Volume 12 Number 2 www.dmna.ny.gov Serving the New York Army and Air National Guard, Naval Militia, New York Guard and Families FROM THE LEADERSHIP Your Service Matters and Readiness is our Job t's an honor and a privilege to command warfighting headquarters, divisions must be com- Ithe 42nd Infantry Division during this manding multiple brigades in a full spectrum, challenging and historic time as the division decisive action environment. celebrated its rich and decorated history For domestic operations the division must serving our New York Army National Guard provide both a dual status command and staff and the United States Army for over 100 structure and serve as the headquarters for years. the Homeland Response Force in response to In August 1917 the 42nd Division was formed a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear in Garden City, Long Island with National Guard related emergency. units from 26 different states. This inspired In the winter of 2020 the 42nd is scheduled Douglas MacArthur, then the Division Chief to again mobilize as a complete headquarters. of Staff to remark, “The division stretches like a Selected to command U.S. Army forces across the rainbow from one end of America to the other.” Middle East, the division will be the senior ele- The Rainbow Division was born. ment in support of Operation Spartan Shield. By the end of World War I, after fighting in the This is a strategically important, complex mis- Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest battle in sion commanding Active Army, Army National the history of the U.S. Army, the 42nd Division Guard and Army Reserve brigades operating had more days in combat than any other Ameri- across the Middle East. This deployment is a great can division. opportunity for Soldiers and officers to be part The 42nd was reactivated again in World War Maj. Gen. Steven Ferrari of a joint, multinational mission. The division is II. By 1945, the 42nd had captured over 130,000 actively seeking volunteers in multiple MOSs to and expect leaders of character, competence and German prisoners while fighting in three major join the Rainbow Division team. commitment. campaigns and culminated by liberating the infa- All of this is not possible without our Soldiers Being good stewards of the Army profession is mous Dachau concentration camp, freeing over and their families. our duty. Our center of gravity is an environment 30,000 victims of the Nazi Holocaust. I want to thank you personally for serving your of absolute trust and confidence, maintained by In 2004, the 42nd became the first National state and nation, and being part of the stron- upholding the Army ethic and having the cour- Guard Division to command and control Army gest military in the world. We all have different age to act accordingly to prevent misconduct and forces in combat since the Korean War. Task reasons why we joined the military, but the fact stop unethical behavior. Force Liberty commanded four combat elements; is you are part of less than one percent of the U.S. Always remember, what you say and how you two active and two Army National Guard bri- population that serves in the military and that act, both on and off duty, will influence your fel- gades in North Central Iraq. makes you a unique American. low Soldiers and the American people. So ensure At home, Soldiers of the 42nd Division You are part of an Army National Guard force you always make a positive impact! responded to the 9/11 attacks in New York City. that has been on the job since 1636. Finally, a closing thought on Readiness, which Rainbow Soldiers provided security at the World Never forget we work for the American people is our number one priority in the New York Trade Center, New York City bridges and tunnels, and must have their trust and confidence in order Army National Guard. and the U.S. Military Academy. to be successful. Never forget that Soldiers are the We must embrace a culture of readiness across The division and its subordinate brigades in Army’s most valuable resource and they deserve the force. Leaders at all levels must continuously New York would go on to also respond to Hurri- manage their personnel, equipment and training cane Katrina, Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy to ensure units meet readiness objectives. and Hurricane Maria. Your readiness will directly translate to mis- Today, the 42nd is one of 18 division head- sion success or failure, and failing is not an option quarters with combat brigades in New York, New for us. Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachu- We must continue to build and maintain a setts. resilient force, ensuring Soldiers and families Our mission is to man, equip and train to are cared for and supported. We must create an provide mission command for unified land environment free from suicide, harassment of any operations type, sexual assault, and one in which every indi- in support of vidual is valued and respected. We must be com- federal, state mitted to foster and mentor a diverse workforce and home- Maj. Gen. Steven Ferrari, commander of the by valuing everyone's contributions and creating land security 42nd Infantry Division, pins new rank on Staff a climate of trust and confidence. missions. Sgt. Omar Mitchell, assigned to the division I wish you all continued success, and thank As the headquarters and support company, during a promotion ceremony March 23, 2019 at Fort you and your families for serving and being part Army’s pri- Drum, N.Y. Photo by Sgt. Andrew Winchell, of our New York National Guard team. mary tactical 42nd Infantry Division. RAINBOW! NEVER FORGET! Volume 12, Number 2 This Issue’s Highlights: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Commander in Chief Faces of the Force Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, The Adjutant General Eric Durr, Director of Public Affairs 4 Soldiers become Citizens, Following an Old Tradition Col. Richard Goldenberg, Public Affairs Officer 5 Brazilian-American Soldier Serves State Partnership Capt. Jean Kratzer, Command Information Officer Sgt. Andrew Valenza, Guard Times Photographer 6 Fighting 69th a Family Tradition Sgt. Matthew Gunther, Guard Times Photographer Around the State About Guard Times 8 Historian Recalls Air Guard History in Vietnam War The Guard Times is published quarterly using federal The Joint Force funds authorized under provisions of AR 360-1 and AFI 35-101 by the New York State Division of Mili- 10 Guard Mobilizes 250 Soldiers and Airmen tary and Naval Affairs and the New York Army and 12 NY, Brazil Formalize NY State Partnership Program Air National Guard Public Affairs Office. 13 Civil Support Teams Hone Skills at College Campus Views which appear in this publication are not neces- Army National Guard sarily those of the Department of Defense, the Army, the Air Force or the National Guard Bureau. 14 Infantry Soldiers Earn Top Honors as Best Warriors 16 Fighting 69th Two Great Legacies' on St. Patrick's Day The Guard Times has a circulation of 17,000 and is 19 Newest Guard Battalion Welcomes Newest NCOs distributed free to members of the New York State Military Forces and employees of the Division of 20 Soldiers, Vets Honor Past Irish Troops Military and Naval Affairs. 21 Digital Liaison Det Welcomes New Commander 23 69th Infantry Heads to Puerto Rico for Training Submissions Air National Guard Articles, photos and letters are welcome. Please pro- vide article submissions via email saved in Microsoft 24 109th Airlift Wing Completes 31st Season in Antarctic Word or rich text format (rtf) along with high resolu- 25 Special Warfare Docs get Hands on Training tion digital (jpg) photos. Submission deadlines are January 15 (winter issue), April 15 (spring issue), July 27 Security Forces Airmen Train in Defensive Tactics 15 (summer issue), and October 15 (fall issue). Send 28 CPR Certified in Newburgh your submissions to: New York Guard Guard Times 30 Guard Marches in St. Patrick's Day Parade DMNA-MNPA 330 Old Niskayuna Road New York Naval Militia Latham, New York 12110-3514 31 New Deputy Commander for Naval Militia OFFICE (518) 786-4581 FAX (518) 786-4649 or [email protected] Complimentary or Back Issues of the Guard Times are available. Contact us at the address above or visit us New York Army National Guard on the web for current news, photos or to download Soldiers assigned to Alpha prior issues at www.dmna.ny.gov Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment prepare to conduct marksmanship training at Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico April 12. While in Puerto Rico the Soldiers practiced short-range marksmanship techniques. Photo by Sgt. Alexander Rector, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. FRONT COVER: Spc. Erick Barksdale, a military policeman assigned to the 107th Military Police Company, 104th Military Police Battalion, 369th Sustainment Brigade, New York Army National Guard (NYARNG), moves under direct dire during a simulated event of the NYARNG Best Warrior Competition at Camp Smith Training Site, N.Y., March 28, 2019. Photo by Sgt. Jonathan Pietran- toni, 138th Public Affairs Detachment. BACK COVER: Soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division conducted individual weapon qualification during March's drill on March 22, 2019 at Fort Drum N.Y. The Soldiers conducted weapons training with both the M9 and M4. Photo by Sgt. Andrew Winchell, 42nd Infantry Division. www.dmna.ny.gov FACES of the FORCE Soldiers become Citizens, Following an Old Tradition Story and photos by Capt. Jean Marie Kratzer, Guard Times Staff ALBANY, N.Y. -- When New York National During the ceremony Guard Pfc. Tiffany Joseph, originally from Gre- both Soldiers recited the nada, and Spc.