CONTACT: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning; (cell)0798010642 ; e-mail:paul.a.fanning@afghan.swa.army.mil

FOR RELEASE: Friday, Nov 14, 2008

CAMP PHOENIX, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (14 November 2008) -- Nearly 50 members of a New York Army National Guard infantry unit assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix (CJTF-Phoenix) received awards and combat badges during a ceremony at Camp Phoenix in Kabul on Friday 14 November. The Soldiers are assigned to the Ithaca-NY based Company D, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry and are serving as Security Force (SECFOR) Delta with NY’s 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry. The unit is assigned to Afghan Regional Security Integration Command-Kabul also based at Camp Phoenix. “This has been the highlight of my career to command Company D,” said Capt. Joseph Merrill, company commander from Binghamton. “It was an honor to command you and we are all now brothers,” he said. “If there ever comes another time when you need to dodge bullets again, just call me and we’ll do it together,” he said. Sergeant Leo Capria from Lafayette, NY was awarded an Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device for combat action. His award was presented by Samuel D. Kleinman, PhD Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense for Readiness who was on an official visit to CJTF-Phoenix. Fifteen unit members received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB) and two attached Soldiers received the Combat Action Badge (CAB.) Specialist Denis Sincabaugh from Auburn, NY received the Combat Medic’s Badge. Thirteen soldiers were recognized for re-enlisting during the deployment. Nearly 1700 members of New York’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were mobilized for the CJTF-Phoenix mission to train and mentor the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police and provide support to the government and the people. The Soldiers came from communities across New York. Army Commendation Medal:: SGT Ian Ault; Himrod SPC Joshua Bacigalupi; Cortland- CIB SGT George Baker; Oswego SPC J Barcak ; Johnson City SPC Marlon Berrios; Ithaca CPL Timothy Bishop; Homer SPC Steven Burger; Norwich SSG Carl Bush; Cortland CIB SPC Daniel Capalongo; Ithaca- CIB SGT Leo Capria ; La Fayette SPC Timothy Chandler; Endicott SPC Jeremy Cianciosi; Binghamton- CIB SPC Robert Clark; Greene SSG Matthew Cook; Corning SGT Michael Dietrich; Woodside SPC Shaun Doane ; Truxton SPC Jeffrey Fierro; Horseheads SPC Matthew Gale; Seaford SGT Bryon Gridley; Horseheads CPL Benjamin Harrison; Binghamton SGT William Hickox; Baldwinsville SPC Bryon Hulsizer; Weedsport- CIB SPC Denis Kalenchuk; Brooklyn SPC Jesse Keith ; Homer- CIB SPC Brian Kennedy; Brooklyn SPC Jetrin Keophomma; Binghamton- CIB SPC Kevin MacNeill; Whitney Point- CIB SPC Vernon Oehlke; Brooklyn- SGT Daniel Ransier; East Syracuse SGT Christopher Roberts ; Interlaken- CIB CPL Jameel Robinson; Endicott SPC Robert Sanders; Cortland- CIB SPC James Smith; Vestal SPC Joshua Sowards; Schenectady SPC Colin Stewart; East Amherst- CIB SPC Robert Tuttle; Bainbridge SPC Timothy Westcott; Kirckwood SPC Matthew White; Newark- CIB PV2 Michael Wilson Newfield CIB SSG Robin Wilson; Oswego SPC Michael Zhe ; Groton Army Achievement Medal SPC Walter Cramer; Horseheads SPC William Hulbert; Newfield SPC Michael Nemire; Endicott SPC Camden Ripley;; Elmira SPC William McKenney Ithaca Additional Recipients of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge or Combat Action Badge SFC Manuel Adams; Endicott- CIB 1LT Michael Chappell; Jamesville- CAB SPC Robert Collins; Lockwood- CIB SPC Joshua Meriwether; Peekskill- CIB PFC Michael Moors; Whitney Point- CIB SPC Mark Record ; Rehoboth, MA- CAB Re-enlistments SGT Ian Ault; Himrod CPL Jameel Robinson; Endicott SGT George Baker; Oswego SPC Timothy Bishop; Homer SSG Carl Bush; Cortland SPC Jeremy Cianciosi; Binghamton SGT Michael Dietrich; Woodside SPC Shaun Doane ; Truxton SFC Wayne Humburg; Glens Falls SPC Joshua Meriwether; Peekskill SGT William Hickox; Baldwinsville SGT Bryon Gridley; Horseheads SSG Adam Fronk ; Rochester -30-