. Specialty units at selectmedical centers offer cardiaccatheterization, lithotripsy, clinicalpharmacology, MRI, radiationtherapy, women’s healthprograms, treatment for spinal cordand traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and blindrehabilitation.

The medical centers areaugmented by more than 60outpatient clinics throughout thestate. These clinics offer a fullarray of primary care services forveterans in the communities where

they live and work, especially inrural areas. Each medical facility isaffiliated with at least one majoruniversity and together theyprovide training for more than 8,000medical students annually innursing, dentistry, dietetics,audiology and speech pathology,medical technology, radiationtechnology, pharmacy, podiatry,psychology, physical andoccupational therapy and socialwork.

The VA NY Harbor Health CareSystem, which includes theManhattan and Brooklyn medicalcenters, has been recognized forhaving four Clinical Programs ofExcellence in renal dialysis, cardiacsurgery, comprehensive medicalrehabilitation and HIV care.

The VA is teaming up with theDepartment of Defense to track thehealth of military personnel. TheMillennium Cohort Study, one ofmany collaborative researchprojects between the VA and theDepartment of Defense, is thelargest study of its kind everconducted. Researchers will followas many as 140,000 militarypersonnel for up to 21 years totrack changes in their health. Theeffort began in 2001 and to-datehas enrolled more than 79,000service personnel. The study willhelp answer questions about thehealth effects of military service. In

particular, the researchers willexamine how deployment affectsthe incidence of chronic diseasesand other health conditions.Findings will help guide DOD andVA policy on health care andbenefits. For more information youcan visit the study’s website atwww.millenniumcohort.org.

The Veterans BenefitsAdministration (VBA) administersa variety of benefit programsthrough 58 VA Regional Offices.Two of these are located withinNew York State. The Buffalo VA

Regional Office is located at 111West Huron Street, Bufallo, NY14202 and the New York VARegional Office is located at 245West Houston Street, New York,NY 10014. The benefit programsadministrated by VBA include;Disability Compensation andPension, Education and Training(GI Bill), Home Loan Assistance,Insurance, and VocationalRehabilitation and Employment.

Disability Compensation andPension: Not all of the problems ofmilitary service end when peopleare discharged from active duty.About 2.5 million veterans receivemonthly VA disabilitycompensation for medical problemsrelated to their service in uniform.VA pensions go to about 341,000wartime veterans with limitedmeans. Family members of about533,000 veterans qualify formonthly VA payments as thesurvivors of disabled veterans orpension recipients. The VA’sregional offices in Buffalo and NewYork City serve veterans and theirsurvivors in New York who areseeking VA financial benefits. Infiscal year 2003, these regionaloffices processed 24,777 disabilitycompensation claims. The totalincludes 6,435 veterans applyingfor the first time for disabilitycompensation. During fiscal year2003, these two VA regional offices

acted on 18,342 cases whereveterans reopened a claim, usuallyto seek an increase in their disabilityrating level for larger payments.

Education and Training: Since1944, when the first GI Bill began,more than 21 million veterans,service members and familymembers have received $77 billionin GI Bill benefits for education andtraining. The number of GI Billrecipients includes 7.8 millionveterans from World War II, 2.4million from the Korean War and8.2 million post-Korean and

Vietnam era veterans, plus activeduty personnel. Since thedependents program was enactedin 1956, the VA also has assisted inthe education of more than 750,000dependents of veterans whosedeaths or total disabilities wereservice-connected.

Since the Vietnam-era, there havebeen approximately 2 millionveterans, service members,reservists and National Guardsmenwho have participated in theVeterans’ Educational AssistanceProgram, established in 1977, andthe Montgomery GI Bill,established in 1985.

In 2003, the VA helped pay for theeducation or training of 322,754veterans and active-dutypersonnel, 88,342 reservists andNational Guardsmen and 61,874survivors.

Home Loan Assistance: From1944, when the VA began helpingveterans purchase homes underthe original GI Bill, through January2004, about 17.4 million VA homeloan guarantees have been issued,with a total value of $812 billion.The VA began fiscal year 2004 with2.7 million active home loansreflecting amortized loans totaling$213.2 billion.

In fiscal year 2003, theVAguaranteed 508,436 loans valuedat $65 billion. TheVA’s programsfor specially adapted housing

helped about 550 disabled veteranswith grants totaling more than $22million last year.

Insurance: TheVA operates oneof the largest life insuranceprograms in the world. The VAdirectly administers six lifeinsurance programs with 1.8 millionpolicies in force. In addition, theVA supervises theServicemembers’ Group LifeInsurance and the Veterans’ GroupLife Insurance programs. Theseprograms provide $729 billion ininsurance coverage to 2.8 million

veterans, active-duty members,reservists and Guardsmen, plus 3.1million spouses and children.

In 2003, VA life insuranceprograms returned $569 million individends to 1.5 million veteransholding VA life insurance policies,and paid an additional $2.42 billionin death claims and otherdisbursements.

Vocational Rehabilitation: TheVA’s Vocational Rehabilitation andEmployment Program providesservices to enable veterans withservice-connected disabilities toachieve maximum independence indaily living, and, to the greatestextent feasible, to obtain andmaintain employment. During fiscalyears 1998 through 2003, 52,423program participants achievedrehabilitation by obtaining andmaintaining suitable employment.Additionally, during that sameperiod, 7,658 participants achievedrehabilitation through maximumindependence in daily living.

The National CemeteryAdministration (NCA) manages thecountry’s network of nationalcemeteries with more than 2.5million grave sites at 120 nationalcemeteries in 39 states and PuertoRico, as well as in 33 soldier’s lotsand monument sites. Most menand women who have been in themilitary are eligible for burial in anational cemetery, as are their

dependent children andusually their spouses. Lastyear, about 90,000 veteranswere buried in the VA’snational cemeteries.Additionally, in 2003, theVA provided nearly345,000 headstones andmarkers and 254,600Presidential MemorialCertificates to the loved

ones of deceased veterans. VA-assisted state veterans cemeteriesprovided more than 18,000interments.

The VA has six nationalcemeteries in New York; theCalverton National Cemetery andthe Long Island National Cemeteryin Long Island, the Cypress HillsNational Cemetery, in Brooklyn,the Woodlawn National Cemetery,in Elmira , the Gerald B. SolomonNational Cemetery, in Schuylerville

Guard TimesPage12

Understanding New York, U.S. Departmentof Veterans Affairs Key to Your Benefits

ALBANY

Continued on next page

If you are a veteran, you have earned these benefits by yourdedication and service to your country. You should takeadvantage of these benefits and utilize your V.A. system.

By Capt. Monte Hibbert116th Brigade Combat Team Deputy Public Affairs OfficerCapt. Robert Giordano42nd ID Deputy Public Affairs Officer

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visitedIraq-bound military members December 8 at theirstaging camp in Kuwait, including close to 1700

soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 42nd Infantry Division.Rumsfeld used the town-hall type meeting to address the

soldiers and then directly answer soldier questions.“First, I want to say thank you to each of you—to your

families—for your superb service to our country,” saidRumsfeld in his opening statement. “You are doing noblework. It’s vitally important work, and your country isdeeply grateful.”

After pointing out the significance of December 8 as thedate that the United States entered World War II more thansix decades ago, Rumsfeld said that we are once againfacing a global conflict.

“As it was in 1941, a new generation of Americans hasbeen asked to come to freedom’s defense,” said Rumsfeld.

Rumsfeld said the reunification of Germany, the debateover free elections in Ukraine, Afghanistan’s elections,and the thousands of Iraqis coming to the defense of theircountry are examples of freedom’s recent advancesworldwide.

“These pivotal moments in history would not have beenpossible had it not been for the determination, and thedaring of America’s founders. Generations of Americanswho’ve advanced those freedoms at home and helped tonurture those freedoms abroad,” he said. “Now that dutyfalls to you—or more correctly, and I think importantly,you have each volunteered to accept that duty, and I knowyou are up to the task.”

While about half of those attending the event were fromthe 116th Brigade Combat Team, attendees also includedsoldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters,another National Guard brigade, and support units fromthe staging camp.

“America’s fortunate to have some old pro’s back in thefield,” said Rumsfeld after highlighting the proud historiesof the units in attendance.

Rumsfeld reaffirmed his resolve and the resolve of theUnited States in the Iraqi conflict.

“You know there are those who see the violence takingplace in Iraq … and they say we can’t prevail,” saidRumsfeld. “I see that violence and say we must win. Thinkof a world, just think of a world, in which the butchers andthe murderers are allowed to prevail.”

Rumsfeld said that in today’s global conflict the stakesare as high as when President Franklin Roosevelt spoke atthe dawn of the U.S. entrance into WWII, when he vowed

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visits Iraq-bound military members in Kuwait. (Photo by Capt. Robert Giordano)

will then begin to assume greater and greater responsibilityfor the management of their country,” said Rumsfeld.

A couple of soldiers asked questions about equipment,particularly about the number of up-armored humvees forthe military’s needs in Iraq.

“It’s essentially a matter of physics. It isn’t a matter ofmoney. It isn’t a matter on the part of the Army of desire.It’s a matter of production and capability of doing it. Asyou know, you go to war with the army you have, not thearmy you might want or wish to have at a later time,” saidRumsfeld. “Since the Iraq conflict began, the Army hasbeen pressing ahead to produce the armor necessary at arate that they believe … is the rate that is all that can beaccomplished at this moment.”

There were questions from soldiers regardingreimbursements for travel expenses, perceived inequity inpay and benefits between reserve and active duty soldiers,and a ‘stop-loss’ policy currently in effect that keepsmilitary members on active duty who might otherwise haveretired or separated from the military.

“At the moment we are doing well in terms of attractingand retaining the people we need and if anything … thedata suggest that the guard and reserve forces have beenadvantaged relatively compared to the active force overthe past four years,” said Rumsfeld.

After taking the final question Secretary Rumsfeld tookthe time to mingle with the soldiers, shake hands and allowphotos. !

to defend ourselves and defeat treachery no matter howlong it takes.

“As before it falls to you and to our country to win thistest of wills, and to see it through to victory,” he said. “Iask you all to remember this in the difficult and the tryingmoments that you’ll face. There is perhaps no greatercalling in life than doing what you are doing—serving onfreedom’s front lines.”

He concluded his speech by again thanking those presentfor their service and then opened up the floor for questions.

Questions from military members in the audience includedtopics such as the balance of forces in the U.S. and abroad,the plan for U.S. forces in Iraq, the availability of up-armored vehicles, non-NATO country involvement in thecoalition, pay and benefits for National Guard and reservesoldiers and Department of Defense and Army policyregarding enlistment and retention.

Rumsfeld said that the U.S. has approximately 2.5 milliontroops it can call on at any time and compared that numberwith the approximately 200,000 currently in the Iraqi theater.“You can be sure we have the capability we need,” hereassured. Rumsfeld also assured the group that U.S.forces would withdrawn from Iraq as soon as sufficientIraqi security forces are trained, but that the timeline iscontingent on security conditions on the ground.

“It’s hard to predict precisely what will take place, butthere’s a strong belief … that the people of Iraq will see thatthey have a stake in the future of that country, and that they

Secretary of Defense Visits New York Guardsmen in KuwaitKUWAIT

and the Bath National Cemetery inBath, New York.

The VA is one of the largestagencies in our federalgovernment. As of January 31,2004, the VA had 232,172employees on the rolls. Among alldepartments and agencies of thefederal government, only the

Department of Defense has a largerwork force. Of the total number ofVA employees, 210,432 were in theVeterans Health Administration,12,962 in the Veterans BenefitsAdministration, 1,498 in theNational Cemetery System, 3,193 inthe Veterans Canteen Service and425 in the Revolving Supply Fund.The rest — 3,662 employees—arein various staff offices

The VA is also a leader in hiringveterans. About 52 percent of allmale employees are veterans andas of January 31, 2004, the VA had9,786 women employees whoserved in the U.S. armed forces.About 57 percent of male and 28percent of female veteranemployees served during theVietnam War. More than 7 percentof all VA employees are disabled

veterans and four hold the Medalof Honor.

