KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - Two New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix (CJTF-Phoenix) received Bronze Star Medals with Valor during a Veterans Day ceremony here at Camp Phoenix in Kabul on Nov. 11.
Capt. Joseph Merrill, commander of the Ithaca, N.Y.- based Company D, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, and 1st Sgt. James Meltz, also assigned to Company D, were honored for combat actions on May 25-26. The unit was providing security for a long-range convoy from Kabul to Kandahar when it was ambushed.
Both leaders were credited for "direct actions that lead to the repulsion of enemy forces without the injury or death to U.S. forces."
"Veterans are people who know the true meaning of courage and what it really takes to keep a nation free and strong," said Col. Brian K. Balfe, commander of CJTF-Phoenix VII and New York's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. "And yet compassion is also a part of their legacy."
Both Merrill and Meltz previously served in Iraq with other New York units. In Afghanistan, they often provided security and support for humanitarian outreach efforts and civil medical assistance operations.
"This is an honor," said Merrill, who was surprised to receive the award. "That first night was a three-hour fight. The enemy showed up and stuck around. They wanted to play."
"As a company, we will complete over 1,100 missions before we finish," said Merrill. "We figured that after those incidents the enemy took note and for the most part then left us alone."
Merrill said the enemy deliberately avoided engaging up-armored Humvees from his unit that carried the "phoenix" logo.
CJTF-Phoenix is part of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan with the mission to mentor and train the Afghan National Army and police, and provide assistance to the government of Afghanistan and its people.
The task force is comprised of nearly 8,700 service men and women from all U.S. branches, coalition partners and civilian professionals distributed at almost 260 Forward Operating Bases and Combat Outposts throughout Afghanistan.
Nearly 1,700 members of the 27th IBCT are mobilized for the mission.