Forty members of the New York Army National Guard began cleaning up flood damage here Aug. 14 after being mobilized by Gov. David Paterson on Aug. 13.

The Soldiers from the 152nd Engineer Support Company, headquartered at the Connecticut St. Armory in Buffalo, began clearing storm damage from roads in the northwest corner of the village. The company deployed 10 dump trucks and four front-end loaders to clean up storm damage.

“In my time in the Guard, I have certainly seen worse disasters but for the people in this community the situation is very bad,” said Capt. Jeff Miles, the company commander.

His unit, part of the 204th Engineer Battalion, was alerted Aug. 11 and, along with a deputy, he arrived in the village of Gowanda early Aug. 12 to see the situation and coordinate with state and local officials for the arrival and deployment of his team.

What he saw were roads covered with slimy mud, broken pavement, trees and other debris and piles of mud encrusted furniture and appliances that home owners had begun placing along the curbs as part of their cleanup efforts.

“Our mission will be to clear the mud and debris from the streets so that both the authorities and the people can move about safely,” he said. “Eventually, the accumulated mud and debris will also become a health hazard, especially if it’s contaminated by sewage and other materials,” he added.

“We will be working closely with public works staff and state and county coordinators,” Miller said.

Spc. Bradley Gable, a resident of Gowanda, was one of the bucket loader operators cleaning up after the storm.

“I’m glad to be down here, in a position to help my family and the community,” Gable said
Heavy rains ranging from two to six inches struck the area south of Buffalo on Aug. 7 and 8. The rain coupled with the already saturated ground and brought heavy flooding in portions of Western New York.

The towns of Gowanda and Silver Creek, located along the Cattaurgus Creek, near the Cattaraugus-Erie County line were inundated with three and four feet of driven water that swept away cars and mobile homes, damaged home foundations and businesses and caused extensive property and structural damage. Receding waters uncovered scenes of devastation the community was unprepared for. The governor declared Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie Counties as state disaster sites.

Because flood waters also damaged and polluted the local reservoir, a boil-water order was issued for the area and the Guard engineers have also been given another mission.

“We have been asked to clear a new road to the reservoir so that pipes can be run to a clean water source,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, director of the Joint Staff at the New York National Guard state headquarters who also came to Gowanda to see the damage.

“This is a joint response of local, county and state resources,” said Murphy who was in Buffalo leading a planned emergency response table top exercise with local civil authorities as part of the Vigilant Guard program when the disaster struck.

“Many of these troops have already served in either Iraq or Afghanistan,” said the general. “We are glad to be able to help our communities when they need us,” he added.

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Story by Eric Durr

Members of a New York Army National Guard security force company in Kabul recently completed a long, round-trip convoy from Kabul to Farah in western Afghanistan – a distance of more than 1,000 miles — without enemy contact.

About 40 members of Company D, 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry successfully escorted members of an embedded training team that were moving with their assigned Afghan national army unit to its forward deployed station.

The New York National Guard Soldiers are part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix which provides mentors and trainers for the ANA and police in embedded training teams and police mentoring teams.

The task force also includes a battalion-size security force that provides ETTs and PMTs with Soldiers for protection during missions, as well as companies and platoons that help guard convoys and forward operating bases where ETTs and PMTs are based.

“We figured that the enemy took one look at the size of our convoy and knew we had plenty of fire power,” said Capt. Joe Merrill, the commander of Company D, comprised mostly of Guardsmen from the Ithaca, NY-based Company D, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry. “They took a look and left us alone,” he said.

“Our numbers were a deterrent,” said 1st Sgt. James Meltz, from Hudson. “Large convoys discourage attacks. We were ready in case anything happened and nothing did.”

More than 90 vehicles including up armored Humvees, mine resistant ambush protected armored vehicles and ANA light tactical vehicles pulled out from Kabul on Oct. 24, 2008. The headquarters of the 2nd Brigade, 207th Corps ANA along with the brigade’s Combat Service Support kandak (battalion) were moving to their base in western Afghanistan. Their team of U.S. trainers and mentors moved with them and SECFOR Delta troops in 10 armored vehicles rode shotgun.

Most convoys follow the famous “Ring Route” and this was no exception. The troops noted that many holes in the pavement from previous improvised explosive device strikes had been filled in the stretch south of Kabul through Ghazni.

“The rough section of road was west of Kandahar,” said Merrill, a Binghamton resident. “There are big holes and unpaved sections,” he added. “At one point we had to leave it [Ring Road] to travel on a parallel route.”

“There were places where we knew we were on original ‘Russian Road,’” said 1st Lt. Chris Marion, also from Binghamton. “The pavement in those areas goes back that long ago.”

“We finished the first part and then came back,” said Merrill. “We saw that a civilian convoy had gotten hit on the way from Kandahar heading north,” he said.

Captain Merrill and his team returned to Camp Phoenix on Oct. 26, 2008. “At this point we have done almost 25 long range convoys, but this was the longest,” he said. “And, this was a large convoy.”

All told, Merrill said that his company has completed 1000 combat missions, most of them short distance movements.

“But that is our job – provide the cover and protection,” he added.

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Twenty-five New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to a security force company of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix received awards during a ceremonies at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, on Sept. 20, 2008. The awards were presented as the Soldiers prepare to leave after a 10-month tour of duty.

1st Lt. Christopher Culpepper from Salisbury, N.Y. and Spc. Steven Bogardus from Heuvelton, N.Y., were awarded Bronze Star Medals for their service in training and improving Afghan national security forces. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service in a combat zone.

Sgts. Lloyd Barregar from Rome, Elias Kougemitros from Cortlandt Manor, Travis Smithers from Watertown and Steven Campbell from Waterford, N.Y., all received Meritorious Service Medals for exceptional service. Six Army Commendation Medals and 13 Army Achievement Medals were also awarded.

The Army Commendation Medal is awarded for sustained meritorious service or achievement while the Army Achievement Medal is awarded for a lesser degree of service or achievement.

Nearly 230 infantry Soldiers from New York’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were mobilized last September ahead of the main deployment of New York’s 27th for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. An enlarged “SECFOR” team was built around Company A, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry from Geneseo, N.Y. with additional platoons coming from New York’s Hudson Valley, Capital District and Adirondack North Country.

CJTF-Phoenix is part of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan with the mission to mentor and train the Afghan national army and police, and provide assistance to the government of Afghanistan and its people. The task force is comprised of nearly 9,500 service men and women from all U.S. branches, coalition partners and civilian professionals distributed at almost 260 forward operating bases and combat outposts throughout Afghanistan. Nearly 1700 members of New York’s 27th IBCT were mobilized for the mission. They came from communities across New York.

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By Paul Fanning
New York National Guard

The New York Army and Air National Guard are sending helicopters, Soldiers and Airmen to aid the Louisiana National Guard in dealing with Hurricane Gustav recovery operations.

On Aug. 31, 2008, New York governor David A. Paterson announced that two New York Air National Guard HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopters and 16 Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing had already departed Gabreski Field Air National Guard Base in West Hampton Beach, Suffolk County.

The governor also directed that three CH-47 “Chinook” heavy-lift helicopters and three UH-1 “Huey” Medevac helicopters leave the Army National Guard Flight Facility in Rochester for Meridian, Miss. These aircraft deployed Sept. 1, 2008.

The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing, based is Scotia, will also deploy 15 Airmen in three aeromedical teams, Sept. 1, 2008. These Airmen are specially trained in stabilization patients and moving them by aircraft.

“As Hurricane Katrina reminded us three years ago, we can never be too aggressive in our response preparation for natural disasters,” said Paterson. “New York is fortunate to have some of the most advanced equipment and well-trained personnel, and it is our duty to serve our fellow states.”

“New Yorkers have lived through disaster, and we appreciate the critical importance of Americans working together to help our fellow citizens. My thanks to these brave men and women, some of whom have recently returned from tours of duty, for once again leaving their families to answer their country’s call,” the governor said.

Hurricane Gustav is expected to reach land, Sept. 1, 2008. A state of emergency has been declared in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.

The Louisiana National Guard requested the helicopters through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a national agreement which allows states to easily provide resources and personnel in disaster situations.

The New York Air National Guard Pavehawks are a version of the UH-60 helicopter especially modified for long-range search and rescue missions. They can refuel in flight and are equipped with a rescue hoist. The unit flew missions in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and members of the 106th flew missions in Afghanistan last year doing long-range search and rescue.

In addition to the Pavehawks, Paterson directed three New York Army National Guard CH-47 “Chinook” helicopters and 19 soldiers to be deployed from Rochester to Louisiana to assist in post-Hurricane Gustav recovery operations.

The CH-47s are the largest helicopters operated by the Army. They are capable of carrying 30 passengers or 33,000 pounds of cargo internally. Each CH-47 requires a crew of three.

The other Soldiers will provide maintenance and ground support. The soldiers and helicopters left the Army National Guard’s flight facility at approximately 7 a.m., Sept. 1, 2008, and are flying to a National Guard flight facility in Meridan. After the hurricane comes ashore the three New York CH-47s will conduct missions under the direction of the Louisiana National Guard.

