New York National Guard Master Sgt. Raymond Drumsta, an Albany resident, wins writing award

LATHAM, NY (03/04/2015)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Master Sgt. Raymond Drumsta, a military photojournalist, Iraq

War veteran, and Albany resident, has received a first place award for news writing in the Army National Guard journalism competition held in February.

His prize-winning story "Guard Soldier Receives Valor Medal for Saving Fellow Soldier" will be forwarded for consideration in the Army-wide Keith L. Ware competition judging to be held later this year.

Drumsta's prize-winning article tells the story of New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Presley who received the New York State Medal of Valor of his efforts to save Capt. Tim Neild, a Duanesburg resident, from a fiery car crash on Dec. 9, 2013.

The article appeared in Guard Times, the New York National Guard's quarterly magazine. At the time Drumsta was assigned to the New York National Guard's Public Affairs Office.

Drumsta served with the 42nd Infantry Division in Tikrit Iraq in 2005 and deployed to Kuwait with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2012. He joined the Army National Guard as a infantry scout in 1982. He became a public affairs Soldier in 1993. He has been a newspaper reporter in civilian life, most recently for the Ithaca Journal.

He currently serves in the information operations section of the 42nd Infantry Division and is working full-time with the National Guard team presenting Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's Citizen Preparedness Training program at locations around New York.