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By Paul Fanning
New York National Guard
KABUL, Afghanistan - 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.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2008 15:23 |
| Story ID: | 24004 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 417 |
| Downloads: | 356 |
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