Long Island National Guard Soldiers Deploying to Kuwait Recognized at Ceremony Saturday at St. John's College

Soldiers assigned to the New York Army National Guard's 642nd Aviation Support Battalion slated to deploy to Kuwait later this year will be honored during a ceremony at St. John's College in Patchoque on Saturday, Sept. 7.

WHO: 175 Soldiers assigned to Company B and Company C of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, their family members, and New York Army National Guard leaders.

WHAT: A ceremony to mark the Soldiers mobilization and movement out of New York, first to Fort Hood Texas for post-mobilization training and then to Kuwait where they will provide Army aviation support to American forces stationed in that country.

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7.

WHERE: Saint Joseph College, 155 West Roe Boulevard, Patchogue, NY 11772

Contact 1st Sgt. James Holloman (631) 664-5115 for more information and access to this secure military facility.

COVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES:

Members of the press will have an opportunity to interview Soldiers and their families, as well as the leaders of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion. Still and video imagery opportunities include the ceremony, troops in formation, and families with their Soldiers.

BACKGROUND:

The 642nd Aviation Support Battalion provides provide aviation maintenance and logistical support to Army helicopter units. Company B is station at the Army National Guard flight facility at Long Island McArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma. Other elements of the battalion are located at the Army National Guard flight facility at Rochester International Airport,as well as at armories in Dunkirk and Olean in western New York.

The battalion is deploying-first to Fort Hood, Texas for additional training-and then to Kuwait as part of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, a part of the 42nd Infantry Division. The brigade will deploy to Kuwait to provide aviation support for troops station in that country. Along with the 642nd General Support Aviation Battalion Company A, 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation, based at Albany International Airport in Latham, will also deploy to Kuwait as part of the brigade.

Elements from other state National Guard's will meet up with the brigade at Fort Hood and train together before deploying.

Formerly known as the 642nd Division Aviation Support Battalion, Soldiers of the 642nd deployed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and served in Iraq as part of the 42nd Infantry Division deployment to that country in 2004/05.

The battalion's Headquarters Company and Headquarters Service Company is scheduled to hold a deployment ceremony for 100 Soldiers at the Army National Guard flight facility in Rochester on Sunday, Sept. 8 as well as a ceremony for 50 Soldiers assigned to Company A 642nd Aviation Support Battalion at the Dunkirk Armory. That event will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.