Gessel, with Day (center) and county Veterans Service Agency Director Jerry Donnellan
NEW CITY – A New City woman, who served in the US Army from 1997 until 2004, was presented with the Rockland County Freedom Award on Friday. This is the fourth year the honor has been given.
Elisabeth Gessel served in a number of posts throughout the United States before being activated in January 2003 for a mission to Iraq. She was deployed to Kuwait from Fort Dix, New Jersey in April 2003. Her unit arrived in Iraq two months later.
While in Iraq, Gessel was assigned to a “Crimes Against Iraqi” prison in Ad Diwaniyah where her duties included training Iraqi civilians to become correction officers. She was also involved in the processing of prisoners, including their feeding and health care.
While working in Ad Diwaniyah, she requested to take part in a private security detail, which allowed her the experience of functioning as a decoy.
She later attended leadership training in Germany and returned to Iraq for a second tour, where she served as a corrections officer at a “Crimes Against Coalition” prison overseeing more than 500 prisoners.
During her military tenure, Gessel received several medals and commissions for exemplary service, including the War on Terrorism medal and the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom campaign medal.
“The courage and sacrifice Sergeant Gessel displayed while serving our nation has contributed to the freedoms and opportunities we benefit from every day in America,” said County Executive Edwin Day. “She didn’t sign up to shatter glass ceilings; she came to serve with distinction.”
The Rockland award “serves as a testament of thanks from all of our residents,” said Day.
