Courtesy Photo | Vietnam Veteran John W. Sacca, an Albany, N.Y. resident and former Soldier serving in...... read more read more
Subscribe
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The New York National Guard and New York State Military Museum helped recognize the museum’s 2019 Veteran of the Year in a ceremony November 2, 2019 at the Military Museum in Saratoga to honor Vietnam Veteran and lifelong Soldier, John Sacca.
The award is sponsored by the Association of the United States Army and the Friends of the New York State Military Museum.
Joining retired Brig. Gen. Barry Hartman, a trustee of the Friends of the Museum, and William Valenza, President of the AUSA Capital District Chapter were New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. John Andonie, Director of the Joint Staff, U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko and Mayor of Saratoga Springs Megan Kelly.
“It is special to be recognized as the Veteran of the Year,” Andonie said to Sacca, “but it is certainly a tremendous honor knowing that your recognition comes from your peers, those in the veterans community.”
Sacca had a lifetime of service that included time in the Army, Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Sacca completed his military service and continued to volunteer as a member of the New York State Defense Force.
John Sacca enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1966, and was first posted to the 8th Army in South Korea.
In May 1967 he requested an inter-theater transfer to Vietnam and was assigned to the 79th Maintenance Battalion where he served through the 1968 Tet Offensive and was promoted to specialist.
He extended in Vietnam at the end of his tour to transfer to the 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile). Assigned to C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Sacca served as a door gunner on a Huey gunship and later as radio operator in the troop’s infantry platoon.
He participated in cavalry raids in the A Shau Valley west of Hue, recon missions along the Demiltarized Zone and west of Hue, then down south around Saigon.
Sacca left Vietnam in February 1969, joining the New York Army National Guard and was promoted to sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 210th Armor Regiment near Albany, N.Y.
He would later serve in the Army Reserve’s 98th Training Division as a senior instructor for the Battalion Training Maintenance System. He left active service from the reserve component in 1991.
In 1995 Sacca received a commission as a captain in the New York Guard State Defense Force and served with other volunteers as a personnel officer for the 10th Brigade in Troy, N.Y. He served in various positions as part of the state militia, receiving promotions to both major and later lieutenant colonel in 2006, retiring in October 2013.
“We thank you for your commitment to the United States Army, being deployed to Korea and then Vietnam, and to some very difficult assignments that you handled with tremendous patriotism and devotion to this nation, and all for which she stands,” said Tonko during his presentation to Sacca of a special proclamation and flag flown over the U.S. Capital.
Asking for fellow veterans in the audience to stand and be recognized during the ceremony, Sacca thanked them for their service as well.
“Any one of you can and should be standing here in my place,” he said. “I want to thank you all.”
Among his many awards and decorations are the Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars.
Throughout his part-time military service, Sacca completed a similar career in education. He has 43 years teaching at middle school, high school and college levels.
Sacca and his wife Hiesook Kim have two sons and reside in Albany, N.Y.
“You know, I thought I would be speechless, but I wasn’t,” he joked.
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2019 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 350439 |
| Location: | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, National Guard, AUSA, Military Museum Group honor 2019 Veteran of the Year, by COL Richard Goldenberg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT