CONTACT: Eric Durr 518-786-4581 or 518-429-5186 (cell)

FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008

LATHAM, NY -- Three members of the New York Army National Guard were killed in action outside Kandahar, Afghanistan on June 21. Killed are Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks, of South Ozone Park, Queens; SPC. Anthony Mangano, of Greenlawn, Suffolk County; and Sgt. Nelson Rodriguez-Ramirez, Revere, Mass. All three Soldiers were assigned to A Troop, Second Squadron 101st Cavalry, based in Geneva, Ontario County. The three Soldiers were part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, a multi-national force of more than 8,000 U.S. and NATO service personnel training the Afghan National Army and Police. Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix is currently being led by the New York Army National Guard's 27th Brigade Combat Team, commanded by Col Brian Balf. The Soldiers and another member of the task force-Lt. Col James Walton of the 1st Infantry Division-- were killed in an ambush en route to a training location when their vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General and commander of the New York Army National Guard, said Guard members across the state will mourn the loss of the Soldiers. "We in the military understand that we may be called upon to pay the ultimate sacrifice," Major General Taluto said. "But we are always saddened when comrades in arms make those sacrifices." "These three members of the Army National Guard died carrying out an important mission; training the Afghan forces to stand against elements that would return their country to the dark ages. We are proud of them and we will never forget them," Major General Taluto said. Sgt. Seabrooks, joined the New York Army National Guard in March of 1994 and was assigned to the Company G of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion in Jamaica, Queens, prior to being assigned to the 101st Cavalry for this deployment in 2007. Sgt. Seabrooks was born on Jan. 6, 1972. He is survived by a wife and two children, who are living in Newport News, Va. and an adult son who resides in Jamaica, Queens. Sgt. Rodriguez-Ramirez joined the New York Army National Guard in September 2003. Prior to this deployment he was a member of Company B Second Battalion 108th Infantry and C Troop Second Squadron 101st Cavalry, both based in Buffalo. Sgt. Roriguez-Ramierz is survived by a daughter who resides with his ex-wife in Niagara Falls, NY and by his father and mother who live in Chelsea, Mass., and Revere, Mass., respectively. He was born on Aug. 13, 1985. He was promoted posthumously to Sergeant and was a Specialist when the incident occurred Specialist Mangano joined the New York Army in August 1991 and served as a drilling member until April 1994. He reenlisted in the New York Army National Guard's C Company 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, based in Leeds, Green County, in February 2007. He was transferred to the 101st Cavalry for the Afghanistan deployment. Specialist Mangano is survived by a wife, who resides in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and his mother, who lives in Greenlawn, Suffolk County . He was born on April, 12, 1972. All three Soldiers have been awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, which recognizes honorable wartime service, by Gov. David A. Paterson More than 6,500 members of the New York Army National Guard have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001. Twenty-three members of the New York Army National Guard have been killed in action since then, all in Iraq until now. Currently 1,700 members of the New York Army National Guard are serving in Afghanistan and about 150 are serving in Iraq. Another 300 Soldiers will deploy to Iraq later this year. About 300 members of the New York Air National Guard's 174 Fighter Wing are currently deployed in Iraq and about 200 other Air Guard members are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.