National Guard to tell troops' stories

Within the memories of the hundreds of area National Guard troops who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan reside tales of triumph and setback, determination and despair.

Now, New York Army National Guard officials want those soldiers to contribute their oral histories, personal writings and photographs to a digital archive of the Guard's battlefield service.

The archive will span the period since New York troops were first sent to the Persian Gulf region in 2003.

"Soldiers have their own memories, their own photos, some of them have diaries and blogs," said Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, a Guard media specialist who is helping to organize the project. "This is an obvious step to acknowledge that their service was important and often came at great cost, and that it will not be forgotten."

The Guard will send e-mails to current and former Guard soldiers, urging them to submit photos and personal stories online at rmsrollcall.org.

The Guard will also be accepting in-person submissions at an armory on Long Island sometime in March, Fanning said.

While all deployed units will be included, the project is being built around specific units, including the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry's "Fighting 69th," which has armories in Bay Shore, Freeport and Huntington, and the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, based at MacArthur Airport.

The material will be released on commemorative CDs, which will be distributed during ceremonies at armories in May.