Nearly 50 members of a New York Army National Guard infantry unit assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix received awards and combat badges during a ceremony at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday.
The soldiers are assigned to the Ithaca-based Company D, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry and are serving as Security Force Delta with New York’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 of Binghamton, company commander. “It was an honor to command you and we are all now brothers. If there ever comes another time when you need to dodge bullets again, just call me and we’ll do it together.”
Sgt. Leo Capria of Lafayette was awarded an Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device for combat action. His award was presented by Samuel D. Kleinman, PhD, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Readiness, who was on an official visit.
Fifteen unit members received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and two attached soldiers received the Combat Action Badge. Spec. Denis Sincabaugh of Auburn received the Combat Medic’s Badge. Thirteen other soldiers were recognized for re-enlisting during the deployment.
Army Commendation Medal
Sgt. Ian Ault of Himrod
Sgt. George Baker of Oswego
Spec. J. Barcak of Johnson City
Spec. Marlon Berrios of Ithaca
Cpl. Timothy Bishop of Homer
Spec. Steven Burger of Norwich
Sgt. Leo Capria of Lafayette
Spec. Timothy Chandler of Endicott
Spec. Robert Clark of Greene
Sgt. 2nd Class Matthew Cook of Corning
Sgt. Michael Dietrich of Woodside
Spec. Shaun Doane of Truxton
Spec. Jeffrey Fierro of Horseheads
Spec. Matthew Gale of Seaford
Sgt. Bryon Gridley of Horseheads
Cpl. Benjamin Harrison of Binghamton
Sgt. William Hickox of Baldwinsville
Spec. Denis Kalenchuk of Brooklyn
Spec. Brian Kennedy of Brooklyn
Spec. Vernon Oehlke of Brooklyn
Sgt. Daniel Ransier of East Syracuse
Cpl. Jameel Robinson of Endicott
Spec. James Smith of Vestal
Spec. Joshua Sowards of Schenectady
Spec. Robert Tuttle of Bainbridge
Spec. Timothy Westcott of Kirkwood
Sgt. 2nd Class Robin Wilson of Oswego
Spec. Michael Zhe of Groton
Spec. Matthew White of Newark
Private 2nd Class Michael Wilson of Newfield
Spec. Joshua Bacigalupi of Cortland
Staff Sgt. Carl Bush of Cortland
Spec. Daniel Capalongo of Ithaca
Spec. Jeremy Cianciosi of Binghamton
Spec. Bryon Hulsizer of Weedsport
Spec. Jesse Keith of Homer
Spec. Jetrin Keophomma of Binghamton
Spec. Kevin MacNeill of Whitney Point
Sgt. Christopher Roberts of Interlaken
Spec. Robert Sanders of Cortland
Spec. Colin Stewart of East Amherst
Army Achievement Medal
Spec. Walter Cramer of Horseheads
Spec. William Hulbert of Newfield
Spec. Michael Nemire of Endicott
Spec. Camden Ripley of Elmira
Spec. William McKenney of Ithaca
Combat Infantryman’s Badge
Sgt. 1st Class Manuel Adams of Endicott
Spec. Robert Collins of Lockwood
Spec. Joshua Meriwether of Peekskill
Private 1st Class Michael Moors of Whitney Point
Spec. Matthew White of Newark
Private 2nd Class Michael Wilson of Newfield
Spec. Joshua Bacigalupi of Cortland
Staff Sgt. Carl Bush of Cortland
Spec. Daniel Capalongo of Ithaca
Spec. Jeremy Cianciosi of Binghamton
Spec. Bryon Hulsizer of Weedsport
Spec. Jesse Keith of Homer
Spec. Jetrin Keophomma of Binghamton
Spec. Kevin MacNeill of Whitney Point
Sgt. Christopher Roberts of Interlaken
Spec. Robert Sanders of Cortland
Spec. Colin Stewart of East Amherst
Combat Action Badge
1st Lt. Michael Chappell of Jamesville
Spec. Mark Record of Rehoboth, Mass.
Lt. Col. Paul Fanning is submitting photos to accompany this blog in a gallery, "Pictures from the Front." To view the most recent photos, which accompany this blog entry, click here. To view the entire gallery, click here.