The Governor also directed the New York Army National Guard to send three UH-1 “Huey” Medevac helicopters and 16 soldiers to Louisiana , Sept. 1, 2008. These helicopters also responded to Hurricane Katrina, and are equipped with rescue hoists, and can hold stretchers and carry patients. They to deployed from Rochester at 7:30 a.m., Sept. 1, 2008.

Some of the New York Army National Guard aviators deploying in support of hurricane recovery operations recently returned from a 10-month deployment in Afghanistan. While overseas they flew CH-47 missions in support of coalition and U.S. Forces combat operations.

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Story by Eric Durr

New York Army National Guard Warrant Officer Priscilla Burnah from Waterford, N.Y., is a deployed military mom with eight years total service, five in the New York Air National Guard and three with the New York Army National Guard. She is originally from Plattsburgh, N.Y. She is a human resources technician and is serving as the assistant personnel officer and public affairs officer for the 427th Brigade Support Battalion, Logistics Task Force for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her son Ryan M. Burnah, 18, is graduating on May 10 from LaSalle Institute in Troy. He has been in LaSalle’s Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program throughout and is captain in the Cadet Corps, and is also a eucharistic minister for the Roman Catholic Church. Ryan is joining the 109 AW in Scotia, he will be part of the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron as a flight medic. When he graduates high school in May, Ryan will attend basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and then his technical school will follow. Upon completion, he will be attending college full time as a pre-med major. Priscilla is a single parent, with two children, Ryan 18 and Melina 6. Melina’s elementary school class is preparing to support her mom by sending donations of school supplies, clothing and other items that can be distributed to Afghan children. Warrant Officer Burnah is full-time Guard Soldier assigned to the Human Resources Office at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs in Latham, where she supervises other Human Resources personnel. Her mother, Maj. Judith Sorrell-Lynch retired after 20 years as a nurse in the Army Reserve, based out of Malone. Her brother is 1st Sgt. Shawn Burnah, U.S. Army, and serves at the Airborne School in Fort Benning, GA. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Paul Fanning)

The commander of New York State’s military forces extends Mother’s Day greetings this weekend to the more than 500 military mothers currently serving in the New York Army and Air National Guard.

“Those who put on the uniform of our country show tremendous self-sacrifice and service to others,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, the adjutant general for the state of New York. “I can think of no better group of military women more deserving of our military family’s praise than those serving women who balance their careers as Soldiers or Airmen and mothers for their children. They are heroes in their families, in their communities and deserve that recognition across our great state and our nation,” Taluto said.

The New York National Guard currently has more than 2,200 women serving in uniform as part of the Army and Air National Guard, the reserve components part-time community military force that serves New York state in times of disaster or the nation in times of war. More than 500 of these service women are caregivers for dependents.

In just the past two years, some 651 women in the New York Army National Guard have mobilized and deployed for support to operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. This number does not include the women serving with Air National Guard units for shorter-term deployments overseas with Air Force expeditionary forces. Members of every New York Air National Guard element have deployed forces for these in the same timeframe.

In Afghanistan, 130 women are currently deployed with the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Brigade Combat Team. The unit is leading Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Kabul, overseeing the training and mentoring of Afghan national army forces.

Mothers serving with the National Guard task force include Soldiers from upstate New York, including Capt. Lynn Currier from Malta, Warrant Officer Priscilla Burnah from Waterford, and Staff Sgt. Linda Nosbisch from Lancaster and Staff Sgt. Katherine Quinones from Rochester.

“The National Guard is family,” said Taluto. “We enlist individual Soldiers and Airmen, but we retain entire families. Recognizing that this weekend, mothers will be on duty with the National Guard in the service to their state and nation reminds us all how truly special these women and their families are.”

New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Linda Nosbisch, from Lancaster, N.Y., is a military mom currently serving with Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Kabul Afghanistan. Nobisch has 10 years of military service as a Chaplain Assistant. She supervises all the chaplain assistants for the task force. Her oldest son is Senior Airman Daniel Nosbisch, on active duty at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., assigned to a Security Forces squadron. He has 4.5 years of service and will be deploying for his third time sometime next month to the United Arab Emirates. He has already served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her younger son is Airman 1st Class Brian Nosbisch, serving in the New York Air National Guard. He finished basic training and is in his technical school to be a fire fighter he will be stationed with the 107th Air Wing at Niagara Falls Air Base. (U.S. Army photo/Lt. Col. Fanning)

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By Eric Durr