Bronze Star winner from Ballston Spa

By TERRY BROWN, Staff writer
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First published: Saturday, March 15, 2008

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jocelyn J.M. Roy of Ballston Spa received a Bronze Star for meritorious performance while on duty in the Iraq War.

Roy served as a distribution platoon sergeant with the 725th Brigade Support Battalion, a subordinate unit of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division out of Fort Richardson in Anchorage.

He also received a Combat Action Badge during his performance while under enemy fire.

His wife, Jodi, is the daughter of Kurt and Jane Luther of Ballston Spa. He received an associate degree in 1985 from Clinton Community College, Plattsburgh. He has served in the Army for 20 years.

New Army ranger

State Army National Guard Spc. Reginald Best of Colonie graduated from Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

For successfully completing the 61-day course, Best may wear a distinctive Ranger Tab on a shoulder of his uniforms.

He met standards on military and combat skills, physical and mental endurance, stamina and confidence tests in field training for possible combat missions.

Best is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry at Bay Shore, Suffolk County.

The Colonie Central High School graduate has eight years of military service. He is the son of Doris Best of Colonie.

On duty at Iraq base

Air Force Master Sgt. John Lawlor of Colonie deployed to Sather Air Base, Iraq, as a member of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group.

Sather is one of several U.S. and Iraqi bases linked to form the Victory Base Complex surrounding the Baghdad International Airport. Victory Base is a melting pot of more than 50,000 soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors.

The joint service troops perform security shifts and work in the aerial terminal, moving cargo and passengers.

The 447th AE Group is responsible for supporting U.S. and coalition forces with airlift, supplies and delivery of forces and materiel the region. Sather Air Base is the largest and busiest aerial port terminal in Iraq, moving between 3,000 and 10,000 passengers per week.

Lawlor, a first sergeant with 16 years of military service, is regularly assigned to the 109th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron of the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia.

He is the son of Charles and Linda Lawlor of Colonie. His wife, Heather, is the daughter of David Lang of Clifton Park. He is a 1991 graduate of Colonie Central High School.

Preparing for Iraq

Army Reserve Pfc. Steven Nelson of Clifton Park was mobilized for deployment to an undisclosed overseas location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Nelson, a military policeman, is assigned to the 812th Military Police Company, Orangeburg, Rockland County.

He is the son of James and Karen Nelson of Clifton Park. The private is a 2003 graduate of Shenendehowa High School.

Advances in ranks

The state Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia announced the following promotions:

Senior master sergeant: Joseph Pilinko, Terry Potter and Orlando Rodriguez

Master sergeant: Matthew Ausfeld, Eleanor Barcomb, Kimberry Bowman, Vicki Connors, Joseph Deamer, Karolyn Devito, Donald Dorn, Edward Holub, Graig Jung, Steven King, John Lawlor, Norman Martin, Anthony Morabito, Suzanne Rogers, James Welch and Paul Zimolka.

Technical sergeant: Veronica Blais, Karl Bockenek, Lynnette Bucci, Jethro Bryon, Eric Carlo, Jason Cooper, Jeffrey Dorman, Edidiong Ekong, Mark Friss, Joshua Fuson, Stephen Hallenbeck, Matthew Karns, Michael Kindlon, Joshua Muscato, Darci Novak, Kyle Parlow, Raymond Rudat, Terry Sommers, Shane Warner and Scott Zapisek.

Staff sergeant: Jason Belknap, Patrick Bornt, Drew Brewer, Michael Edwards, Coey Gray, Joshua Green, Dylan Hassis, Nicole Roberson, David Rodriguez, Robert Russell, Luke Ryder, Mark Schiesser, Amanda Stark, Miquel Torres, Thomas Tuthill, Gregory Urstadt and Jay Wilson.

Senior airman: Clayton Allen, Matthew Clancy, Danielle Coorandt, Joseph Corra, Scott Coyle, Lynsey Cross, Joseph Dugan, Michael Lee, Brittany Nations, Andrew Nowacki, Jennifer Reckner, Christopher Smith, Matthew Smith, and Christopher Wilson.

Airman first class: Jshua Eldridge, Eric Fay, Erin McDonough, Sterling Mosher, Nicole Pease, Dustin Place, Linda Smith, Bradley Sommers and Nicole Wasileski.

Blue Star Mothers

The Capital Region # 2 Chapter of Blue Star Mothers meet at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Zaloga American Legion Post 1520 at 4 Everett Road Ext. in Colonie. For information, call Kay Moody, chapter president, 439-5784 or check http://www.capitalregion2bsm.org or email capitalregion2bsm@gmail.com. Members, who are mothers of children on active duty or who have been honorably discharged from the military, provide emotional support and participate in projects that benefit both military personnel and veterans.

News of your soldiers and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or by e-mail at brownt@timesunion.com

Ellie