Sgt. Raymond Rivera and Sgt. 1st Class Mark Bennett clear downed trees in Brooklyn's Prospect Park
New York Recruiters Awarded Humanitarian Service Medals
By Tina M. Beller, USAREC, New York Battalion
Oct. 2, 2014
Almost 170 New York City Battalion recruiters were recently awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for supporting relief and recovery efforts in New York City and surrounding areas following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“As the commander of the recruiting battalion at the time, it was clearly evident that our assistance was required in the communities that we lived in and served,” said former Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Richard S. Davis. “As Army ambassadors in these communities, I felt compelled to provide assistance in the clean-up efforts immediately following the storm in the towns that suffered the catastrophic damage.”
Because of Sandy’s tremendous size, the hurricane drove a catastrophic storm surge into the New Jersey and New York coastlines, according to a National Hurricane Center Report.
Powerful, damaging waves, recorded as high as six feet in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and nine feet in Staten Island and Manhattan, demolished or carved craters into seaside homes and businesses.
Davis said significant efforts were undertaken in several parks in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx to remove downed trees and debris that posed safety hazards, and threatened the cancellation of the 2012 New York City Marathon.
Award recipient Sgt. 1st Class Mark Bennett, who’s a Brooklyn native, was passionate about helping his hometown.
“For me to be able to come back to Prospect Park, particularly to Drummer’s Cove where I used to visit and watch the drummers play on Sundays as a little kid … well … it was kind of a spiritual moment," said Bennett. Volunteering within our communities where we live and work was a good thing for me, for the community and for the Army.”
While some citizens were grateful when the Army showed up to assist with the recovery efforts, they were also a little confused, according to Queens Recruiting Company 1st Sgt. Gregory B. Ellis.
“People were surprised to see us,” said Ellis. “Local residents and even out-of-town marathon runners who came here for the New York City Marathon thought we were the Army New York National Guard. When we told them we were active duty Army recruiters and that this area was part of our home too, they looked at us confused. They thanked us and welcomed us to join up with their group of neighbors and marathon runners and take part in the clean-up efforts.”
For Ellis and Bennett, receiving the award was as shocking as the hurricane.
“A lot of us were just looking forward to helping out families in need, so I feel honored to receive this award and help out,” said Bennett.
“I felt humbled,” Ellis said. “It was earned for doing a good deed for the community.”
Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest, most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Preliminary damage estimates were near $50 billion, making Sandy the second-costliest cyclone to hit the U.S. since 1900, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The HSM is awarded to service members who’ve, distinguished themselves by meritorious direct participation in an approved significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature.
By Tina M. Beller, USAREC, New York Battalion
Oct. 2, 2014
Almost 170 New York City Battalion recruiters were recently awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for supporting relief and recovery efforts in New York City and surrounding areas following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“As the commander of the recruiting battalion at the time, it was clearly evident that our assistance was required in the communities that we lived in and served,” said former Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Richard S. Davis. “As Army ambassadors in these communities, I felt compelled to provide assistance in the clean-up efforts immediately following the storm in the towns that suffered the catastrophic damage.”
Because of Sandy’s tremendous size, the hurricane drove a catastrophic storm surge into the New Jersey and New York coastlines, according to a National Hurricane Center Report.
Powerful, damaging waves, recorded as high as six feet in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and nine feet in Staten Island and Manhattan, demolished or carved craters into seaside homes and businesses.
Davis said significant efforts were undertaken in several parks in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx to remove downed trees and debris that posed safety hazards, and threatened the cancellation of the 2012 New York City Marathon.
Award recipient Sgt. 1st Class Mark Bennett, who’s a Brooklyn native, was passionate about helping his hometown.
“For me to be able to come back to Prospect Park, particularly to Drummer’s Cove where I used to visit and watch the drummers play on Sundays as a little kid … well … it was kind of a spiritual moment," said Bennett. Volunteering within our communities where we live and work was a good thing for me, for the community and for the Army.”
While some citizens were grateful when the Army showed up to assist with the recovery efforts, they were also a little confused, according to Queens Recruiting Company 1st Sgt. Gregory B. Ellis.
“People were surprised to see us,” said Ellis. “Local residents and even out-of-town marathon runners who came here for the New York City Marathon thought we were the Army New York National Guard. When we told them we were active duty Army recruiters and that this area was part of our home too, they looked at us confused. They thanked us and welcomed us to join up with their group of neighbors and marathon runners and take part in the clean-up efforts.”
For Ellis and Bennett, receiving the award was as shocking as the hurricane.
“A lot of us were just looking forward to helping out families in need, so I feel honored to receive this award and help out,” said Bennett.
“I felt humbled,” Ellis said. “It was earned for doing a good deed for the community.”
Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest, most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Preliminary damage estimates were near $50 billion, making Sandy the second-costliest cyclone to hit the U.S. since 1900, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The HSM is awarded to service members who’ve, distinguished themselves by meritorious direct participation in an approved significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature.