The Honorary First Defenders is holding their 19th Annual Military Ball on November 2, 2015 at the Rodeway Inn and Conference Center, Allentown, PA.  The Ball commences with cocktails at 5:30 PM followed by a dinner and awards ceremony.  The night concludes with a Military Grand March and dancing.   This event brings all branches of the service together in one gala event.  It is a tribute to our military troops and precludes our annual Veteran’s Day on November 11th.

Each year the Honorary First Defender’s presents the Commander’s Award plaque to one serviceman/woman from each of the local reserve units.  This award is in recognition for outstanding service in their respective Reserve Component.

This year’s recipients are:

SPC Enmanuel D. Baez, PA Army National Guard
SPC Neal G. Navarro, U.S. Army Reserve
Sergeant Julian E. Gomez III, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
HT2 Ryan J.Montalvo, U.S. Navy Reserve
We thank each of these recipients and all servicemen/women for their dedication and sacrifice to ensure our freedom, and the well being of all the people of the United States of America.

The current Commander of the Honorary First Defenders is LTC Donald W. Davis

Bios for each of the awardees:

2015 HFD COMMANDER’S AWARD RECIPIENT
UNITED STATES ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

SPC Enmanuel D. Baez

SPC Enmanuel D. Baez serves as a Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (91B1O) in the HHD 213th RSG. SPC Baez has been in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for seven years. A resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, SPC Baez is currently employed as a Full-time Technician at Field Maintenance Shop #27 in Easton for the past four years. SPC Baez is married and recently became a father. His hobbies include the outdoors and sports. His short term goals include attaining and maintaining a 300 in the APFT and a transition to Active Component Combat Arms. His long term goal is to become a qualified Special Forces Operator.

2015 HFD COMMANDER’S AWARD RECIPIENT
UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE

SPC Neal G. Navarro

SPC Neal G. Navarro was born in June 1977 and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.  He graduated from Kalaheo High School in 1995 and received an Associate’s Degree from Grantham University.  SPC Navarro started his military career in the US Navy and took Navy Basic Training in Great Lakes, IL from Nov 1996 to Jan 1997.  He then took the Navy’s Electrician Mates Course and completed it in September 1997.

He served as an Electrician aboard the USS George Washington until September 1997 and then served as Master at Arms at the Bangor Submarine Base in Kitsap WA from January 2001 to January 2003.  His final tour in the Navy was as Master of Arms aboard the USS Carl Vincent until he was discharged in November 2004.

SPC Navarro then joined the 744th MP BN in February 20ll and took Army Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC.  He served as a Wheeled Vehicle Driver in the 744th MP BN at the SGT Ashly Lynn Moyer U.S.  Army Reserve Center in Easton until 2015, when he was reclassified as a 92G10 Food Serviced Specialist.

2015 HFD COMMANDER’S AWARD RECIPIENT
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Sergeant Julian E. Gomez III

Sergeant Julian Gomez enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 2006.  He graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, from Platoon 2065, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment.  Upon graduation, Sergeant Gomez attended Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, where he was recognized as the Platoon Honor Graduate.  After graduating from the Marine Corps Cannon Crewman Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was again recognized as an Honor Graduate, Sergeant Gomez was assigned to India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, in Reading, Pennsylvania.

In 2011, he was promoted to Corporal and subsequently deployed with India Battery to the Kingdom of Morocco in support of Operation African Lion, participating in the combined arms exercise focused on bilateral training.

In early 2012, Sergeant Gomez assumed the role of Howitzer Section Chief.  In this role, Sergeant Gomez has been responsible for the safe, accurate, and timely firing of hundreds of artillery rounds, participating in various direct and indirect firing exercises at the Battery and Battalion levels.  In the fall of 2012, Sergeant Gomez participated in Operation Rolling Thunder, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a biannual training exercise of both reserve and active duty firing batteries.  In early 2013, he was promoted to his current rank.

Sergeant Gomez participated in Integrated Training Exercise 2014, Twentynine Palms, California, a combined arms training exercise that incorporates infantry maneuver with indirect fire and air assets.  In 2015, he again deployed with India Battery to the Kingdom of Morocco in support of Operation African Lion.  He is well known for his unselfish attitude and for constantly seeking self-improvement, embodying what a non-commissioned officer should be.  For noteworthy and superb performance over the course of his career, he has been recognized by the Battery Commander with a Meritorious Mast and three Certificates of Commendation.

2015 HFD COMMANDER’S AWARD RECIPIENT
UNITED STATES Navy Reserve

HT2 Ryan J.Montalvo

Hull Maintenance Technician Second Class Ryan J Montalvo, was born in Danville Pennsylvania.  He graduated Berwick High School Jun 2008 and went to Luzurne County Community College, Nanticoke, Pa where he is accredited for 1 year towards Associate’s degree in Motorsports Technology.  Montalvo worked a full time factory job and a few part time fast food jobs through high school and college until late May 2009.  He also worked various other small jobs in garages and Numidia drag way on the side.
Montalvo joined the delayed entry program February 2010 and began basic training at Great Lakes shortly afterward September 2010. Entered Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC) A- School. Montalvo graduated as a Distinguished Military student from Hull Maintenance Technician Strand in Great lakes, Illinois March 2011.
Montalvo reported to and was attached to OSU NOSC Avoca, Pa April 2011.  While attached to Avoca, Montalvo assisted with renovations to the NOSC building in 2011.
Montalvo joined Surgemain Lehigh Valley, Pa. March 2012. Montalvo volunteered to perform ship inspection of the naval museum ships; BB-62 New Jersey, C-6 Olympia, and WW II Diesel Submarine USS Bacuna SS-319 in March 2014.  He inspected ships for safety, hull integrity, overall conditions and improvement.
Montalvo’s personal awards include: Junior sailor of the quarter 4th 2015. Montalvo currently works as a Pipe welder at Air Products and Chemical Inc. in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania where he builds heat exchangers for the natural gas process.

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The Allentown Chapter of the Honorary First Defenders is an organization that supports local military organizations and charitable organizations. If you would like to learn more or become a member please visit http://honoraryfirstdefenders.com/

Press Release Provided By: Viola C. Hertzog email:  HFD Public Information Officer, vihertzog@lehighcounty.org