The New York Army National Guard Soldiers of C Company 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, based at the Hoosick Falls Armory, have a new battalion commander. Lt. Col. Joseph Biehler, an Iraq War veteran and Bronze Star Medal winner, took command of the New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry on 
December 6 during a formal Change-of-Command Ceremony at the battalion’s headquarters in Utica.
During the Change-Of-Command Ceremony. Lt. Col. Deeley, the outgoing commander, transferred the unit’s flag, or colors, to the incoming commander, Lt. Col. Biehler, to mark the transition from one commander to another. The Change of Command Ceremony dates back to the days in which a military unit’s flag marked its position in the line of battle. The colors were always near the commander so troops knew where to rally on the battlefield. Today the transfer of the colors marks a change in the unit and gives the soldiers their first opportunity to see and hear their new leader.
C Company of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry drills at the New York State Armory at 80 Church Road in Hoosick Falls. The 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry has detachments and companies at locations ranging from Batavia, Genesee County to Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County
Lt. Col. Joseph Biehler, who lives in Webster, Monroe County, with his wife Sonya and children Thomas and Andrew, was commissioned as an Infantry officer in May of 1987 and joined the New York Army National Guard. He has served as a rifle platoon leader, mortar platoon leader, company commander, battalion supply officer, battalion operations officer and battalion executive officer before assuming his new job.
He deployed to Iraq in 2004 as the operations officer of the battalion he will now lead. His awards include the Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Ranger Tab Airborne Wings, Air Assault Wings and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
He holds BS Degrees in Accounting and Management and is a Finance Senior Manager for Harris Corporation.
The Second Battalion 108th Infantry has over 800 soldiers located at armories in Utica, Geneseo, Batavia, Ithaca, Rome, Gloversville, Morrisonville, Ogdensburg, Saranac Lake, Hoosick Falls and Schenectady.
In October 2003 the unit was mobilized for service in Iraq and deployed to that country in February 2004 where it operated with the 1st Infantry Division. The battalion captured high value individuals who were associated with the crimes against humanity in the town of Ad Dujayl. The Iraqi government executed Saddam Hussein for ordering these mass murders. Members of the battalion also rescued U.S. contractor Mark Hamill who escaped his insurgent captors after being held for three weeks.
Three members of the battalion were killed during the 2004 Iraqi deployment and 30 received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in action.
The battalion has also served as a key element, and the headquarters for, a New York National Guard team of Army and Air Guard members trained to extract and treat people injured in buildings destroyed in chemical, biological or radiological incidents.
While the battalion “flag” stayed home, almost 300 members of 2nd 108th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008 to train the Afghan National Army and Police. About 150 of those soldiers have already returned home.
The 108th Infantry Regiment also saw service in World War I and World War II.