CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Monday, May 30, 2011

LATHAM, NY (06/02/2011)-- New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Donald Leinfelder, a Wynantskill resident, was one of three New York Army National Guard Soldiers honored by the New York Mets during the team’s home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Memorial Day. The three Soldiers were honored during the Seventh Inning Stretch along with a member of the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy as part of the Mets and USO’s Military Appreciation Day at Citi Field. The five were recognized for their courage and bravery in combat. Leinfelder, a member of Headquarters Company of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Latham, was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he received while fighting with the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry in Baghdad in 2005. Leinfelder, serving as a gunner in a humvee, was knocked to the floor when a rocket propelled grenade hit the hatch of his gunner’s turret. He got back up and re-engaged the enemy. More than 1,400 service members attended the game. The event also featured performances by the USO Liberty Bells and the 35-member United States Marine Corp Band will be playing on Mets Plaza in front of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda to greet fans as they enter the ballpark. A joint enlistment ceremony was also held on the field for 16 new members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, and three families of solders currently serving overseas spoke with their loved ones via satellite on the stadium broadcast system. The event featured a symbolic first pitch thrown out over a satellite TV linkup from Afghanistan by Command Sergeant Major Drew E. Pumarejo of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division to Major General Richard Mills of the Marine Corps in the stadium. The other two National Guard Soldiers recognized were Sergeant Timothy Gould and Specialist Ismail Diaz, both of New York City. Gould was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster because of injuries sustained in combat in Afghanistan. Diaz was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with a V for valor for his actions in leading Afghan National Army troops in a counterattack against attacking forces.

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