CONTACT: 1st Lt. Jason Uhlig, jason.uhlig@us.army.mil, 315-263-6918

FOR RELEASE: Friday, Jan 06, 2012

PEEKSKILL, NY (01/05/2012)-- Two New York Army National Guard Soldiers will receive the Army’s Bronze Star Medal for their combat service in Iraq in 2004. WHAT: Presentation of the Army’s Bronze Star Medal for service in Iraq. WHO: Sgt. Maj. Arnold Stone, Jr. and Capt. Shawn Tabankin. Both Soldiers served with the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment in Iraq in 2004. Congresswoman Nan Hayworth will present the medals along with Col. Geoffrey Slack, commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Lt. Col. Joseph Biehler, the 2-108th battalion commander. WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, Building 500 Lecture Hall, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. WHEN: Friday, January 6, 2012, Noon. Background Military awards are frequently denied, downgraded to a lesser award or misplaced during unit transitions and redeployment from overseas. Award recommendations submitted to a higher headquarters already rotating out of Iraq can be caught in limbo when the approving commander is no longer in theater. Soldiers have the right to appeal or reapply for award consideration after redeployment. Capt. Tabankin, from Bedford Hills, N.Y., and Sgt. Maj. Stone, from Saranac, N.Y., both served in 1st Platoon, Company B of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry in Iraq as platoon leader and platoon sergeant, respectively. The award recommendations for both Capt. Tabankin and Sgt. Maj. Stone were never processed before the two Soldiers returned home and demobilized, triggering a long administrative process to see their awards approved. Following their return from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Capt. Tabankin and Sgt. Maj. Stone received the support of Congresswoman Hayworth in their appeal process. The award recommendations required four resubmissions due to administrative issues. The Army Human Resources Command recently issued the awards, which will be presented Jan. 6. Both Soldiers are preparing to deploy again with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team later this winter. For news media access to the Camp Smith military installation, contact 1st Lt. Jason Uhlig, jason.uhlig@us.army.mil, 315-263-6918. Posted Thursday January 05, 2012 at 12:37 pm by New York State Division