A retired New York Army National Guard soldier received the Bronze Star Medal with “V’ device last week in recognition of his heroic actions 20 years ago in Iraq.

Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, presented the award to Master Sgt. Luis Barsallo on Thursday at New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs headquarters in Latham, N.Y., according to a service news release.

The V device designates that the award is for valor. When awarded for heroism in combat, the Bronze Star is the nation’s fourth-highest military decoration for valor.

In April and May of 2004, Barsallo was with the New York Army National Guard’s C Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment on duty in Samarra, Iraq, as part of the 1st Infantry Division.

On Sunday, April 11, 2004, in what became known as “The Battle of Easter Sunday,” Barsallo’s platoon was ambushed by insurgents with IEDs and rocket-propelled grenades. The ambush resulted in the death of Pvt. 1st Class Nathan Brown from South Glens Falls, N.Y.

Several members of the platoon were severely injured, but they survived thanks to Barsallo’s actions, Shields said.

“Luis saved lives by staying calm and directing fires on enemy positions,” Shields said.

According to Army records, Barsallo quickly deployed his squad to respond to the attack. Barsallo then left his covered position to drive a 5-ton truck out of the kill zone and positioned it to provide suppressive fire on the enemy, allowing six badly injured soldiers to be evacuated.

Barsallo then led his squad in an assault on the enemy positions until the quick reaction force arrived to take over the fight.

“He put himself in immediate and direct harm’s way to save his fellow soldiers,” Shields said. “Luis was determined that others would not die that night.”

The second incident took place on May 29according to Army records, while Barsallo’s squad was attached to A Company of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment at a blocking position. The squad came under fire from enemy small arms and rocket- propelled grenades.

Exposing himself to enemy fire, Barsallo ran to a machine gun position. He took charge of the machine gun crew and directed fire at the enemy, killing two insurgents and forcing the rest to withdraw.

“Barsallo’s strong leadership, unmatched personal courage, and strong situational awareness, successfully eliminated the enemy, allowing for the successful completion of the A Co mission,” the citation says.

Barsallo should have received the Bronze Star earlier, but the New York battalion was attached to an active Army brigade, and the original paperwork got lost, said Maj. Katie Schin, the executive officer of the New York National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

“It actually feels great to get this award,” Barsallo said. “Because of the group of people I had in Iraq, it’s because of them that I got this.”

Barsallo retired from the New York Army National Guard in May 2020 after 29 years of service in the Army — eight years in the active Army and 21 years in the New York Army National Guard.

He currently works as a health care navigator for the Albany Housing Coalition, which provides veterans housing services.

National Guard