Almost all honorably dischargedveterans can qualify for one ormore VA benefits but they mustenroll with a VA Medical Centerfor medical care and submit anapplication for those benefitsadministered by VBA. You canobtain information and assistancebe either visiting the VA facility

Veterans, from previous page nearest you, calling the toll freenumber at 1-800-827-1000 orvisiting the VA website atwww.va.org. The VA exists toprovide the best possible servicesto our nation’s veterans. If you area veteran, you have earned thesebenefits by your dedication andservice to our country. You shouldtake advantage of these benefitsand utilize your VA system. !

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By Capt. Kathy SweeneyGuard Times Staff

When the National Guard Bureau transferred threeUH-60 Blackhawks from Bravo Company, ThirdBattalion 142nd Aviation, Long Island, to the N.J.Army National Guard in July for Operation IraqiFreedom, Soldiers at the Army Aviation Support

Facility Number One (AASF1), Ronkonkoma, were tasked to ferryhome two newer Blackhawks from Alaska to make up for the loss.

The two Blackhawk crews consisted of 1st Lt. James Hubert, ChiefWarrant Officer 4 Vince Carrabba, Chief Warrant Officer 3 NealHumphries Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Cox, Staff Sgt. JamesHolloman, Staff Sgt. Sam Carreras, Sgt. Tom Teufel and Spc. SmithBapthelus.

The crews started their 26-hour duty day on Jul. 1, leaving N.Y. toboard one of three commercial flights that would take them toAnchorage, Alaska.

The four-hour time difference was the first of many adjustmentsmade, including getting rest in Alaska's 22-hour, summer daylight.Additionally, required navigation publications had to be addressedprior to their departure, and the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th

Rescue Squadron provided the current publications and chartsrequired, which enabled them to embark on the long journey home.

The Soldiers ferried the Blackhawks home to support the RepublicanNational Convention—crucial air support was needed due to the lossof three Blackhawks to N.J.

Lieutenant Hubert was appointed air mission commander. He andhis two crews overcame various difficulties, setting a N.Y. ArmyNational Guard helicopter ferry flight record in the process.

Planning is paramount on any helicopter flight, and, on this recordsetting trip, Lieutenant Hubert said crews had to “make severalcourse changes due to deteriorating weather.” The journey wasparticularly challenging due to the vast wilderness overflown and

that the Blackhawks were not configured with long-range fueltanks—their range was roughly two hours, 30 minutes includingreserve time, in no-wind conditions. Fuel stops had to be meticulouslyplanned, factoring in wind direction and speed—difficult in awilderness without weather reporting stations. In addition, crewswere required to land with 20 minutes of fuel remaining when flightsoperated under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and 30 minutes of fuelremaining when flights operated under Instrument Flight Rules(IFR)—basically IFR conditions exist if the weather is less than 1000foot ceiling and less than 3 miles visibility.

“This ferry flight encompassed VFR, IFR, Special VFR and mountainflying conditions combined with remote area operations related toour unit’s wartime mission” said Chief Warrant Officer Humphries.The aviator crew chief instructors were able to take advantage of thechanging scenarios to accomplish required tasks for progressiontraining.

Readiness levels measure a Soldier's progress through variousphases of Army aviation training while allowing experience andfamiliarity with areas of flying. A training flight is usually planned toallow pilots and crew chiefs to progress through their levels, butsometimes there is a “real-world” situation that allows both missions.This benefits crews because circumstances are not artificiallycontrolled, which forces responses to unforeseen problems such asweather and maintenance.

“Rigorous and demanding flying, incorporated with a real missionscenario, paid dividends...” stated Chief Warrant Officer Humphries.

“This training would normally take about one year with anormal...Soldier,” said Staff Sgt. Holoman.

Staff Sgt. Carreras stated “continuity of training was the key for ourSoldiers. They were exposed to almost every scenario required fortheir advancement...”

The entire flight took five days including 29 hours flight time. Flightdays were scheduled to accomplish inspections and leave room forunforeseen events such as weather or maintenance issues. !

Flight of two

BlacBlacBlacBlacBlackhakhakhakhakhawkswkswkswkswksNew York Soldiers Set Ferry Distance Record

StartAug. 4

Bryant, Alaska

Northway

, AK

Whitehorse

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Watson Lak

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Fort Nels

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Calgary

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Grand Prai

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Edmonton, Albert

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DAY 4

Lethbrid

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Grea

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Yukon Territory: With few fuel locations,meticulous fuel calculations were made. Achange in wind speed or direction could be thedifference between arriving safely prior to ETAor completing a precautionary landing in thewilderness.

Alberta, Canada: Continued weather cause 1st Lt. James Hubert to changehead southeast through Alberta.

Guard Times Page15Guard Times

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Guard FactsGuard FactsGuard FactsGuard FactsGuard Facts:UH-60L BlackhawkUH-60L BlackhawkUH-60L BlackhawkUH-60L BlackhawkUH-60L Blackhawk

Manufacturer: Sikorsky (CT)Max gross weight: 22,000 lbs.Empty weight: 11,400 lbs.Max. speed: 193 kts. (222 m.p.h.)Cruise: 150 kts. (173 m.p.h.)Economy: 128 k.t.s (148 m.p.h.)Capacity: 15 troops (W/three crew)External load: 9000 lbs

The UH 60 Black Hawk provides air assault, general support, aeromedicalevacuation, command and control and special operations support to combatand stability and support operations. As a tactical utility helicopter, it replacedthe UH-1 “Huey.” The versatile Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobilityof the Army, due to dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo liftcapability, and will serve as the Army’s utility helicopter in the Objective Force.On the asymmetric battlefield, it provides the commander the agility to get tothe fight quicker and to mass effects throughout the battlespace across thefull spectrum of conflict. An entire 11-person, fully-equipped infantry squad canbe lifted in a single Black Hawk, transported faster than in predecessorsystems, in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk can reposition a 105mm Howitzer, its crew of six, and lift up to 30 rounds of ammunitionin a single lift. The aircraft’s critical components and systems arearmored or redundant, and its airframe isdesigned to protect theoccupants... Making the long journey, Blackhawk aircrew of the Third

Battalion 142nd Aviation, Long Island in a group photo with oneof two Blackhawks flown their starting point in Bryant, Alaska,from top left, Staff Sgt. Sam Carreras, 1st Lt. James Hubert,Chief Warrant Officer 4 Vince Carrabba, Spc. Smith Bapthelus,from bottom left, Sgt. Thomas Teufel, Staff Sgt. James Holloman,Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Cox, Chief Warrant Officer 3Neal Humphries. (Courtesy photos)

Harrisb

urg, P

A

Islip, N.Y.: After five days and 4,020 statute milesincluding 29 hrs. flight time, the Soldiers land at theirdestination. Long and short flight days were scheduled toaccomplish inspections and leave room for unforeseenevents such as weather or maintenance issues. TheBlackhawks were immediately put to use, supporting the2004 Republican National Convention at NYC.

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s, MT

ssuesoute,

Back in the U.S.: Nine stopsfrom Great Falls, Mont. to Islip,N.Y. covering over 2100 miles.

Guard TimesPage16

By Joseph GiordonoUsed with permission from Stars and Stripes, a DoD publication.Copyright 2005 Stars and Stripes. Please do not reprint.

It was a Christmas they’ll always remember. Or maybeone they’ll want to forget First, a Humvee flipped overinto a canal, temporarily submerging an inverted Sgt.

Drew Neason. Then on the way back from the patrol, twomore Humvees slipped off the muddy trails. Later, Pvt.Anibal Lugo was forced to fire warning shots at a car thatapparently wanted to ram the convoy. In between, the 3rdPlatoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regimentsoldiers got into a firefight.

“I’ve been shot at more this Christmas than all the otherones combined,” 2nd Lt. Stan Westmoreland said, shakinghis head as the convoy returned to its base after a cold, wetChristmas Day patrol through ankle-deep mud.

The day started out like any other, save for the slowdrizzle of rain that had begun early Christmas morning.

As Westmoreland gave the platoon a patrol briefing, heemphasized the possible dangers: insurgents looking fora Christmas strike, several possible roadside bombs foundalong well-used routes, slick roads.

The last one came into play first.As the convoy traveled along country roads paralleling

canals filled with waist-high water and reeds, the rainturned the trails to a thick, muddy slurry.

When the lead Humvee nearly slid off the road, thesoldiers got out. Soon, it was teetering on the edge of theroad.

The platoon attached the first Humvee to another andtried to pull it back onto the road. Instead, the side of theroad caved in, flipping the Humvee into the canal.

As soldiers shouted for a medic and rushed to pull outNeason, who had been in the driver’s seat, the wheels spunand smoke poured out from the upside-down vehicle.

A Christmas Patrol to Remember...or ForgetTAJI, IRAQ

When a soaking-wet Neason emerged from the Humveeshaken but uninjured, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“I could feel it start to go, so I just braced myself,” Neasontold Sgt. William Gamble, one of the first to reach thevehicle and pull Neason out. “I could hear you yelling andI yelled back, but my head was underwater.”

Once they were sure Neason was OK, the soldiers jokedand laughed while an M-88 recovery vehicle came to pullthe Humvee out of the canal.

As the soldiers waded into the canal to recover items fromthe Humvee, they shook their heads at how they werespending Christmas. By then, it was getting dark and,backtracking along the road, the soldiers headed back tobase.

Before long, Lugo yelled out that the convoy was takingfire.

Red tracer rounds flew in, most passing a few feet aheadand above the vehicles. Lugo returned fire with his mounted.50-caliber machine gun. Sgt. Michael Honore poppeddown his window and shot back with his M-4 rifle. A few flares were shot into the air about 200 meters away

from the convoy, and the firing continued.Later, the soldiers speculated about who was shooting at

them — whether it was insurgents or possibly a nervousIraqi National Guard checkpoint near a main road.

“Merry [expletive] Christmas,” someone muttered.On the last stretch of road before the camp, a car sped

toward the last Humvee in the column. Lugo, in the gunner’sseat, flashed a light at it, warning the driver to back off.When the car kept coming, he put two warning shots intoit with his .50-caliber.

Finally, the convoy rolled through the gates of CampCooke with 30 minutes to spare before the dining facilitiesstopped serving their special Christmas dinners.

As the Humvees pulled up to the weapons clearingstation, where soldiers made sure no live rounds were stillin their guns, Lugo broke into a set of Christmas carols fromup in the gunner’s hatch.

“Although it’s been said, many times, many ways,” Lugosang, remarkably on key, “Merry Christmas to you.” !

Sgt. Andrew Neason is helped out of the Humvee after beingbriefly trapped. The Christmas Day patrols were hampered bydeep mud and rain.

Spc. Anibal Lugoruiz crouches down in the gunner's hatch ofa Humvee during the Christmas Day patrol in the countrysidesurrounding Baghdad.

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WWWWWarararararrrrrrant,ant,ant,ant,ant,strength,strength,strength,strength,strength,command,command,command,command,command,control,control,control,control,control,prprprprprestigestigestigestigestigeeeee...............

WWWWWarararararrrrrrantantantantantstrength,strength,strength,strength,strength,command,command,command,command,command,control,control,control,control,control,prprprprprestigestigestigestigestigeeeee...............

...what weneed!

...what weneed!

Attention all enlisted SoldiersAre you still competing forpromotion points? Not utilizingall of your talents? While youare waiting for the STAP list topost, consider joining theWarrant Officer Corps.Become a Warrant OfficerFor more information regardingwarrant officer opportunities,contact Chief Warrant Officer 3Jackie O'Keefe or the WarrantOfficer Branch at 518-786-4889.

By Spc. Christopher ConnellyHeadquarters, 42nd Infantry Division

A stabilizer makes or keeps somethingsteady. In a race car, it is the stabilizerthat keeps the car centered and level

on a race track. For the Rainbow Divisionand Task Force Liberty, the division’s RearDetachment helps keep the task forcecentered and on track as the Soldiers movequickly to accomplish their mission in Iraq.

The Rear Detachment is the link betweenSoldiers, their families and all the Armyresources and equipment necessary tosupport the mission. Their role will be toassume the responsibilities of the divisionstaff deployed forward. The RearDetachment is a conduit for timely andaccurate information and assistance tofamilies, unit Family Readiness Groups, thestate National Guard Adjutants General and

Liberty’s Rear Stabilizer Links Soldiers, FamiliesFORT DRUM

United States Army Reserve commanders.Equally important, the unit Rear Detachmentprovides oversight and coordination forSoldier training and equipment fielding forreplacement operations to the task forceforward in Iraq.

“This is the first time a rear detachment ofthis size has been put together for overseasdeployment since WWII,” according to RearDetachment 1st Sgt. Maurice Agard.Traditionally, active duty units establishrear detachments at their installation tosupport the needs of deployed units. Sincethis is the first time in over 50 years a NationalGuard combat division headquarters hasdeployed on a large scale, it requires theestablishment of a rear detachment. All thissupport will be provided from Ft. Drum, N.Y.

“Support to Soldiers’ families duringmobilization and deployment is crucial,” saidCol. Russell Catalano, the Rear DetachmentCommander. The Rear Detachment “will doall they can to assist families in any way theycan, no matter how small the issue mayseem,” he added.

“It’s our responsibility to take care of ourSoldiers and their families. This task force isone big family and we will take care of eachother in all situations,” said Catalano.

“We have already had a family emergencyback home and we quickly became the linkbetween the Soldier overseas and their familymember, and it went very smoothly,” saidAgard.

“If there is a problem in the division taskforce or with a family member, the RearDetachment will do their utmost to correctit,” said Catalano. “In a nutshell, it’s our jobto do all we can to correct an issue that mayexist so we can relieve the family and theSoldier of their concerns.”

Since families will need additionalassistance, the division task force willestablish a family assistance counselor anda liaison officer at selected armories and atfour mobilization stations. The RearDetachment has responsibility for thosepersonnel, and significant coordination andcommunication is anticipated between them.

“We will do all we can for the family andSoldiers, and the Rear Detachment staffunderstands that philosophy. Bottom line— it’s not about us, but about the Soldiersand their families,” said Catalano.

The Rear Detachment staff mirrors theRainbow Division staff in function and formin order to perform those duties necessary torepresent Task Force Liberty back in thestates. It allows the 42nd Infantry Division toprovide one point of contact for a wide rangeof needs. These include monitoringreplacement personnel training anddeployment to supervising the shipment ofrequired equipment overseas into theater.

“In short, we will do A to Z,” said Catalano.This will help the Soldier of Task ForceLiberty stay focused on their task at handand make the transition into theater easier.

All Rear Detachment Soldiers met all thesame training, medical standards andimmunizations required of all deploying taskforce Soldiers. The members of the RearDetachment trained as if they themselveswere being deployed.

The Rear Detachment is serious aboutwhat they have to do and understand thetremendous effort it’s going to take to makethe mission successful, according toCatalano.

Many Soldiers of the Rear Detachmentwould love to deploy forward with theRainbow Division, according to Catalano.

Catalano explained to his Soldiers that theirrole here is important to the success of theRainbow Division’s mission. “The Army’sstructure is defined to support all aspects ofa successful mission,” Catalano said, “andthere is a place and a need for every Soldier.Everyone’s mission is important and no onejob is more important than another,” he said.

“I couldn’t be happier with this group,”said Catalano.

“We are a team… no, let’s make that afamily and it will take a great effort as a familyto make it happen. We must, as a family,support and communicate, and we areworking to that end,” said Catalano.

“We are prepared to work countless hours,and we will do what is necessary to supportthe Soldiers and their families. In a shortperiod of time this group has demonstratedtheir desire to do what it takes. The energylevel that the officer and enlisted personneldisplay is high and I am proud to serve withthem,” said Catalano. !

Col. Russell Catalano, Rear detachmentCommander oversees Capt. Richard Agostini,Secretary General Staff as he signs workorders. (Photo by Spc. Christopher Connelly)

Lt. Col. Paul Hulslander, works with Capt. MikeShipman as 1st Lt. Kuen Park G-6 looks on.(Photo by Spc. Christopher Connelly)

By Spc. Ismail Turay Jr.Army News Service

In an effort to ensure that theirupcoming transfer of authorityoccurs without a hitch, the 1stInfantry and 42nd Infantrydivisions held a day-long Relief InPlace rehearsal in Tikrit Dec. 5.

The 42ID, which is an arm of theNew York Army National Guard, isscheduled to take control of North

Central Iraq by the end of Februaryfor a yearlong tour of duty. The 1IDhas been in-country sinceFebruary of this year. The“Rainbow Division” is the firstNational Guard contingent to be incharge of an entire area of operationin the Middle East.

About 200 leaders, includingboth commanding generals fromthe divisions, filled ForwardOperation Base Danger’s theaterfor the rehearsal.

In the days leading to the dry run,each 42nd ID brigade and battalioncommander shadowed his 1IDcounterpart, and both drafted aplan. The commanders presentedtheir plans during the rehearsal,and the generals approved them ormade suggestions forimprovements.

The plans presented to Maj. Gen.John Batiste of the 1ID and the42nd ID’s Maj. Gen. Joseph Talutoincluded troops’ rest plan,

movement from Kuwait to Iraq andthe 1ID’s withdrawal from Iraq.

Prior to the plan presentations,1ID officials gave the 42ID a briefoverview of the area of operations,which includes five provinces. The

Big Red One also briefed theRainbow Soldiers on the varioustribes in each province, theireconomical status, population, thesupply routes and the like.

Also discussed were thecapabilities of the enemy,tendencies, trends, lessons learnedand the various attacks insurgentshave launched against coalition

forces.The 1ID Soldiers told their 42ID

counterpart about challenges theBig Red One faced and lessons itlearned the past year.

“(The rehearsal) is all aboutsharing good ideas,” Batiste toldthe throng of Rainbow and BigRed One Soldiers. He urged the42ID to use force against the enemywhenever necessary, but the goalshould be to end the violencebecause the vast majority of Iraqiswant peace.

The Rainbow Divisionheadquarters mobilized in earlyJune and came to Tikrit to do areconnaissance, get acquaintedwith the area and learn from the1ID, Taluto said.

In mid June, anotherheadquarters team – mainly thedivision support commandreturned for anotherreconnaissance. Then in July thebrigade and battalion commanders

RRRRRainboainboainboainboainbowwwwwTTTTTrrrrrainsainsainsainsainsfffffor or or or or TikritTikritTikritTikritTikritararararareaeaeaeaea

TIKRIT, IRAQ

conducted a leaders’reconnaissance.

Taluto and his staff returned inAugust for a third reconnaissanceand continued to work closely withthe 1ID commanders and staffs.

“Our reconnaissance has beenconstant and consistent, and I thinkit has been worth every effort,”Taluto said in July. “We owe a realdebt of gratitude to the 1st InfantryDivision for the way it’s receivedus. It’s been wonderful andprofessional in every sense of theword.”

Because the division wascomprised of units from 26 states,MacArthur made the statement,“This division stretches across theland like a rainbow,” and the 42ndID became known as the RainbowDivision.

The 42nd ID stretches across ninestates, but 67 percent of its Soldiersare located in New York and NewJersey. !

“Our reconnaissancehas been constant andconsistent, and I think ithas been worth everyeffort...”

Guard Times Page17

Army PromotionsPage18

COLONELSAMMARCO PETER J 53D HQ DET AR LIAISON (ARFOR)

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STAFF SERGEANTKNIGHT MICHAEL RAYMOND HHC (-) 27TH IN BDEDEVARY JAMES MATTHEW CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)VANOSDEL KRISTOPHER JON CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)CHIARENZA MELCHIORRE LUCIUS HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)LUO QIYU HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)WALCK JASON LAWRENCE CO B 1-108TH INFSMITH ALAN R HHC (-) 1-108TH INFLEMANSKI JAMES HARRY CO A 1-127TH ARMORNEWMAN MARK ALLEN HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORHIRTZEL RAYMOND JAMES HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORHERNANDEZ ANDY E HHC 42 IN DIV(-)PEARSON WILLIAM LOREN HHC 42 IN DIV(-)DAVIS RANDOLPH 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPSTOKES PAUL R 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPDAVIS TERRANCE ANDREW 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPGANG WILLIAM JOSEPH II 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPROBINSON FRANK 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPANDERSON CLEMENTE 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPRODRIGUEZ NOEL 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPLAIRD DERREL TIMOTHY 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPGONTAREK STANLEY JR 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPHEATON SCOTT JOHN 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPFIELDS DAVID MARK 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPAGOSTO CASILDO HHD 206 CORPS SPT BNODUSANYA OLA BOBATUNDE HHD 206 CORPS SPT BNHALLS LEONARD L HHD 206 CORPS SPT BNPERKINS CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL 145TH MAINT COBROWN JESSIE JR 145TH MAINTENANCE COTIBBLES RONALD LYNN 145TH MAINTENANCE CO

DEJESUS LEONCIO 145TH MAINTENANCE COSYMONDS JAY EDWARD CO A(-) 204 ENGR BNROBINSON RONALD CLIFFORD JR CO B (-) 204 ENGR BNRAMLAKHAN STEPHEN HHD 27TH FINANCE BNLEHNERTMICHAEL NYARNG ELEMENT JOINT FORCE HQCOLE LAURA MARIA NYARNG ELEMENT JOINT FORCE HQSANTANA JAVIER ALOMAR ARNG JOINT FORCE HQBARKSDALE ANTHONY E 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO CNARVAEZ REYNALDO CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYBAUER STEVEN MICHAEL CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYSERRANO ANGEL LOUIS 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO AKLINE DARRIN JAMES CO D 1-127TH ARMORGANGARAM DANIEL CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNGLOVER REGGIE CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNRUIZ JOSEPH KENNETH CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNREID JOHN MARK ANTONIO CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNMALDONADO JOSE ANTONIO 69 IN BN 01 CO B REARSMITH DEAN DET 1 HHC 27TH IN BDEARROWOOD RICHARD RAY DET 1 HHC 1-108TH INFHENRY MATTHEW CHARLES DET 2 CO C 1-108TH INFADAMS JASON LEE 108 IN BN 01 AASLT D CO FWDCIOCH MARK ANTHONY CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNNORTON WALTER RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDHAMILL ERIN LINSEY RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDCASEY MARTIN RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDREDICK EARL RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDSOLOMON JAMES RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDMCDOUGALL THEODORE E III RECRUITING AND RETENTIONSPARROW ANDREW RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDBLASS MICHAEL RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDJONES JOSEPH GARFIELD 108 IN BN 01 CO B FWD 2QUINTANA GUILLERMO 108 IN BN 01 CO B FWD 2ROLLOCK JOSEPH MANNASSEH DET 1 272D CHEMICAL COMORGIA SCOTT A DET 1 272D CHEMICAL COHERBST JONATHAN PAUL 101 AR BN 01 CO D REARBARNES ROAN TRAVOLTA CO C(-) 638 SPT BNARROYO DAVID JR HHC 642D MI BATTALIONTOPLIFFE DENIS MYLES HHC 642D MI BATTALIONMOYA LUIS A CO B 101ST SIGNAL BNAPPARICIO VICKEY MARIE 642 CS BN HSC REARGARCIA DAVIS FRANCIS 642 CS BN HSC FWDSANCHEZ JOSEIAS NEALE 642 CS BN HSC FWDHALEY LAWRENCE DANA JR 53 HQ HQ LIAISON FWDLOPEZ MARIO 206 CS HHD CSB FWDWILLIAMS GARRY CHARLES 222D MILITARY POLICE COBARRY TRAVIS LEE 222D MILITARY POLICE COJOPSON MELVIN JR 1427TH TRANS CO MEDIUM TRUCKFOX EDWARD ANTHONY 1427TH TRANS CO MEDIUM TRUCKVEGA EDWARD JR 1427TH TRANS CO MEDIUM TRUCKHEMMERICK MICHAEL E 1427TH TRANS CO MEDIUM TRUCK

