Top Air National Guard officer presents awards to 105th Airlift Wing Airmen

by Courtesy Story
New York National Guard

3/10/2014 - STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- Twenty members of the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing -including two airmen who received two Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in action - were recognized by the Air National Guard's top general at a ceremony here on Sunday, March 2.

The 20 members of the 105th Base Defense Squadron, who deployed to Afghanistan last year, received a total of 29 medals during from Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, the director of the 100,000-member Air National Guard.

It was the first time he had ever awarded a Purple Heart medal and it was unusual to present 12 of them and present two airmen with more than one, Clarke said.

"What an honor, I am truly humbled," Clarke said.

The awards included five Bronze Stars, 12 Purple Hearts and 12 Air Force Combat Action Medal.

The 20 airmen deployed to Bagram Air Field alongside members of the active Air Force's 820th Base Defense Group to provide security at the base. Their missions took them "outside the wire" regularly.

One member of the 105th Base Defense Squadron Team, Staff Sgt. Todd T.J. Lobraico Jr., was killed in action during the deployment in September 2013.

"We are thankful for the manner in which you conducted yourselves under the most challenging of circumstances and we are most thankful for you being here with us today," Col. Timothy LaBarge, the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing told the airmen.

"Staff Sergeant TJ Lobraico, a true American hero, may not be physically present in the room with us today, but he is with us spiritually and will be forever," LaBarge added.

"I've done multiple award ceremonies throughout my thirty something years, but never one like this; in any capacity, in any place that I've ever served," Clarke said. " It's a historic day obviously for the members themselves, their families, the unit, the New York National Guard, the Air National Guard, and the United States Air Force, and the nation."

Receiving awards during the March 2 ceremony were:

· Chief Master Sgt. David Pritchard from Washingtonville, N.Y.: A full-time guardsman, Pritchard received the Bronze Star.

· Master Sgt. Shawn Knowlton from Watertown, N.Y.: A federal marshal in civilian life, Knowlton received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Master Sgt. Jose Pena Rojas from the Bronx: A New Rochelle police officer, Pena Rojas received the Bronze Star.

· Master Sgt. Michael O'Connell, from Washingtonville, N.Y.: A full-time Guard airman, O'Connell received the Bronze Star.

· Staff Sgt. Nigel Dabry, from Queens: An employee of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Dabry received two Purple Hearts and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Senior Airman Amanda Martino, from Lindenhurst, N.Y.: A college student, Martino received two Purple Hearts and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Staff Sgt. Winston Rios, from Clifton, N.J.: A college student, Rios received the Purple Heart and Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Senior Airman Michael Hansen, from Newburgh, N.Y.: A Walden New York police officer, Hansen received the Purple Heart and Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Senior Airman Thomas Pulaski, from Wallkill, N.Y.: A college student, Pulaski received the Purple Heart and Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Airman 1st Class Samuel Davies, from Warwick, N.Y.: A college student Davies received the Purple Heart and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Airman 1st Class Matthew Zungia, from Newburgh, N.Y.: A college student Zuniga received the Purple Heart and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Airman 1st Class Marieann Raguso, from Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: A college student Raguso received the Purple Heart and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Tech Sgt. Michael Pacenza, from Newburgh, N.Y.: A full-time Guard airman, Pacenza received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Staff Sgt. John Bellino, from Wappingers Falls, N.Y.: A college student Bellino received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Staff Sgt. Dustin Helms, from Pine Bush, N.Y.: A business owner Helms received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Staff Sgt. Vinh Taylor, from Vacaville, Calif.: A police officer, Taylor received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Staff Sgt. Miguel Nin, from the Bronx: A New York State Corrections Officer, Nin received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Senior Airman Justin Murphy, from Bergenfield, N.J.: A full-time employee of the Air National Guard, Murphy received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Senior Airman Luis Giron, from Newburgh, N.Y.: A college student, Giron received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Senior Airman David Smith, from Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: A technician at Best Buy, Smith received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

· Senior Airman Adrian Torres, from Queens, a Metropolitan Transit Authority police officer, Torres received the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

The Air Force Combat Action Medal is awarded to members of the Air Force who actively engage the enemy with direct fire in ground operations.

The Bronze Star is awarded to acts of merit or for meritorious service in a combat zone.

The Purple Heart is awarded for wounds sustained during combat operations. The award of more than one medal indicates wounds sustained during two separate incidents.

Photographs from the award ceremony can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nyng/sets/72157641815470755/