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                         October 4, 2002

Selfless service: Eight Guard soldiers sign up

Story and photos by Spc. Eric S. Bartelt
Leisure Editor

As soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment make way for the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery in the security of West Point, eight soldiers from the 1-69th have decided to make a full-time commitment to the military.

Sgt. Allen Young, Cpl. David Lluvera, Spc. Juan Lopez, Spc. Luke Monck, Spc. Allen Alexander, Spc. Kern Browne, Spc. Michael Hospedales and Spc. Carlos Leon have set their sights to further helping the war on terrorism by joining the active duty ranks.

These eight soldiers and their National Guard unit, which is located in the heart of Manhattan, have been activated since Sept. 12, 2001 working as security at Ground Zero and the United States Military Academy.

Their journey to West Point started with duty at Ground Zero. They spent a better part of three weeks working security in the area and helping out emergency workers.

"When we got mobilized Sept. 12, we packed our rucksacks, equipment and went by buses to the area," said Leon, an infantryman with 1st bn., 69th Inf. Regt. "We camped out at Battery Park for a week as we worked different check point areas. Then, we moved to Governor’s Island and that’s when we did two weeks at Ground Zero."

A first-hand view of the horrific scene at Ground Zero gave the unit lasting memories that no human should endure.

"It was an atrocity, it was so horrible just to see and experience it," said Leon. "It shocked me the way the whole area looked, it was like a big sand storm of white dust and papers scattered all over the place. What shocked me most was looking for body parts. I went with a group of guys from the NYPD and went from building to building to the roofs. I really didn’t want to find anything, but that wasn’t being realistic. Instead, I found an ear here and a piece of skull there – it just made me sad to see all this, there’s no words to describe it all and you have to experience it to really know how bad it was down there."

The wide-range of emotions of being at Ground Zero helped spur a feeling of duty among the soldiers of the unit to continue in the military as an active duty soldiers.

"I chose to go active duty for a little payback," said Lluvera, an infantryman with 1st bn., 69th Inf. Regt. "It’s more personal for me, going back into the active Army because maybe I’ll do some good. Hopefully, we’ll go in and take care of the problem or maybe we won’t, but I want to be on the front lines when it happens."

Leon and Lluvera, both, have served previously on active duty, but being activated gave them both a new sense of purpose this time around.

"For me, it all came back to sense of duty," said Lluvera. "I would say that’s one of the big factors in my decision. Being in an active environment, it brought back an old set of morals, duty and honor I once felt. I feel I’m tactically and professionally proficient, so I shouldn’t have a problem getting back into the swing of things with a line unit."

Lluvera added, "Having spent almost a month at Ground Zero, that made me angry and I felt a personal responsibility to do something to help the effort. When your surrounded by the smell of burning flesh and buildings, asphalt and debris it drives you to go – look at what they just did, what am I going to do about it, what are we going to do about it and let’s go stomp a mud hole in somebody’s butt."

The 1-69th came to West Point Nov. 14 of last year and has been manning the post up until this past weekend. They got prepared for their duty at the academy by taking a two-week security-training course at Fort Dix, N.J.

"We were trained in anti-terrorism and in different ways to react to situations, how to search vehicles, how to give signals to other soldiers in case you find a gun, bomb or any suspicious items in a vehicle," said Leon. "We did a 20-hour stand-off in a restricted area with people playing agitators and trying to get into the camp -- it was to see how we would react when people approach us in a negative way."

They performed many duties during their time here from working at the installation gates and football games to training as the Quick Reaction Force in case a situation did happen. They also worked at the Mission Essential Vulnerable Areas such as the cadet barracks, central post area and Trophy Point. The whole time the soldiers kept performing their regular platoon training as well.

Leon, who was born in Peru but has lived in New York most of his life, gave up a good job as a security officer to do what he terms as something he has to do.

"Being in uniform, carrying a weapon and being an enforcer in a military way, with what happened Sept. 11 -- it made me very strong and I believe my country needs me and I want to give my best," said Leon.

"I told my wife this is what I want to do (go active duty), this is where I want to be right now. I want to accomplish in the military now what I didn’t do when I was younger. To me, if I ever go down (get killed), I want to go down as a soldier."