At the railyard, Spc. Bernadette Berrios, Wire Systems Repairer, 145th Maintenance Company, ground guides a Humveeonto a flat bed rail car near the Kingston Armory in November. The Humvees were shipped to Fort Benning, Ga., where morethan 170 Soldiers of the 145th will prepare for their mobilization to CENTCOM in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for upto one year. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Petibone)

PETERS CLIFFORD J 427TH MAINTENANCE CO (DS)EDWARDS MAURICE 2427TH TRANS CO MEDIUM TRUCK

SERGEANTMANLEY DWAYNE RUSSELL HHC (-) 27TH IN BDEFOY RICHARD III CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)GARCIA HAROLD MARK CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)STRZALKA RICHARD PHILLIP CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)MELECIO JOSE LUIS CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)ATHANS PETER NICHOLAS CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)DAWSON CHRISTOPHER SCOT CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)MILLS BRYAN JAMES CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)ROWH WILLIAM SCOTT CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)SHARP PATRICK RYAN CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)TORRES ARMANDO JOSE CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)DIAZ EFRAIN M HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)JUNG YOUN HUN HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)ANDERSON ADAM GLENN CO A 1-127TH ARMORSTANTON WALTER GERALD CO B 1-127TH ARMORDESTRO AARON QUINN CO B 1-127TH ARMORWINCHESTER JASON LEE CO B 1-127TH ARMORDEARMITT WILLIAM PAUL CO C 1-127TH ARMORMCCOY DAVID ARDEN CO C 1-127TH ARMORDINGY KENNETH MORGAN JR HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORSWANSON STEVEN MICHAEL HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORWICKSTROM KEVIN DALE HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORPIKAS BOHDAN JASON HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORWILLARD CHRISTOPHER G HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORFARR EUGENE RAYMOND JR 108 IN BN 02 AASLT HHCPHINNEY OLIVER JESSE III CO B 1-101ST CAVALRYWALCZAK MICHAEL ANTHONY HHC 42 IN DIV(-)OLIVER NIKO OMAR HHC 42 IN DIV(-)SMITH TAMARA LYNN HHC 42 IN DIV(-)DUNN DAVID MICHAEL 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPMEINCKE MATTHEW DOUGLAS 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPCALHOUN JARED ALLEN 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPWIECHEC JASON MICHAEL 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPESPINAR SHERWIN ARCELUZ 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPGREENE CHAD MICHAEL 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPBURKE CRYSTAL MARIE HHD 206 CORPS SPT BNBORDACK ANGELA MARIE 145TH MAINTENANCE COSMALL CHRISTOPHER 145TH MAINTENANCE COMOREL JORDANY JOSE 133 OD CO MAINT NONDIV DSDOCTOR GARY DANT 133 OD CO MAINT NONDIV DSKRAUSE KEVIN SCOTT H & S CO 204 ENGR BNBRANFORD NANDI LATOYA Y HHD 27TH FINANCE BNBIGNESS PAUL JOSEPH NYARNG ELEMENT JOINT FORCE HQSHEAR JAMES JACOB NYARNG ELEMENT JOINT FORCE HQSANCHEZ AVIS ANN NYARNG ELEMENT JOINT FORCE HQBREWER SARAH A NYARNG ELEMENT JOINT FORCE HQGRIDLEY BRYON EDWARD 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO CRATHBUN ALLAN RICHARD 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO CCASTER MICHAEL ROBERT 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO CBRUNDAGE ROBERT CHARLES JR CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYHOLLAND CHRISTOPHER JOHN CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYCODDINGTON TOBY JAMES CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYPARK EDWARD KIM CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYFENG MINGHAO CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYHERNANDEZ DOUGLAS EDWARD CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYDICKSON ANDREW CAMERON JR CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYVALDEZ MATTHEW CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYSANTANA DAVID JOSEPH CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYTREACY ZAERIN CHRISTOPHER CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYSCOGNAMILLO SCOTT JOSEPH CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYPALMER MICHAEL DONALD CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYHOFFMAN CHRISTOPHER SCOTT CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYBERNAL DAVID LAWRENCE CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYRICK DENNIS LEE JR CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYCANNAVA PAUL JOSEPH HHC AVN BDE 42 IN DIVMACHULSKI JOSEPH ANTHONY 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO ASTEFANKO JOHN PAUL CO D 1-127TH ARMORFREEDMAN GARY STEFFEN CO D 1-127TH ARMORPARTLOW BRIAN MICHAEL DET 1 HHC 1-127TH ARMORRIOS MIGUEL ANGEL CO D 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)CAMPBELL TRACE PATRICK CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNVANROSSUM PHIL KEVIN CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNBELLIDO HECTOR LUIS JR CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNPALACIO GILBERTO WILSON CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNYATES NORMAN CECIL CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNDENNISON GARY ANTHONY CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNCLARKE STANTON OLEN CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BN

JOSEPH DARRYL KAREEM CO B(-) 642D SUPPORT BNSTREIT TIFFANY PAIGE HHC(-) 3-142D AVIATIONJENKINS BRIAN ANTHONY HHC(-) 3-142D AVIATIONKEACH NATHAN WILLIAM CO A 3-142D AVIATIONBUCK IAN PATRICK CO B 3-142D AVIATIONFRISBEE MICHAEL HUGH 204 EN BN CO A DET 2 FWDLUTTERODT HENRIETTA ERICKA HHD 342D FWD SPT BNBURLEIGH CRAIG STEPHEN DT 1 CO C 1-108TH INFANTHONY MARC RAYMOND DET 1 CO C 1-108TH INFPOOLE ERICA LYNN 4TH FINANCE DETGONZALES MARK ANTHONY 14TH FINANCE DETSTARR TIMOTHY RAYMOND 827TH ENGR COBLAIR MAX CHARLES 69 IN BN 01 HHC FWDBLISS DANIEL WAYNE TROOP E 101ST CAVALRYBALL MATTHEW BRYAN DET 1 HHC 27TH IN BDEMCCONVILLE CINDY MARILYN DET 1 HHC 27TH IN BDECALORDINO SCOTT MICHAEL DET 1 HHC 27TH IN BDEROSENCRANS JAMES NEWTON DET 1 HHC 27TH IN BDEHOFFMAN REBECCA LEE DET 1 HHC 27TH IN BDESHERMAN KENNETH LEE 108 IN BN 01 AASLT D CO FWDLEIMKUHLER JEAN MICHAEL 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO DRENWICK MICHAEL THOMAS CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNBRASSARD GEANA DAVISON CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNMCCONKEY AMY MARIE CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNBOLTON JOSEPH MICHAEL CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNDIAZ JASON MICHAEL DET 1 107TH MILITARY POLICE COARCHER KEITH MICHAEL DET 1 CO C 342D FWD SPT BNGIARRUSSO MICHAEL 2ND CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM (WMD)RUSSO JON ROBERT DET 1 HHC 1-69TH INF (M)LINKE ERIC SIEGFRIED DET 1 CO G 137TH AVIATIONMIENS DAVID EUGENE DET 1 CO G 137TH AVIATIONISLER NICKOLAS PETER DET 1 CO G 137TH AVIATIONHERLEY DANIEL JAMES DET 1 CO G 137TH AVIATIONSILVA GARY RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDSMITH JEFFREY JAY RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDPONTARI ANTONIO RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDGRAHAM STEPHANIE RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDPERSONS FRANKLIN RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDBOWMAN ERIC MICHAEL 108 IN BN 01 CO B FWD 2JOYCE JONATHAN CHRISTIAN 108 IN BN 01 CO B FWD 2GODWIN ERIC BRIAN 108 IN BN 01 CO B FWD 2BUTLER RICHARD JOHN JR 108 IN BN 01 CO B FWD 2KING PAUL ROBERT JR 827 EN CO SEP IN FWDGRAY LEVERNON NAKAI 827 EN CO SEP IN FWDCYREK MARK JOSEPH 258 FA BN 01 BTRY B REAR NYSCHWENDLER JOSEPHHHD 369TH WATER SUPPLY BNTEMPLAR JEROMIE 249TH MED CO AIR AMBULANCE (-)KACZMAREK CHRISTOPHER 249TH MED CO AIR AMB (-)CONLON SEAN PATRICK 156 FA BN 01 HHS FWD 3WILSON SPENCER THOMAS 101 AR BN 01 DET 1 HHCFANCHER KELLY LYNN 42 HHC HVY DIV FWD 2GONZALEZ ROBERT DET 2 CO B 638 SPT BNTIRADO BRIAN MATTHEW CO C(-) 638 SPT BNDESPOT ODELLE DARREN CO C(-) 638 SPT BNWORTHINGTON BRIAN MARCUS CO C(-) 638 SPT BNDREW MICHAEL THOMAS HHC 642D MI BATTALIONPOTTS SHANNON RICHARD HHC 642D MI BATTALIONRAY PAUL SPENCER HHC 642D MI BATTALIONBALTHAZAR SHELDON HHC 642D MI BATTALIONRAMEAU ALAIN STACY HHC 642D MI BATTALIONEARLY SEAN FREDERICK HHC 642D MI BATTALIONVETTER DAVID ARTHUR HHC 642D MI BATTALIONGROTH THOMAS EDWARD CO C 101ST SIGNAL BNHUGHES ROBERT BRIAN 204TH ENGINEER DETACHMENTCRUZ PEDRO JULIO 642 CS BN HSC FWD 3HOFFMAN JEREMY JOSEPH 53D HQ DET AR LIAISON (ARFOR)CALDERON JUAN 1569 TC CO MED TRK FWDGRIFFITH ANTHONY ANDREW 145 OD CO MAINT FWDSIGG CARL AUGUST 145 OD CO MAINT FWDGRANT TANYA LOUISE 29 AG HHD PSC FWD

CORPORALSCHNELL GERARD PATRICK CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)

SPECIALISTWIGGINS GARY SCOTT JR HHC (-) 27TH IN BDENAUPARI JAIME ANDRES CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)MELENDEZ ACISCLO CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)LOZANO MARIO LUIS R CO A 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)AVVOCATO JASON ANTHONY CO B 1-69TH INFANTRY(M)DEMPSEY JOSEPH MICHAEL HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)

