Army National Guard Spc. Michael Neidhart from Waterville recognized for 2017 hurricane response
Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General of New York, announces the recent award recognitions for members of the New York Army National Guard who participated in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support missions following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017.
Spc. Michael Neidhart from Waterville will receive the Humanitarian Service Award for service in Puerto Rico from Oct. 19 through Nov. 16, 2017. Neidhart serves with the 206th Military Police Company of the New York Army National Guard.
“The support of our New York National Guard in the Caribbean following Hurricanes Irma and Maria was nothing short of exceptional, and our Soldiers are the reason for that success,” German said. “Our Citizen Soldiers are used to responding here at home, so the effort to move troops and equipment to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands presented unique challenges. The presentation of the Humanitarian Service Medal is a great reflection of our Soldiers’ commitment to serve others,” German said.
The National Guard Bureau provided guidance for awarding the Humanitarian Service Medal on March 29, 2018 for Soldiers who provided meritorious participation in operations of a humanitarian nature.
More than 400 Army National Guard Soldiers will be eligible to receive the award. Presentations will be made at the unit level at a future date.
The New York National Guard (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs) is the state’s executive agency responsible to the Governor for managing New York’s Military Forces, which consists of nearly 20,000 members of the New York Army National Guard, the New York Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard.