Army Vice Chief visits, page 6
Cash for recruitment, page 10
Volume 15, Number 1
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit #3071 Syracuse, NY
January-February 2006
Hovered for re-up Wounded Soldier reenlists aboard Army National Guard helicopter By Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo Guard Times Staff LATHAM — When Staff Sgt. Troy Mechanick, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry flew out of Iraq in April 2004 after being wounded by an insurgent’s rocket propelled grenade near Samarra, it was unknown what the future would hold. Almost two years later his future is brighter. His broken arm and the multiple shrapnel wounds to his legs, back and arms have healed. He’s made a decision to stay in the New York Army National Guard (NYARNG) to carry on his service to state and nation and is ready to continue to move forward, which means leaving the past behind. “The thing is to me is that I am proud to wear the uniform,” Mechanick said. “I want to be part of the team again.” In doing so, Mechanick requested to reenlist in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The same type aircraft used to move him out of combat to receive medical treatment for his wounds. “I just wanted my next experience in a helicopter to be a favorable one,” Mechanick said. So on Feb. 23, Mechanick climbed aboard a training flight in Latham and Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, Adjutant General, administered the oath of reenlistment while
Staff Sgt. Troy Mechanick reenlists into the New York Army National Guard, with The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, on a UH-60 Black Hawk over the State Capitol. Photo by Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo.
flying over the Capitol buildings in Albany. Taluto is also a recently returned veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he commanded the headquarters 42nd Infantry Division and Task Force Liberty. “I’m honored to administer the oath and be a part of this experience for sergeant Mechanick, Taluto said. “There’s a tremendous satisfaction seeing him come back and join the team.”
Mechanick, from Hudson Falls, returns to his duties in the NYARNG without any physical restrictions as a result of his combat injuries. “My limitations are only what I put on myself,” Mechanick said. Mechanick isn’t the only Soldier to make the commitment to continue serving after combat duty. Since 2003, many NYARNG Soldiers that served in Iraq have reenlisted;
however, few have had the opportunity to retake their oath in a helicopter 500 feet in the air. “We wish we could do this for everyone. Under the circumstances, it was just the right thing to do and we were fortunate to have a training flight scheduled,” said State Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt. “All the pieces fell into place for Staff Sgt. Mechanick and we are proud to keep him on board.” !