Pa. Guard honors photo contest winners

Photo By Spc. David Thomson | Soldiers of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard are thanked by Capt. Travis Mueller (left), state media relations officer for the Pennsylvania National Guard, for their winning photo submissions to the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 2022 summer photo contest during a ceremony at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. October 23, 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Spc. David Thomson)  

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, UNITED STATES

10.25.2022

Story by Capt. Travis Mueller 

Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard

The top four finishers of the Pennsylvania National Guard’s recent summer photo contest were honored during a ceremony at Edward Martin Hall here, Oct. 23, 2022.

Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, personally presented certificates of appreciation to the four soldiers and expressed his appreciation for their contributions in telling their units’ stories.

“So many of the 14000 soldiers in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard have a story to tell,” said Schindler. “They do some incredible work for us, protecting our nation and protecting our commonwealth. To be able to show that is not an easy task and we are so proud of the work these four soldiers have done to earn this recognition.”

The first place finisher was Spc. Brianna Mazza, a multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer with Charlie Company, 628th Aviation Support Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. Her winning photo depicted a fellow soldier sitting on the back ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter while in flight. Mazza is a student at Kutztown University and a student worker in their office of veterans services. She said she joined the PNG because she wanted to serve the state that she loves, learn new skills and gain experiences.

The second place finisher was Warrant Officer William Fletcher, a UH-72 Lakota helicopter pilot with Bravo Company, 1-224th Aviation Regiment, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. His photo depicted an AH-64 Apache helicopter taking off from a snow-dusted airfield. Fletcher spent 12 years as an enlisted helicopter mechanic for AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. On the civilian side he runs So Fletch Photography, a photography business.

The third place finisher was Pfc. Isaiah Tharp, a cavalry scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. His photo depicted a fellow soldier standing ready with a Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile. Tharp joined the PNG to serve his country and to better his future. He plans to spend 20 years in the military and become a game warden in the future.

The fourth place finisher was Spc. Dianna Ramos, a human resources specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-112th Infantry Battalion, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Her photo depicted a fire team on patrol during a training event. On the civilian side, Ramos works for a municipal police department running the evidence room and training for forensics but will become a full-time soldier in the near future in the Active Guard Reserve program. She joined the PNG to learn more about herself, to progress in the civilian world and take advantage of the college benefits.

Also on hand to congratulate these soldiers were senior leaders from the PNG, including Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Worley, the senior enlisted leader, and Brig. Gen. Laura McHugh, Deputy Adjutant General-Army.

73 photos were submitted for the contest from soldiers and airmen from across the PNG. Photos from 26 participants were selected to compete. They were then voted on by the PNG’s audience on Facebook and Instagram in a head-to-head, tournament-style contest. Competing photos were released on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, giving the photos a wider potential audience and saving them in the National Archives.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2022
• Date Posted: 10.26.2022 16:55
• Story ID: 432068
• Location: FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, US