STEWART AIRPORT – Six New York Air National Guard airmen assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Airport were honored Saturday for their bravery and teamwork during the August 2021 evacuation of Americans and Afghans from Kabul.
Capt. Matthew McChesney from Liverpool, NY, the aircrew commander, was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor.
Lt. Col. Andrew Gray Townsend of Goshen, C-17 pilot, was honored with the Air Medal (4th Award) with Valor.
Capt. Jonathan Guagenti of Bloomingburg, C-17 pilot, was honored with the Air Medal with Valor.
Tech. Sgt. Joseph Caponi of Staten Island, instructor loadmaster, was honored with the Air Medal with Valor.
Staff Sgt Evan Imbriglio of Poughkeepsie, loadmaster, was honored with the Air Medal with Valor.
Staff Sgt. Corey Berke of Carmel, loadmaster, was honored with the Air Medal with Valor.
A seven member of the 105th Airlift Wing, Tech. Sgt. Bryan Catu of Monroe, was also on board the aircraft as a flying mechanic. He was recognized previously with the Meritorious Service Medal.
The aircrew of C-17 Reach 824 were recognized for delivering a special operations MH-47 Chinook helicopter and crew to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on August 16, 2021, at night, into potential enemy fire, with inadequate ground control, and into a section of the airport under Taliban control.
The specially modified helicopter was the key to the evacuation missions that followed.
“We could not be more proud of our airmen. They executed their missions with the highest degree of professionalism and compassion upholding our Air Force and American values,” said Col. Gary Charlton, II, commander of the 105th Airlift Wing. “When faced with unprecedented or unforeseeable challenges, their training, leadership, and perseverance enabled them to successfully complete their mission. They are great American airmen.”
Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus and Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney participated in the presentation of the awards.
