Staff Sergeant Bernard Dunn of Port Washington was honored and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on St. Patrick’s Day during the ceremony given annually on this day at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City.
Dunn was a graduate of Schreiber High School in the class of 1987. He is the son of Barbara Erickson and the late Bernard Dunn Sr. He is also the great-grandson of Edwin Lewis, founder of Lewis Oil.
In August of 1987, he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1991. During that time he was deployed for Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
In 1992 he joined the National Guard First of 71st Infantry. In 1994, the 69th Regiment ADA took over the 71st Infantry and he was transferred to the 204th Engineers Division. Dunn assisted the Engineers to the West Point fires, hurricanes, ice storms, and other natural disasters throughout New York State.
In 2001, as a volunteer fire fighter with Atlantic Hook & Ladder Co., he assisted in the recovery operations following the WTC attacks. He was directed to report again with the 204th Engineers division of the National Guard at Ground Zero for eight days.
In 2003 he was transferred to the 878 Engineers Battalion in order to deploy to Iraq. He spent one year in combat.
In 2007 Mr. Dunn was transferred back to the 69th Regiment and was deployed to Afghanistan as a Security Team Leader for a police mentor team. He returned in 2008 and was transferred to the Mortar Section. In 2011, he became the leader of the Mortar Section as well as being promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant Dunn received the Meritorious Service Medal for his 26 years in service to our nation, culminating as the Mortar Section Leader. His hard work and dedication greatly enhanced unit operational and combat readiness. His service was in the highest traditions of the Infantry Regiment, the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 42nd Infantry Division, the New York Army National Guard and the United States Army.
As of Dec. 31, 2013, SSG. Dunn is retired from the Army National Guard. He still resides in Port Washington with his wife Dorothy and children Shannon and Aidan. He is a proud member of The VFW Post 1819 in Manhasset Isle and is employed with The Village of Munsey Park.
