Contact: Head Quarters - Multi-National Division - Baghdad, 914-822-8174

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, March 28, /Standard Newswire/ -- On September 11, 2001, Pfc. Nicholas Pata, then a volunteer firefighter in Rockland County, N.Y., assisted rescue efforts after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

Twenty-five year-old Pata, a New York City native, no longer fights fires, he now fights terrorism as a radio-telephone operator assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior,"  25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

"After 9-11, seeing and losing (many) friends that were firefighters, I felt I owed it to them to jump into the fight," Pata said. "The time I spent at Ground Zero made up my mind (to join)."

Pata joined the Army in January 2007, where he completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga., and then was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and joined the "Wolfhounds" in June.

Less than two months later, Pata departed Hawaii with his unit to conduct training at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. There, he used his medical skills gained as a fireman & emergency medical technician to save the life of a fellow Soldier who was suffering from a severe heat injury. As a result of his actions and performance during the training rotation, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal.

After completing training in California, Pata took pre-deployment leave to relax before a 15-month deployment to Iraq. His leave was not all relaxation. He suited up and went back to work as a firefighter. Pata answered the last alarm minutes before he had to return from leave.

"Nick told (his fellow firefighters) before he left for Iraq to keep his 'bunk warm,' and (not to) 'mess with my gear; leave it right where it is,'" said Greg Tobin, a fellow Rockland County volunteer firefighter. "Ever since, he has been gone his gear is exactly like he left it. No one (has) dared to touch it – not out of fear, rather out of respect for the man who wore it."

When Pata left in October, he not only had to say goodbye to his biological Family, but he had to say goodbye to his other Family, his fellow firefighters, said Tobin.

"His passion as a firefighter to help his community is what Nick lives for. He is a unique person that has risen to the position of captain in the fire department. He feared no fire; he was always the first into a fire and the last one out, and always making sure he watched over the men he led. He is a brave man, very respected, and very missed by us at home. The community will be safer again when he comes home," he added. 

 While in Iraq, Pata assists his unit and the Iraqi Security Forces keep the Taji Qada, northwest of Baghdad, safe.

It is his experience under fire that has helped him be a calm presence here.

"Pata always maintains his composure under pressure regardless of the situation," said Maj. Patrick Aspland, a native of Fort Ann, N.Y. Aspland is the executive officer for the 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt. "His maturity and experience gives him this mannerism that he has things under control."

Pata was recognized by Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of Multi-National Forces – Iraq, March 12 for his exemplary performance in Iraq.

"Your great work is bringing new hope for the Iraqi people," stated Petraeus, during the award ceremony. "Keep up the terrific work!"

Pfc. Pata has been doing terrific work as he "is one of the best RTOs I've seen in my career; he is able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously," said Master Sgt. Timothy Jackson, a native of Dryden, N.Y., who serves as the operations sergeant major for the 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt. "Pata is a great asset to the (battalion)."

Pata has approximately one year left in Iraq before going back to fight a different kind of fire. Pata said he looks forward to going back to Hawaii and eventually returning to New York to continue to serve the people there.