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DoD Announces Death of New York Army National Guard Soldier

New York City Soldier Died in Vehicle Rollover Accident

LATHAM, NY (10/06/2008)(readMedia)-- The Department of Defense today announced the death of a New York Army National Guard Soldier serving in Afghanistan.

Specialist Jason von Zerneck died on October 2 in Qara Bagh Karze, Afghanistan when his vehicle rolled over during a logistical convoy. Von Zerneck, who joined the New York Army National Guard in February 2006, was 33 years old.

Von Zerneck was assigned to B Troop, 2^nd Squadron 101^st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition) based in Jamestown, New York. Their unit was assigned to Afghan Regional Security Integration Command- East, (ARSIC-East) which is responsible for training the Afghan National Army in eastern Afghanistan.

ARSIC-East is part of the New York Army National Guard’s 27^th Brigade Combat Team, currently commanding Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, an 8,000 person command comprised of United States and NATO troops training the Afghan National Army and Police. A memorial service for Spec. von Zerneck was held Oct. 2 at Forward Operating Base Lightning, the ARSIC-East facility where he served.

Prior to being assigned to 2^nd Squadron 101^st Cavalry, von Zerneck was a member of Company A, 1^st Battalion 69^th Infantry, headquartered at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City.

He was promoted to specialist posthumously.

A resident of Kew Gardens, Queens, New York City, Spec. von Zerneck is survived by a wife, three children, and his father and mother, both of Manhattan.

Von Zerneck’s spouse requests that members of the media not attend his funeral.

“All members of the New York National Guard will mourn the loss of this Soldier who died defending his country and seeking to help the people of Afghanistan,” said Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General of New York and Commander of the New York National Guard.

“We mourn his loss with his family and we will do everything possible to help them through this tragedy,” Taluto said. "We are united, though, in our admiration for Specialist von Zerneck’s dedication to his mission, to his brothers and sisters in arms, and to the people of New York and the United States of America.”

Von Zerneck’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal (awarded Posthumously) the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge, the New York State Medal for Merit (awarded Posthumously) and the New York State Aid to Civil Authorities Medal.

Von Zerneck is the seventh New York Army National Guard Soldier serving in Afghanistan to die there since the 27^th Brigade Combat Team deployed there in April.

Sergeant First Class Joseph A. McKay and Specialist Mark C. Palmateer were killed on June 26 when their humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device,small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades, while operating near Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar Province in eastern Afghanistan. Both of these Soldiers were also assigned to B Troop 2^nd Squadron 101^st Cavalry.

Three New York Army National Guard members were killed on June 21 when their humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device outside Kandahar. Killed in that incident were Sergeant Andrew Seabrooks, Sergeant Nelson Roderiguez-Rameriz, and Specialist Anthony Mangano. They were assigned to A Troop, 2^nd Squadron 101^st Cavalry.

1^st Lt. Daniel Farkas died at Camp Phoenix, Kabul on July 4 in a non-hostile incident still under investigation. He was assigned to the Headquarters Company, 27^th Brigade Combat Team.

Von Zerneck is the third former member of the 1^st Battalion, 69^th Infantry to die in Afghanistan. Palmateer and Mangano had also been members of the 1^st Battalion 69^th Infantry prior to the Afghanistan mission.

More than 6,800 members of the New York Army National Guard have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001. Thirty members of the New York Army National Guard have been killed in action since then; 23 in Iraq and seven in Afghanistan.

Currently 1,500 members of the New York Army National Guard are serving in Afghanistan and about 500 in Iraq.

Attachments

Specialist Jason Vonzerneck