An Army Reserve soldier from Western New York is the latest victim of the conflict in Afghanistan. Specialist Brett Gornewicz of Alden and two other reservists from New York died of wounds they sustained Saturday when their humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device.
The reservists were assigned to the 444th Engineer company, which is headquartered in Oswego. Governor Andrew Cuomo extended his condolences to the families of the reservists.
Gornewicz was a graduate of Alden High School and Buffalo State College.
The Governor has ordered all flags in state government buildings to be flown at half-staff on Wednesday in their memory.
The Governor's office issued the following statement:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 in honor of three United States Army Reserve Soldiers from New York who died in Paktiya Province, Afghanistan on November 3.
Specialist Brett E. Gornewicz from Alden, Specialist Ryan P. Jayne from Campbell, and Staff Sgt. Dain T. Venne, from Port Henry, died of wounds sustained when their humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device.
The three men were assigned to the 444th Engineer Company which is headquartered in Oswego. The unit is an element of the 178th Engineer Battalion of the 412th Theater Engineer Command.
"Along with all New Yorkers, I mourn the deaths of Specialist Gornewicz, Specialist Jayne and Staff Sgt. Venne," Governor Cuomo said. "These young men were all volunteers who lived and worked in our communities and gave their lives for our great country. We extend our condolences to their friends, their families, and their fellow Soldiers."
Governor Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to our state's service members and those stationed in New York who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.