Local members of the New York Army National Guard remain deployed for COVID-19

Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment out of Utica speaks with News Channel 2's Gary Liberatore via FaceTime

Army national guard out of utica continue to be away from home and their families..as they are helping the state fight the coronavirus.

News channel two's gary liberatore spoke with the commander of that unit today via facetime...from westchester county.

Good evening.

Army boots and lab coats...something you don't normally see together....at least until about this past month.

(nat of connecting) lt.

Col mathew kilgore, is the commander of the 2nd batallion, 108th infantry regiment in utica.... tc : 04:22 "as an infantry battalion were trained and manned to conduct ground combat operations for the army so closing in and destroying enemy forces is what the infantry does..."

The enemy right now is the coronavirus... tc : 07:32 "about 100 folks from the utica area in the 108th infantry that are currently mobilized for this."

The 100 plus troops from the utica area are now in either new york city or westchester...two of the hottest hot spots in not only the country but the world... tc : 07:44 "we still have a forest its on standby in utica thats ready to respond to anything that happens in that area.

And for the most part everyone else is deployed down to the new york city area."

Where theyh are doing everything from gathering samples for testing...distributin g food to local food pantries...cleaning public spaces and supporting the army corps of enginers field hospitals like the one at the javitz center in manhattan... tc : 02:07 "theyre helping out with warehousing and movement of medical supplies.

Theyre also helping out with ppe support meaning theyre helping people, making sure people are wearing their protective equipment properly im going through steps to make sure everyone is well protected down there working at the javits center."

The soldiers in the new york national guard have left heir jobs, and left their families to help their fellow new yorkers...and lt.

Colonel kilgore says although this is a diferent enemy...it's a very lethal one...as these men and women are also putting their lives ojn the line each day.... tc : 12:05 "youre incredibly proud and everybody in the utica area should be incredibly proud of the job these guys are i down in the city in upstate as well.

Its very difficult work and they should be really proud of these soldiers in the jobs are doing down there."

One other operation lt.

Colonel kilgore's unit is involved in....helping out the new york city medical examiner's office.

You'll hear what our local soldiers are doing there...tonight at six.

Live in the studio, gary liberatore, nes channel 2.

As doctors and nurses continue to battle covid-19..

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