Specialist Ismael Diaz, a Bronx Resident, Honored During Mets Game

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Specialist Ismael Diaz (second from right) was one of five servicemembers honored during the Mets Memorial Day game against Pittsburgh.

LATHAM, NY (06/02/2011)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Specialist Ismael Diaz, a Baily Avenue, Bronx resident, was one of three New York Army National Guard Soldiers honored by the New York Mets during the team's home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Memorial Day.

The three Soldiers were honored during the Seventh Inning Stretch along with a member of the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy as part of the Mets and USO's Military Appreciation Day at Citi Field. The five were recognized for their courage and bravery in combat.

Diaz, a member of Company A, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, which is headquartered at the Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan, received the Army Commendation Medal with V for valor for his actions in leading Afghan National Army troops against an enemy ambush in Iraq in 2008.

More than 1,400 service members attended the game. The event also featured performances by the USO Liberty Bells and the 35-member United States Marine Corp Band will be playing on Mets Plaza in front of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda to greet fans as they enter the ballpark.

A joint enlistment ceremony was also held on the field for 16 new members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, and three families of solders currently serving overseas spoke with their loved ones via satellite on the stadium broadcast system. The event featured a symbolic first pitch thrown out over a satellite TV linkup from Afghanistan by Command Sergeant Major Drew E. Pumarejo of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division to Major General Richard Mills of the Marine Corps in the stadium.

The other two National Guard Soldiers recognized were Sgt Timothy Gould of Brewster, Putnam County, and Staff Sgt. Donald Leinfelder of Wynantskill, Rensselaer County.

Gould, also a member of Company A 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, was awarded the Purple Heart twice due to wounds suffered while in action in Afghanistan. Leinfelder, who belongs to Detachment E 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Regiment, received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered while fighting in Baghdad with the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry in 2005.