AFOLABI ADESHOLA OLUFEMI HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)LWIN WAI PHYO HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)HWANG JASON SUNG HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)WAKE ANTHONY JASON HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)SILBERSTEIN DANIEL JAMES C HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)PRIVITERA CORY MICHAEL HHC (-) 1-108TH INFEVANS NADARIN AMEL HHC (-) 1-108TH INFPARADIS DANIEL JOHN CO A 1-127TH ARMORMILLER WILLIAM CARL CO B 152D ENGINEER BNSMITH KEVIN TIMOTHY CO B 152D ENGINEER BNMILLER THOMAS HENRY PARK 108 IN BN 02 AASLT HHCMINICH BRADLEY W 108 IN BN 02 AASLT HHCPORTELA DAYANA HHC 42 IN DIV(-)HASSON ANDREW DESMOND 442D MILITARY POLICE COQUIROZ CESAR AUGUSTO 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPAOUN ALI MOHAMAD 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPHAYES MICHAEL RAY 258 FA BN 1 BTRY C 155 SPBALLARD DAVID MICHAEL 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO BHEALY BRIAN JAMES 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO BDENNY MARCEL HOMER III 145TH MAINTENANCE COKHOKHAR JOSHUA JASON 145TH MAINTENANCE COJEAN PIERRE DANIEL 145TH MAINTENANCE COANTONI JOHN ALEXANDER 145TH MAINTENANCE CODELIOTTE AMOS ELISHA 145TH MAINTENANCE COFIGUEROA HERIBERTO EDDIE 145TH MAINTENANCE COMILLIGAN SCOTT ADAM 105TH MP COLANGE KEVIN LOUIS 105TH MP COISAAC BRANDON CHARLES 105TH MP COGERACI MICHAEL JOHN CO C (-) 204TH ENGR BNBENENATI VINCENZO ALDO CO C (-) 204TH ENGR BNASHMAN DUANE ONEIL CO C (-) 204TH ENGR BNMILLER ZACHARY KRISTOPHER H & S CO 204 ENGR BNFOSTER ASHLEY ANN H & S CO 204 ENGR BNREQUENA STEVEN MARK HHD 369TH CORPS SPT BNDONDERO DOMINICK LOUIS JR HHC 1-105TH INFHAAG NATHAN WILLIAM 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO CCARRIONDIAZ MIGUEL ARMANDO CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYGORMAN MARK DANIEL CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYPERRY DERRON CHRISTOPHER CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYNEITHARDT MICHAEL ANTHONY CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYMERKEL TAB LYNN JR CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYSPECHT SCOTT PATRICK CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYVARGAS XAVIER SERAFIN HHC AVN BDE 42 IN DIVBIMBER TRISHA LEE CO B 342D FWD SPT BNBELL ELWYN LEROY III CO B 342D FWD SPT BNGONZALEZ LEIDY GRACE 4TH FINANCE DETORRIDGE TANESHA MONEAK 14TH FINANCE DETKIDD DYLAN DET 1 HHB 42 DIVARTYWASHINGTON ANDRE 69 IN BN 01 HHC FWDVASQUEZ HERICK 102 OD CO MAINT FWD 2BARBER ADAM PATRICK TROOP E 101ST CAVALRYALLEN AARON CHRISTOPHER TROOP E 101ST CAVALRYSAFFER BENJAMIN JOSEPH TROOP E 101ST CAVALRYCARDIN GABRIEL AARON TROOP E 101ST CAVALRYPYATT GERRY LEMONT 69 IN BN 01 HHC REARCONWAY OWEN BRIAN 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO DGEORGES KIMBERLY MARIE CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNMYERS LORI ANN CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNPENREE AMY JANE CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNPIATT RODNEY LEROY CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNDEAN PAUL EDWARD CO A(-) 427TH SPT BNOLIVO CLINT ANTHONY DET 1 107TH MILITARY POLICE CORIPOLL RENE DET 1 107TH MILITARY POLICE COGARCIA EDUARDO ENRIQUEDET 1 CO C 204TH EN BNGILRAY JESSICA LYNNHSC 642D SUPPORT BNMILLER NICHOLAS HUGHHSC 642D SUPPORT BNGUERRERO ALEJANDRO AMILCARDET 1 HHC 1-69TH INF (M)NEGRON JOSUE MANUEL DET 1 HHC 1-69TH INF (M)BALISCIANO FRANK ROBERT 249 MD CO AIR AMBL REAR,NYBARRIOS FRANCISCO JR 101 AR BN 01 CO D REARHOLMES DANIEL GEORGE 108 IN BN 02 HHC REAR NYWEBB MALCOLM JEREMY 108 IN BN 02 HHC REAR NYRUIZ MARIO LIBRADO HHC 642D MI BATTALIONPHYARS GERSHOM NIGEL HHC 642D MI BATTALIONGRANT ALEXIS RENEE HHC 101ST SIGNAL BNMOLINA NORIS ALEXANDER CO B 101ST SIGNAL BNTAYLOR WALTER CO B 101ST SIGNAL BNMONTALVO FERDINAND CO B 101ST SIGNAL BNMOYSE YVES JR CO C 101ST SIGNAL BNKNIPPING TYRONE 53D HQ DET AR LIAISON (ARFOR)REMBERT ALEXANDER DORIAN 1569 TC CO MED TRK FWD

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PRIVATE FIRST CLASSSINGER JEREMY HOWARD HHC (-) 27TH IN BDESHAM CHUNG HING HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)FELLINI CHRISTOPHER RICHARD HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)RAMOS ERIC LEE HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)MONGERSON RIENER JESSIE CO B 1-108TH INFRODRIGUEZ RAMIREZ NELSO DAR CO B 1-108TH INFMORANO BRIAN JOSEPH HHC (-) 1-108TH INFLEARN ANDREW LEE CO B 1-127TH ARMORBAKER DAVID ALLEN HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORSARAFIN NICHOLAS CO A (-) 152D ENGINEER BNCLARK JESSICA LYNN HHC 152D ENGINEER BNLIVANIS CHRISTOPHER GEORGE CO A 1-101ST CAVALRYALEGRE EMEL LYNDL 258 FA BN 1 BTRY B 155 SPLAIS DOUGLAS IAN 108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO BSULLIVAN JACK ROBERT108 IN BN 02 AASLT CO BTHAYER AMANDA MARIE 107TH MILITARY POLICE COGATES KENNETH GEORGE III 107TH MILITARY POLICE COPHILLIP GENILE ALISA 145TH MAINTENANCE COPLAZA GEORGE LUIS 145TH MAINTENANCE COSUAREZ CARLOS ANDRES 145TH MAINTENANCE CORUTLEDGE ALIZA MARIE 105TH MP COSHEPHARD WILLIAM CHARLES HHD ENGINEER BDE 42 IDWALKER BARRY STUART JR CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYMARTINEZ JONATHAN CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYMERRITT IAN NATHANIEL CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYVULTAGGIO CARL MARTIN HHC AVN BDE 42 IN DIVSTEPHENS JOSEPH DET 1 HHC 1-127TH ARMORRESTO SANDRA CO B 342D FWD SPT BNAARON LINDA DEE CO B 342D FWD SPT BN

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PRIVATE 2RIVERA MALDONADO TEDDY OMAR CO A 1-69TH INFANTRYOCHOA EDGAR YOVANI HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)SUAZO ELVIS RAUL HHC(-) 1-69 INF (M)VANVOLKENBURG MARK ALLEN CO B 1-127TH ARMORLABADIE MARCUS DAVID CO C 1-127TH ARMORFAHRENFELD KENNETH V JR CO C 1-127TH ARMORSPERRY BRANDON JAMES HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORHASENSTAB JOSEPH MICHAEL CO C 152D ENGINEER BNOVERBY CRYSTAL DENISE HHC 152D ENGINEER BNKITTLESON DONALD NICHOLAS HHC 152D ENGINEER BNCALKINS GREGORY MARTIN HHC 1-101ST CAVALRYMINERO STEVEN JOSEPH HHC 1-101ST CAVALRYROSSETTI DOUGLAS JOHN HHC 1-101ST CAVALRYBRODERICK JERMAINE O HHC 42 IN DIV(-)

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SGT KOONCE EVA JEANETTESPC PACHECO ZULMA EVETTE

42 HHC HVY DIV REARSGT HANCOCK JASON JEROME

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50 CS BN CO B DET 1 REARSPC KAINA MARA MAHEALANI

53D HQ DET AR LIAISON (ARFOR)1SG CAREY THOMAS JSSG HOLMES GREGORY LEON642 CS BN CO B REARSPC BAXTER GORDON FREDERICKSPC LEDDON JAMES ELIOT

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69 IN BN 01 CO A REARPFC ZUNIGA RONALD GERARDO

69 IN BN 01 HHC REARSPC EMBSER WALTER JOSEPH IIISGT MALDONADO FABIANSGT REIMBEAU JUDE JITO

719 TRANS CO (MDM TRK CGO)SSG BARRIO SERGIO EDWARDSPC DIXON BERNARDSPC EDGHILL JOSEPH RANVILLESSG ONEILL JOHN

827TH ENGR COSSG BUSH WAYNE KENNETHSPC HAMILTON RANDY JAYSGT HOLZMAN STEVEN ANTHONYSPC KIRKWOOD DARRELLSGT LOPEZ LUIS

AV HHC DIV AV BDE REARSPC FABER RALPH MATTHIASSPC OYOLA JESSENIA

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITESGT STILWELL RAYMOND ESGT WOODTON DAVID G

CO A 1-127TH ARMORSGT CORELL CHARLES ROGER

CO A 101ST SIGNAL BNSSG GLOVER ROBERT HENRY JR

CO A(-) 204 ENGR BNSGT POLULECH THOMAS JOHNSPC WRIGHT DANIEL JAMESSGT CAMPBELL JONATHAN RODGERSPC PIATT RODNEY LEROYSGT RENWICK MICHAEL THOMASSPC WILLIAMS ALVIN DURAN

CO B 1-105 INFSPC WONG VICTOR AUGUSTO

CO B 1-127TH ARMORSSG MEEK DANA PATRICK

CO B 101ST SIGNAL BNSPC BOURNE APRIL MONIQUESFC MORALES MELVIN

CO B 152D ENGINEER BNSPC WATERS TIMOTHY RAYMOND

CO B 342D FWD SPT BNSGT KHAN RONALD RAYMOND

CO C (-) 1-108TH INF1SG JONES HAROLD IV

CO C (-) 204TH ENGR BNSFC JONES BRAD FRANCISSGT RODRIGUEZ LUIS E

CO C (-) 342D FWD SPT BNSFC DARNELL GARY LSGT ROWE DENNIS R

CO C 1-127TH ARMORSFC SKOKEN DANIEL KEVIN

CO C 1-69TH INF (M)SPC FORBUSH RONALD MICHAEL JRPFC GUEVARA MILTON HENRYSSG HUBBARD SANTIAGO LSGT HUNT JESSE OSPC LEEK DANIEL PSPC OUTLAW KEVIN DOUGLASSSG SEYMOUR ERIC MICHAEL

CO C 101ST SIGNAL BNSFC COOPER WILLIAM CSGT MELENDEZ WALTER RAFAEL

CO C 3-142D AVIATIONSGT GARRETTO CHARLES MATTHEW

CO C(-) 638 SPT BNSPC JONES ANNA MARIE

CO D 1-101ST CAVALRYSFC BELL ARTHUR RPFC GALARZA JOSE RAMON

CO D 1-105 INFSPC GREENE JARED FRANCIS

CO D 1-69TH INFANTRY (M)SFC ARNZEN ROBERT JOESSG PITTS RICHARD ESPC ROMERO EDGAR ADOLFO

COMPANY C(-) 638 DASB FWDSPC MENDEZ JAIME JRSPC ORTIZ HERBERT

DET 1 107TH MILITARY POLICE COSPC GONZALEZ FERNANDO IIIPFC HENRIQUEZ STEVESGT TESKE KENNETH JAMES JR

DET 1 442 MP COSGT GRODNICK WILLIAM FRANCIS

DET 1 CO A 204 ENGR BNSPC GILMER PAUL EDWARDSGT HAMMER MICHAEL EUGENESGT JOYCE STEVEN THOMAS

DET 1 CO C 204TH EN BNSPC THOMAS RIGOBERTO LUIS

DET 1 COB 50TH MAIN SUPPORT BNSPC WHITAKER ROBERT GEORGE ALEC

DET 1 HHC 1-69TH INF (M)SGT ALVARADO JONAS SALOMON

DET 1 HHC 107TH SUPPORT GROUPSSG NIGRO JOHN ANTHONYSSG SOTO JAIME LORENZO

DET 1 HHC 27TH IN BDESGT BONIFICIO PAUL DAVID

CPLCARLL DANIEL WESLEYSSG GRIFFIN ROBERT JOHN JR

DET 2 CO B 638 SPT BNSGT HAYNES MATTHEW EDGAR

DET 2 HHC 27TH IN BDEMSG HARTER RONALD M

DET 20 OPER SPT ALFT CMDSGT HART JOSEPH M

H & S CO 204 ENGR BNSGT BABCOCK DAVID JAMESSGT CLOUSTON TIMOTHY JAMES

HHB 1-258TH FIELD ARTILLERYSGT BLUE GREGORYSGT COLON JOSE MSGT JONES RUDOLPH EDWARD JR

HHC (-) 1-108TH INFSPC CHAPMAN BARTON JAMESSPC HAND JAMES EARL IIISPC LONG ROBERT DANIEL

HHC (-) 1-127TH ARMORCSM HUTLEY WILLIAM LARUE JRSPC LUCAS BRIAN THOMASLYALSPC PAYNE WILLIAM CSGT PIKAS BOHDAN JASONSGT SCIPIO ED ANTHONYSPC WIEDER JEFFREY JAMES

