CONTACT: LTC Richard Goldenberg (518) 786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Aug 23, 2007

Members of the New York Army National Guard’s 272nd Military Police Brigade Liaison Detachment will return home from their year-long tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom August 22-23. Ten unit members return to their home towns across New York State from their demobilization site tomorrow and Thursday, August 22-23. The 272nd Military Police Brigade Liaison Detachment, a New York Army National Guard unit based in Rochester, spent the past year managing a unique population of people -- those being held as threats to the security and stability of the Iraqi Government and its people. In Baghdad, the 272nd served as part of the 6,000-member 16th Military Police Brigade/Task Force 134 for Detainee Operations. It’s a versatile, flexible unit that exists to augment the operations of a Military Police brigade. The task force expands the planning, coordination, and command and control capabilities of the brigade for the unique role of detainee operations. The commander of the detachment, Lieutenant Colonel James Pabis of Saratoga Springs, led the group throughout the course of the unit’s mobilization, deployment and return home to New York. The detachment came together as a true reflection of New York State. Unit members hail from communities throughout the state, from Long Island to Buffalo and in all the places in-between. “Everyone came together as a team over the last year and got it done,” said Pabis. Preparation for their one-year deployment began almost 15 months ago in June of 2006. The unit spent three months in the summer heat at Fort Bliss, Texas learning the skills and tactics they would need for Iraq. Tracking, managing and releasing the theater detainee population on a daily basis was the detachment’s main focus. The group of National Guardsmen moved detainees for court appearances, medical requirements and other special requirements as needed. The unit also categorized detainees in order to streamline processing them through the system. It worked to release detainees who met the criteria, and facilitated their final releases. The unit also provided subject matter expertise in multiple areas of detainee operations for the rest of the military police brigade. A medical service officer worked with medical units in monitoring all detainee medical issues. An engineer managed all the facilities and their engineering projects for expansions and repairs. A transportation officer facilitated all detainee movements, both ground and air. A legal officer provided important legal support for detainee operations at the facility level. And a logistics officer managed detainee property from entry through exit from the system. Combined, the 272nd Brigade Liaison Detachment ensured that every detainee supported by their effort was treated with dignity and respect and provided the full degree of care, security and legal process on behalf of the Iraqi government and the Coalition. The secret to the unit’s success - constant communication and the coming together to form a cohesive team - isn’t really a secret, described Pabis. They are the foundation of nearly all successful Army National Guard units. “It’s all about vision, mission and setting and managing goals,” Pabis described. The liaison detachment from New York met and exceeded all the required deliverables of the Multinational Forces in Iraq in a complex hostile-fire zone. The unit flawlessly managed an enormous increase in the detainee population during the Coalition’s surge of forces and operations throughout the Iraqi capital, a city of more than six million residents and frequently cited as the strategic key to neutralizing the insurgency and setting the conditions for Iraqi political progress. Nearly all members of the detachment, including Lt. Col. Pabis, qualified for the Combat Action Badge during the unit deployment for incidents of direct combat against insurgent forces. In recognition of the achievements of the liaison detachment, the 16th Military Police Brigade presented wartime decorations to the New York National Guardsmen as a testament to their collective success. These decorations include the Bronze Star for Lt. Col. Pabis, Capt. Richard Lamarre, Capt. Charles Horn, Capt. Sara Mumford, 1st Lt. Morna Davis, 1st Lt. Douglas Lee, Master Sgt. Fred Burke, Sgt. 1st Class Thomas House, and Spc. Timothy Baburchak. Additionally, the Army Commendation Medal was presented to Capt. Jane Altachodavis and the Joint Service Commendation Medals to Sgt. Richard Abramowski and Spc. Etop Ekanem. “It’s easy when you’re blessed with great people,” said Pabis. The detachment commander, Lt. Col. Jim Pabis, returns to Albany International Airport in the Capital Region on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at approx. 5 p.m. on Delta Flight 4095 from Atlanta, Ga. Family members have approved a media presence for Pabis’ return. Contact Mr. Doug Myers, Public Relations Manager at the Albany International Airport, 242-2222 or 2253 for media access at the facility. Five other personnel are expected to return to Syracuse when Maj. Lamarre, Capt. Mumford, Master Sgt. Burke, Sgt. 1st Class House and Spc. Baburchak arrive at about 1:50 p.m. from Dallas, Sgt. Abramowski and Spc. Ekanem arrive in Buffalo at 5 p.m. from Chicago and Capt. Horn and 1st Lt. Lee return home to New York’s LaGuardia Airport at 11:30 p.m. For more information contact the Public Affairs Office at the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs at (518) 786-4581. Visit our web site for current photos and stories of the New York National Guard at http://dmna.ny.gov.