Awarding Saint Barbara’s Medal to Soldier’s Family

NEW YORK - New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Michael Hoblin, left, commander of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery in Jamaica, presents the Saint Barbara Order of the Field Artillery to Marisol DeJesus, mother of Sgt. Dayana Portela here Dec. 11.

Portela posthumously received the Saint Barbara award after passing away suddenly from a rare form of cancer at the age of 27 on Oct. 26, 2010.

Portela distinguished herself as a Supply Clerk and Armorer assigned to Company G, 427th Forward Support Battalion in support of the field artillery battalion. She demonstrated exemplary performance of her duties by recently completing over 15 lateral transfers, moving over 1 million dollars worth of equipment, relaying and recording all logistical operations that was vital to the success of the unit.

Portela was also a serving Soldier with Joint Task Force Empire Shield, the New York National Guard’s standing security task force in New York City. Portela served in a key position as a Force Protection Specialist to support the unit mission to detect, deter, and prevent potential terrorist operations.

The 258th Field Artillery family assistance center in the unit armory was also dedicated in Portela’s honor during the award presentation. Photo by 1st Lt. Mark Getman, 1-258th Field Artillery.