HHC (-) 27TH IN BDESSG HILYER LAUSTER NANCY LCSM LACHANCE ALFRED RSGT MANLEY DWAYNE RUSSELL

HHC 1-101ST CAVALRYSGT BOONE WENDELL TODDSGT DEMAIO NEIL ARTHURSFC MCINTYRE MICHAEL CSPC PATTERSON DEAIN JOSHUASFC PEREZ JAMES A

HHC 1-105TH INFSPC BYRNES JASON DAVID

HHC 101ST SIGNAL BNSFC JOHNSON EASTER PCSM PATTERSON RONALD GREGORY

HHC 152D ENGINEER BNSPC HEARD TRACY ANNSPC WALDECK CRAIG ANTHONY

HHC 3/142 AVN FWD 5SSG CARRERAS SAMUELSGT CAVORETTO JOHN RUSSELSSG KLIMEK CHRISTOPHER KENNETHSGT SMITHGALL DONALD JAMES

HHC 3RD BDE 42ND ID (M)MSG BARNES NED WSGM CANOSA CHARLES VSPC KITTLE WILLIAM JAMESSPC LEWIS ROBERT EUGENE

HHC 42 IN DIV(-)SGT BOISROND GARY

HHC(-) 3-142D AVIATIONSPC CLUM DANIELLE AMANDA

HHD 104TH MILITARY POLICE BNCSM HAEMMERLE ROBERT CHARLESSPC HOFFMAN MICHAEL ERIC

HHD 27TH FINANCE BNSPC ANTONATOS JERRYSSG METZ KENNETH FSFC ODEMS PAUL ASSG STRUNKEY CLIFFORD ERICSFC WEST ZETHA A

HHD 27TH SUPPLY & SVC BNSPC ROSSIGNOL DANIEL PAUL

HHD 342D FWD SPT BNMSG LAMBERT THOMAS WMSG MIDDLETON ROBERT LHQS 106TH REGIMENT (RTI)SPC BALASINKAM SACHITHARAN

NYARNG ELEMENT JOINT FORCE HQSFC AUGUST KAREN ESGT BREWER SARAH ASFC POWZYK JOEL BSPC REILLY ROBERT JOHNMSG SCHUMACHER PAUL LSFC SIGNER LARRYSGT STARR MATTHEW JAMES

RECRUITING AND RETENTION CMDSSG DONOHUE MICHAEL THOMASSSG MACKAY DUNCAN JOSEPHSFC PITTS JONATHAN MICHAELSSG SPARROW ANDREW DONALDSSG VALDES ANTHONY

Fighting ZouavesThe New York State Battle Flag Preservation Project showcases the colorful and courageousCivil War Zouaves with a battle flag exhibit at the New York State Capitol Nov. 12 entitled“Flags of the Fighting Zouaves.” Open to the public, the exhibit is on the second floor of theCapitol adjacent to the Governor’s Reception Room and runs until October 2005.Ten restored battle flags are on display. The Office of Parks, Recreation and HistoricPreservation, at the Peebles Island Resource Center in Waterford, conserved each flag.(Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

Army Reenlistments Page21

Patriot Plan 2005Page22

The Patriot Plan (I & II), created by Governor

George E. Pataki and unanimously passed

by the legislature, is a package of benefits

and protections for New York State’s military

service members and dependents.

Protections

Freedom from discrimination based on

military service

Any discrimination based on military status that

constitutes a violation of an individual’s civil

rights is now actionable under New York State

(NYS) Human Rights Law. All service personnel,

state and federal, are covered. POC: New York

State Division of Human Rights at (718) 741-

8400.

Prohibition against soliciting or requiring

waiver of Civil Relief Act rights

It is a misdemeanor to solicit, require, demand

or otherwise request a waiver of a right provided

under the State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief

Act (“Civil Relief Act”). POC: Division of Military

and Naval Affairs (DMNA) Legal Affairs Office

at (518) 786-4541.

Extension of State Civil Relief Act benefits

to dependants

The protections of the State Civil Relief Act

have been extended to include dependants of a

person in military service. These benefits include

stay of court proceedings, freedom from

foreclosure, restraints against eviction, reduced

interest rates on loans and the tolling of the

Statute of Limitations during the period of military

service. All service personnel and their dependants

are covered. POC: DMNA Legal Affairs Office

at (518) 786-4541.

Life insurance not to lapse for non-payment

of premiums

Life insurance policies will not lapse for

nonpayment of premiums for a period of two

years following the time on active duty with the

Armed Forces of the United States. This applies

to Reserve Component personnel called to active

duty but does not encompass State Active Duty

(SAD). POC: NYS Insurance Department,

Legislative Affairs at (518) 473-0785 / DMNA

Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

Protection against enforcement of storage

liens on household goods

Prohibits the foreclosure or enforcement of

any lien for storage of household goods, furniture,

or personal effects of a person on active duty

military service and for three months thereafter.

All service personnel and their dependants are

covered. POC: DMNA State Family Readiness

Program Office at (518) 786-4656 / DMNA

Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

Professional liability insurance protection

Professional liability insurance for persons

ordered to active duty is suspended, upon request,

for the period of military service plus 30 days.

This is applicable to federal and state active duty.

It does not encompass Annual Training, Inactive

Drill Training, or Active Guard Reserve service.

POC: NYS Insurance Department, Legislative

Affairs at (518) 473-0785 / DMNA Legal Affairs

Office at (518) 786-4541.

Prohibition against foreclosure of mortgage

Prohibits the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of

property for nonpayment of mortgage during the

service member’s period of service, or within

six months thereafter. The property must have

been subject to the mortgage prior to the call to

active duty. Applies to personnel on federal or

SAD and their dependants. POC: DMNA Legal

Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

Adverse credit reporting

Adverse action in future financial transactions,

including adverse credit reporting against an

individual who has previously obtained a stay,

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Patriot Plan 2005 Page23

postponement or suspension of obligations under

the Civil Relief Act, is prohibited. Applies to

personnel on federal or SAD and their dependants.

POC: DMNA Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-

4541/ NYS Division of Human Rights at (718)

741-8400.

Education Benefits

Military Enhanced Recognition, Incentive and

Tribute (“MERIT”) Scholarship Program

MERIT Scholarship program makes

scholarships available to military personnel, their

spouses, children and financial dependents for

military personnel who are residents of New

York State and have either died, been declared

missing or become permanently and severely

disabled during active duty. Applies to personnel

injured or disabled on federal or SAD; however,

death or disability of a service member must

have been incurred in a combat theater or combat

zone of operations or while training in preparation

for duty in a combat theater. POC: NYS Higher

Education Services Corporation at (518) 474-

5642 or www.hesc.org / DMNA Government

and Community Affairs at (518) 786- 4580.

Educational leave of absence to perform

military duty, Refund or credit for tuition

Students are entitled to a leave of absence from

institutions of higher education during periods of

military service and for one year after completion

of service. During the leave of absence, a

student’s educational status and financial

resources are preserved and the student has the

option of requesting a refund or credit of tuition

and fees. Applies to federal or SAD. POC: NYS

Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC),

Programs, Policy and Institutional Review at

(518) 473-3986 / DMNA Government and

Community Affairs at (518) 786- 4580.

Military training and civilian professional

accreditation

Programs and training offered by the military to

be recognized as equivalent training for the

purpose of professional licensing. Applies to

training received through both military service

with the United States or military service with the

state. POC: Applicable service education office /

NYS Education Department, Division of Higher

Education at (518) 474-6000.

Renewal of temporary teaching certificates

Fees waived for the renewal of a temporary

teaching certificate or license that lapsed while

the applicant was deployed. Applies to personnel

called to federal active duty if deployed to a

combat theater or combat zone of operations.

POC: NYS Education Department at (518) 474-

6000 / DMNA Government and Community

Affairs at (518) 786-4580.

Right of dependent students to continue at

a public school attended prior to relocation

caused by military service

A child who is relocated due to a parent or

guardian’s active military service will be allowed

to attend the public school that he/she attended

prior to the relocation. Applies to personnel on

federal or SAD, other than for training. POC:

Superintendent of local school district / DMNA

Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

State tuition scholarship assistance

New York Education Law is amended to define

two equally privileged classes of “Persian Gulf”

veterans: (1) those who served there from 19

Aug 1990 to 10 Sept 2001; and, (2) those who

served there from September 11, 2001 through

the end of such hostilities; all of whom must have

a discharge under other than dishonorable

conditions. POC: NYS Higher Education Services

Corporation at (518) 474-5642 or http://

www.hesc.org / DMNA Government and

Community Affairs at (518) 786-4580.

Financial Benefits

State Active Duty pay

New York State Military Law has been amended

to raise the minimum daily pay of service members

performing under Military Law, Section 6, state

active duty in an emergency situation from $100

to $125. This provision affects mostly junior

enlisted members in the grades of E-1 through E-

4. POC: DMNA Budget and Finance Office at

(518) 786-4513.

Exemption from New York State income

tax, Title 10 Status

New York State Tax Law is amended to exempt

from state income taxation for federal military

pay received in a Title 10, DoD designated

combat zone or contingency operation. Additional

information is located at http://

www.tax.state.ny.us. POC: New York State

Continued on next page

Department of Taxation and Finance, Personnel

Tax Information Center at (800) 225-5829.

Exemption from New York State income

tax, State Active Duty

New York State Tax Law is amended to exempt

from state income taxation any state military pay

received while serving on any “emergency” state

active duty under New York State Military Law.

Service members who received SAD pay in 2004

will receive the state tax benefit when they file

their 2004 New York State Tax Return (Forms

IT 201 or IT 203). Additional information may

be obtained at http://www.tax.state.ny.us. POC:

New York State Department of Taxation and

Finance, Personnel Tax Information Center at

(800) 225-5829.

Termination of motor vehicle lease contracts

Permits individuals who enter into a car lease

prior to entering active military service to break

the lease upon entry into active service. Must

have entered federal or SAD, other than for

training, after entering into a lease. Also applies

to spouse as co-signer of lease. POC: DMNA

Legal Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

Maximum rate of interest

The Patriot Law extends the six percent interest

cap on debt incurred prior to entering active

duty. This applies to federal active duty, other

than for training. POC: DMNA Legal Affairs

Office at (518) 786-4541.

Suspension of repayment of public

retirement system loans

Permits a public retirement system, at its

discretion, to suspend the obligation to repay any

loan while a member is absent on state or federal

active military duty. Authority expires on June

30, 2006. POC: NYS Office of the State

Comptroller, Counsel’s Office at (518) 474-

4044/ DMNA Government and Community

Affairs at (518) 786-4580.

Supplemental military leave for state

employees

Supplemental military leave benefits have been

extended through December 31, 2006, to state

employees who are ordered to active military

duties relating to the war on terrorism and military

action in Iraq. Applies to federal and SAD. POC:

State Agency Human Resource Office / NYS

Department of Civil Service, Attendants and

Leave Unit at (518) 457-2295.

Extension of deadline to pay real property taxes

Localities are permitted, at their discretion, to

extend the payment period for any tax owed on

real property. Eligibility is limited to a person

who has been ordered to active military duty,

other than for training, for a period beginning

with a declaration of war by Congress or during

any periods of combat designated by presidential

executive order or during hazardous (“imminent

danger”) duty. This benefit is contingent upon

the passage of a resolution by the effected

municipality authorizing the extension. POC:

Local property tax office / DMNA Legal Affairs

Office at (518) 786-4541.

Patriot Plan, continued from previous page

Patriot Plan 2005Page24

Professional Licensing Benefits

Waiver of professional continuing education

requirements and extension of professional

licenses

Any professional license, certificate, or

registration that expires while the holder is

engaged in active military service shall be

automatically extended for the period of active

service plus 12 months after the end of the

service. Professional continuing education

requirements are suspended for the duration of

the individual’s military service. Applies to federal

and SAD, other than for training. POC: Appropriate

licensing authority / DMNA Legal Affairs Office

at (518) 786-4541.

Extension of certification for Emergency

Medical Technicians (EMTs) and other first

responders

Certifications for EMTs, advanced EMTs and

certified first responders who have been ordered

to federal and state active military duty, other

than for training, may be extended by the

Department of Health. The period of extended

certification is the entire period of active duty,

plus 12 months. POC: NYS Department of Health

at (518) 486-9002 / DMNA Government and

Community Affairs at (518) 786-4580.

Waiver of Professional Licensing Benefit

clarification

When military service is partially within a

licensing, registration or certification period,

applicable continuing education requirements shall

be reduced proportionately so that the individual

Page25Patriot Plan 2005

is not required to complete those requirements

while in military service. This shall not apply to

limited permits or other credentials issued for a

period of two months or less and shall not extend

the terms of a limited permit that expires for

reasons other then the passage of time. POC:

Appropriate licensing authority / DMNA Legal

Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

Miscellaneous Benefits

Free hunting and fishing licenses

Free hunting and fishing licenses may be issued

to all active (e.g., drilling) New York resident

members of the state organized militia or the

reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces.

POC: New York State Department of

Conservation, Sporting License Help Line at

(866) 472-4332 or at www.dec.state.ny.us.

Free Empire Passports to New York State

parks

Allows for free 2005 Empire Passport’s for

personnel called to federal of SAD in response to

an emergency during the period September 11,

2001 to December 31, 2005. POC: NYS Office

of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation at

(518) 474-8081 or at www.nysparks.com/

passport.

Free access to video teleconferencing

centers

For use between deployed service members

and their families. Service member must be on

federal active duty. POC: DMNA Office of

Administrative Support at (518) 786-6197 / NYS

Office for Technology at (518) 486-9200.

Free Internet access at public libraries

To be used for communication between

deployed active duty military personnel and their

families. The deployed service member must be

a resident of the State of New York and must be

deployed to a combat theater or combat zone of

operations. POC: Local public library / NYS

Department of Education at (518) 474-7196.

Extension of driver’s licenses and motor

vehicle registrations

Driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations

that would otherwise expire during period of

active duty will be extended if the servicemember

files DMV form MV-75 (military service

notification [MSN]). Applies to federal or SAD

relating to the war on terrorism and military

action in Iraq. POC: NYS Division of Motor

Vehicles at (518) 474-1352 or at

www.nysdmv.com/license.htm#military.

Veteran’s health care information program

An automated health care information line that

provides key telephone numbers and points of

contacts for healthcare issues, benefits, and

resources. POC: NYS Department of Health at

(518) 486-9002 / DMNA State Surgeon at (518)

786-4610.

Supplemental burial allowance

The allowance is a state allotment of not more

than $6,000 paid to the surviving spouse, domestic

partner, adult children, parents, or other family

member of the deceased, depending on who paid

the cost of the funeral and burial. To receive the

benefit, the deceased must have been deceased

on federal active duty in combat or duty subject

to hostile fire or imminent danger. POC: NYS

Division of Veterans’ Affairs at (518) 474-6784

/ DMNA Casualty Affairs Officer at (518) 786-

4608.

Recognizing employers and businesses

The Empire State Development Corporation

administers two programs, the NY-USA Proud

Employer of Distinction Award and the Patriot

Support and Discount Program, aimed at

recognizing employers and retailers in New York

State who show special support to members of

the military. For more information, go to

www.nyspatriotplan.org/.

Benefit granted to dependents

New York State Military Law is amended to

state that a dependent seeking a benefit given by

statute to a service member may first apply to the

agency, private party, business, etc. for the

statutory benefit (for example, interest rate

reduction) and that the benefit shall be granted

unless it can be shown that the dependent is not

materially impaired (for example, economically)

by the deployment of the service member (and

loss of the service member’s civilian

compensation). The amendment makes it

unnecessary for a dependent to apply for a court

order first. The amendment permits applying for

a court order if necessary. POC: DMNA Legal

Affairs Office at (518) 786-4541.

Guard TimesPage26

By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service

Unlike their active and reserve counterparts, members of the Army and Air NationalGuard can be called on to serve two different masters: their state governors and theircommander in chief.

They serve as their state militias, available at the bidding of their governors in the eventof emergencies, insurrections, attacks or acts of nature, such as last fall’s multiplehurricanes in Florida. But guardsmen also play an increasingly important role in nationaldefense, with some 100,000 of them deployed overseas where they make up 34 percent

of the U.S. force.Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National

Guard Bureau, told the American Forces Press Servicebalancing the demands of these dual missions takescareful coordination to ensure no state governor isleft short.

Blum said governors have demonstratedoverwhelmingly that they understand their NationalGuard members are needed to reinforce the activeArmy and Air Force overseas, particularly during thewar on terror.

What they don’t want, Blum said, is to have their states left “uncovered” because they’vecontributed too many troops.

“We will make our fair contribution,” Blum said the governors tell him. “But we don’t wantto make a disproportionate contribution that leaves our own constituents at risk.”

Blum said he’s made a concerted effort to strike a balance between Guard membersdeployed overseas, those preparing for deployment, and those available to carry out statemissions, if required, since taking over as chief of the National Guard Bureau in April 2003.

“We’ve been pretty successful at doing this,” he said. All but just two states are now“in very, very good shape,” to carry out state missions, with at least 50 percent and in somecases, more than 70 percent of their Guard forces at home.

It’s a delicate balancing act, Blum explained. Rather than taking “once giant slice” outof one state, it means “taking a smaller piece out of two or three states” for the federalmission.

But it’s more than just a numbers game, he said. “It means ensuring that we have the rightcapabilities in the right numbers in the right places, distributed all around the country so

Guard Works to BalanceState, Federal Missions

By Steven FieldArmy News Service

The concept of modularity isapproaching its first true test asunits across the country undergotransformation and prepare fordeployments overseas.

With four modular brigades setup under the 3rd Infantry Divisiontraining and several companiesreorganizing and reflagging underthe 101st Airborne Division (AirAssault), the time is rapidlyapproaching when the Army willsend a Unit of Execution andsubordinate Brigade CombatTeams (Units of Action) intocombat, testing the modular, “plug-and-play” vision inspired by

News Analysis: Modular Brigades Prep for Deploymenttransformation.

A successful deployment wouldprovide validation for the modelthat will be applied to each of theten Army divisions by 2007.

In these upcoming deployments,two BCT (UA)s from the 3rdInfantry Division will fall under thecommand of the 42nd InfantryDivision in north central Iraq whenthey deploy this winter. The rest ofthe division is slated to deploywith a unit from the Louisiana ArmyNational Guard to a different part ofIraq shortly after.

In the ramp-up to thesedeployments, the newlyreorganized BCT (UA)s have gonethrough rotations at the JointReadiness Training Center at FortPolk, La.

“JRTC was our cap-stoneexercise that culminated all the

training we did since we wereactivated in May 2004,” said Maj.Alayne Conway, spokeswoman forthe 3rd Infantry Division’s 4th BCT(UA).FROM THE GROUND UP

The story of the 4th BCT is onethat epitomizes the transformationphilosophy. The unit had about 21soldiers when it was activated, andin six months gained approximately1,500 Soldiers, garnered newequipment and conducted threemajor training exercises. The Armytook three different battalions fromthree different brigades with threedifferent cultures and joinedtogether as one team, said Conway.

The 4th BCT (UA) had to be builtfrom the ground up. And abouteight months after its formation, itwill be deployed to Iraq with anotherBCT (UA) from the 3rd Infantry

and a brigade from the LouisianaArmy National Guard in one of thefirst modular deployments.

“In six months, we did what anormal unit can expect to do in fourto five years,” said Conway.

The changes mandated bytransformation were especially feltamong artillery Soldiers, whosebattalions were integrated into allunits and face new infantry-likerequirements and missions as theArmy changes.

Soldiers of the 4th BCT (UA)coined the term “infartillery” duringtheir rotation at JRTC to describetheir new functions. While theystill had traditional artilleryresponsibilities, they also preparedto go into towns, do securitysweeps, and deal directly with thepeople in the country that theyoperate in, jobs typically reserved

for other Soldiers like infantry andcivil affairs.MODULARITY TO GROW ARMY

Adding a fourth brigade sizedelement to each Army division ispart of the larger plan to increasethe number of Army brigades from33 to 43 by the end of fiscal year2007.

The 4th Infantry Division at FortHood, Texas, and the 10thMountain Division at Fort Drum,N.Y., will transform into modularbrigades this fiscal year.

The modular restructuring of theArmy will help combatantcommanders rapidly identify unitsfor deployment on short notice;allow units to sustain operationswith minimal or no augmentation;enhance a unit’s ability to deploy;and provide greater troopreadiness. !

WASHINGTON

“It means ensuringthat we have theright capabilities.....numbers in theright places."

WASHINGTON

that each of the governors would have the essential capabilities they need,” he said.These capabilities include command and control, communications, transportation,

medical, aviation, engineering and security assets, he said.“And they (the governors) would all have to have some of that left in their state, even

while they are executing the global war on terror overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and inother places,” he said. !

Retracing the First Flight to the South Pole, Maj. Mark Doll, a pilot with the NewYork Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing, looks out the window of LC-130 Hercules,skier 94, on Nov. 29 over the area of Antarctica where Rear Adm. Richard E. Byrdestablished the Little America campsite 75 years ago (Nov. 29, 1929). The edge of the RossIce Shelf and the sea ice in the area where Admiral Byrd established Little America brokeoff and floated away years ago. Major Doll and his crew took the long way to the pole to retracethe route of the first South Pole flight by Admiral Byrd. Aircrew included Maj. Mark Doll,pilot , Capt. Mark McKeon, copilot, Maj. Vinnie Wilson, navigator, Tech. Sgt. MauriceHuard, engineer, Master Sgt. Carmelo Modesto, loadmaster and Tech. Sgt. Randy Powell,loadmaster. (Photo by Kristan Hutchison, U.S. National Science Foundation)

Air Guard Promotions Page27

LIEUTENANT COLONELTROPIANO, PAUL P 105 MAINTENANCE OPS FTMARK, HARRIET G 105 MEDICAL GPFIFIELD, STEPHEN F 139 AIRLIFT SQSCHAFER, PETER F 274 AIR SUPT OPNS SQ

MAJORPIAZZA, JOSEPH P 105 AIRLIFT WGWITSIL, ANDREW L 136 AIR REFUELING SQ

CAPTAINGLENNON, PETER J 105 AERIAL PORT SQBENASSUTTI, LEWIS S 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQDALTON, PETER J 101 RESCUE SQCOOPER, ELIZABETH 109 MAINTENANCE OPS FTDEAN, NICHOLAS E 109 SERVICES FTJOHNSON, MATTHEW B 139 AIRLIFT SQBROWN, WAYNE A 139 AIRLIFT SQBISSONNETTE, SCOTT B 138 FIGHTER SQCHARLTON, GARY R II 138 FIGHTER SQ

FIRST LIEUTENANTDANNEMANN, RYAN F 137 AIRLIFT SQSABATINI, JEFFREY N 106 LOGISTICS READINES SQSMITH, CRAIG R 107 OPERATIONS SUPPORTDONOHUE, SEAN J 139 AEROMED EVAC SQWOOD, ERIC D 139 AIRLIFT SQBUCCI, ANTHONY L 174 FIGHTER WGBODONY, GARY THOMAS 174 STUDENT FTGARDNER, BRADLEY J NORTHEAST AIR DEF SQ

SECOND LIEUTENANTSLOAN, PAUL D 137 AIRLIFT SQWEIR, GLYN B 103 RESCUE SQDAVIN, RICHARD W JR 106 STUDENT FTSALTON, RICHARD H 107 AIR REFUELING WGGRIFFIN, DAVID R 109 STUDENT FTBROSNAN, ALISON J 109 STUDENT FTGARREN, NICHOLAS J 109 STUDENT FTROGERS, JOSHUA W 109 STUDENT FTWILLIAMS, KELLY J 109 STUDENT FT

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANTSMITH, RANDOLPH R 106 MAINTENANCE SQDELGIACCO, MICHAEL S JR 109 OPERATIONS GPFASSETT, MARK H 174 SECURITY FORCES SQ

SENIOR MASTER SERGEANTMARINO, RENEE MARIE RUEL 137 AIRLIFT SQDEMING, ALVIN D 174 CIVIL ENGINEER SQ

MASTER SERGEANTSIRGANT, JOHN J 105 CIVIL ENGINEER SQHALL, MICHAEL C SR 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQOLSON, PAUL R 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQBRESCIANI, IRIS Z 105 MISSION SUPPORT GPGROBEN, DARLENE M 101 RESCUE SQKRYWOLAP, WALTER V 106 CIVIL ENGINEER SQKOYLES, DAVID W 106 LOGISTICS READINES SQCARRERO, VICTOR J 106 MAINTENANCE SQCULP, WILLIAM L 107 LOGISTICS READINES SQBRIGHT, CAROL A 107 LOGISTICS READINES SQDODGE, ANGELA M 107 LOGISTICS READINES SQDURANT, DANIEL P 107 MAINTENANCE SQFOLEY, JUDY E 139 AIRLIFT SQGOLDMAN, MICHAEL E 139 AIRLIFT SQCOLLINS, PATRICIA A 174 MEDICAL GP

TECHNICAL SERGEANTTREGLIA, GARY N JR 105 COMMUNICATIONS FTKANE, JOHN E JR 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQNELSON, MARK F 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQANDREWS, ANDY P 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQPORTER, EDWARD B 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQMOLONEY, SEAN M 137 AIRLIFT SQGOYET, JAMES R 103 RESCUE SQLOPEZCEPEDA, SANDRA I 106 MAINTENANCE SQLENDEMANN, ANTHONY E 106 MAINTENANCE SQKIESLING, BRIAN E 106 MAINTENANCE SQGIORDANO, LAWRENCE 106 MAINTENANCE SQFRANCIS, TYRONE G 106 RESCUE WGCOMPETELLO, JOSEPH A 106 SECURITY FORCES SQMCMAHON, OLIVIA M 106 SECURITY FORCES SQSTEHL, GERARD A 106 SECURITY FORCES SQWRIGHT, TASHEENIA M 107 AIR REFUELING WGPRICE, REGINALD D 107 AIR REFUELING WGVONDEREMPTEN, TIMOTHY J 107 SECURITY FORCESFOLCKEMER, JASON M 107 SECURITY FORCES SQMERLIN, MELISSA A 107 SECURITY FORCES SQLONGOBARDO, JOSEPH A 109 SECURITY FORCES SQ

RAY, JENNIFER E 139 AEROMED EVAC SQWESTLING, ANDREW C 139 AEROMED EVAC SQBACKUS, BRET W 139 AIRLIFT SQROBERTS, BRIAN M NEW YORK ANG HQHENRY, DONALD F JR 174 CIVIL ENGINEER SQGLESSING, STEPHEN P 174 CIVIL ENGINEER SQFORSYTH, MELISSA E 174 FIGHTER WGBLACK, GARY A JR 174 MEDICAL GPMYSLIVECEK, DALE J DET 1 174 FIGHTER WGMILLS, JOHN R NEAD SCTY FORC FT FTSULLIVAN, TODD M NEAD SCTY FORC FT FTGATES, ROBERT L NORTHEAST AIR DEF SQ

STAFF SERGEANTSENOGLU, TOLGA S 105 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQROMAN, JASMIN 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQALBERTSON, SCOT R 105 MAINTENANCE SQSOTO, NICHOLAS M 105 MAINTENANCE SQIBBS, BRIAN A 105 STUDENT FTGIELBEDA, MICHAEL S 213 ENG INSTL SQSMITH, JEDEDIAH G 103 RESCUE SQHANSEN, KENNETH R JR 106 MEDICAL GPMOITHUKSHUNG, PETULA D 106 MEDICAL GPWESTCOTT, NICHOLAS A 106 SECURITY FORCES SQCHOPPING, ROY E III 106 SECURITY FORCES SQKLOETE, JOSEPH S 106 SECURITY FORCES SQJACKSON, VENITA D 107 AIR REFUELING WGMARTIN, ROBERT S 107 CIVIL ENGINEER SQMILLER, ROBERT J 107 MAINTENANCE SQBAJER, MICHAEL A 107 MAINTENANCE SQPRZYBYL, MICHELLE L 107 SECURITY FORCES SQDODGE, ROGER P 107 SECURITY FORCES SQPEASE, STEPHEN J 107 SERVICES FTTOY, JASON R 107 SERVICES FTZAPISEK, SCOTT J 109 AERIAL PORT FTVERGA, JOSEPH 109 AERIAL PORT FTOCONNOR, JOSEPH R 109 CIVIL ENGINEER SQWASHINGTON, DARRELL D 109 CIVIL ENGINEER SQMOORE, JASON C 109 CIVIL ENGINEER SQKUHL, EDWIN O 109 CIVIL ENGINEER SQGREGORY, JOHNATHAN K 109 MAINTENANCE SQROBERT, STACIE L 174 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQCALL, JEREMY M 174 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQROWE, KRISTINA E 174 FIGHTER WGWOOD, CLIFTON C 174 LOGISTICS READINES SQTRENDOWSKI, CARRIE A 174 MAINTENANCE GPTARSON, RICHARD R JR 174 SECURITY FORCES SQGROSSO, ERIC P 174 SERVICES FTMARTIN, DEBORAH S NORTHEAST AIR DEF SQ

SENIOR AIRMANGALIETTA, SEAN P 105 CIVIL ENGINEER SQKHALAF, MARY F 105 LOGISTICS READINES SQROSENBERRY, MICHAEL J P 105 MAINTENANCE SQPESANTE, JOSEPH A 105 MAINTENANCE SQKEENO, RENAE M 105 MAINTENANCE SQHAYES, THOMAS E 105 STUDENT FTGAVIRIA, MAURICIO A 106 MAINTENANCE SQ

RIVERA, DAVID A 106 MAINTENANCE SQRICCIARDI, ANTHONY V 106 SECURITY FORCES SQMCPHERSON, STEPHEN A 107 CIVIL ENGINEER SQJAKES, JILL A 107 CIVIL ENGINEER SQKING, NICHOLAS T 107 CIVIL ENGINEER SQDUTTON, DANIEL A 107 CIVIL ENGINEER SQCLARK, ERIN M 107 MAINTENANCE SQCAPPELLO, MICHAEL R 107 SECURITY FORCES SQVARNEY, TIFFANY L 109 SECURITY FORCES SQGRAY, COREY J 139 AIRLIFT SQDEBRITO, TERAH AMBER P 152 AIR OPERATIONS GPLANTZ, JAMES M 174 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQEVANS, MATTHEW T 174 CIVIL ENGINEER SQDRYER, MITCHELL E JR 174 CIVIL ENGINEER SQREISDORF, COTY G 174 CIVIL ENGINEER SQCHISAMORE, TODD D 174 LOGISTICS READINES SQWALDECK, HEIDI M 174 MAINTENANCE SQYOUNG, PATRICK B 174 MISSION SUPPORT FTRYAN, ROY R 174 SECURITY FORCES SQWATSON, CHRISTINA F NEAD SCTY FORC FT FT

AIRMAN FIRST CLASSDUKES, NICOLE NMN 105 STUDENT FTBONSIGNORE, JOANNA M 105 STUDENT FTFELICIANO, RUBIN M 105 STUDENT FTSWANSON, LISA D 105 STUDENT FTVERDEUR, MARK J 105 STUDENT FTFRANK, ANDREW P 105 STUDENT FTWONG, WINSON Y 105 STUDENT FTVAZQUEZ, SAMMY D 107 STUDENT FTKELLEY, BRIAN R 107 STUDENT FTBAILEY, CANDICE L 107 STUDENT FTURSO, JOSEPH W 107 STUDENT FTLONG, KELLY M 107 STUDENT FTFOX, MICHELLE R 107 STUDENT FTSHIELDS, COREY B 109 STUDENT FTROY, WILLIAM S 109 STUDENT FTWATLING, ANDREW W 174 SECURITY FORCES SQPETERSON, JAMES C 174 STUDENT FTBULLOCK, JAMES J 174 STUDENT FTSCHMITT, DANIEL P 174 STUDENT FTHODSON, RYAN B 174 STUDENT FTKEEGAN, TRAVIS A 174 STUDENT FTMILLER, MICHAEL 174 STUDENT FTKEEGAN, BRONWEN L 174 STUDENT FT

AIRMANLECOINTE, LUIGI G 105 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQWILLIAMS, TAKEYA A 174 MISSION SUPPORT FT

AIRMAN BASICMARTIN, NICOLE M 105 STUDENT FTSWEENEY, KELLI S 107 STUDENT FTCRYAN, STEPHAN J II 107 STUDENT FTPERSONS, NICHOLAS W 109 STUDENT FTRISING, ERIC D 109 STUDENT FT

Nominate your employer at:

Nominations will be accepted at the ESGR website, www.esgr.mil, until midnight Feb. 24, 2005.

2005 Secr2005 Secr2005 Secr2005 Secr2005 Secretaretaretaretaretary ofy ofy ofy ofy of Def Def Def Def Defense Emploense Emploense Emploense Emploense EmployyyyyerererererSupporSupporSupporSupporSupport Ft Ft Ft Ft Frrrrreedom eedom eedom eedom eedom AAAAAwwwwwarararararddddd

www.esgr.mil"

Encouraging all National Guardsmen and Reservists to visit the ESGR website atwww.esgr.mil to nominate their employers for this prestigious award that recognizessupport above and beyond the USERRA Law for employees who serve in theNational Guard and Reserve.

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Guard TimesPage28

By Staff Sgt. Mike R. SmithGuard Times Staff

It was a mournful gathering. At the podium, New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Peltspoke the name of each Soldier three times consecutively, a brass Navy bell clanged and a white candle was lit uponthe final echo of each name. When all names were read, 11 flames were aglow-illuminating the memory of those whomade the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.

Soldiers and civilians from the Division of Military and Naval Affairs gathered here Dec. 20 to honor the lives of 11New York Army National Guard Soldiers who died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom: Sgt. Heath A. McMillin; Spc.Michael L. Williams; Spc. Nathan Brown; Sgt. Michael A. Uvanni; Spc. Segun Akintade; Sgt. David L. Roustum; StaffSgt. Philip Engeldrum; Spc. Wilfredo F. Urbina; Sgt.David M. Fisher; Staff Sgt. Henry E. Irizarry; Sgt.Joseph O. Behnke.

“There is a diversity in those names,” said Maj.Gen. Thomas P. MaGuire, Jr., Adjutant General. Heexplained that, aside from their ethnic diversities, theSoldiers hailed from diverse communities across N.Y.

In a symbolic gesture, members of the StateMilitary Forces Honor Guard unfolded the Colors,holding it’s stars and stripes in full view beforerefolding it into a tight triangle and sharplypresenting it to the command sergeant major.

Speaking of the mission in Iraq, New York ArmyNational Guard Chaplain, Maj. Anthony Diacetissaid, “there is no one who doubts those men andwomen who have died in the sands of Iraq...and thereis no one who doubts our prayer for them.”

These are tremendous Americans, New Yorkers.And tremendous words have been said about theseyoung men over the past three years-not just in thepast week or two, said the Adjutant General. “It’s alitany what they have done for us and a litany inwhat their families have done for us,” he added.“Please recommit yourselves to that litany…it’s thebest way we can honor these 11 Soldiers.” !

New York's Joint Forces HonorTremendous Service, Sacrificeof Eleven National Guardsmen

LATHAM

Above: New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. RobertVanPelt receives the American Flag from members of the StateMilitary Forces Honor Guard.

Eleven candles aglow, representing each New York Army National Guard Soldier killed in Iraq before Dec. 20, 2004 were lit ata ceremony held on the N.Y. Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Latham. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Mike R. Smith)