MILITARY HONORS
Area soldier earns Veteran of Year accolades
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Local veteran John Wands Sacca was honored on Saturday as Veteran of the Year by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District of New York Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army.
The 2019 Veteran of the Year Award Ceremony, held on Saturday afternoon at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, recognized Wands Sacca for his many accomplishments both during and after his military service.
Wands Sacca enlisted in the New York National Guard in August 1965, then entered Federal Service in the U.S. Army in August 1966, and first posted to 8th Army, Republic of Korea.
In May 1967 he requested an intertheater transfer to Vietnam and was assigned to the 79th Maintenance Battalion where he served through the 1968 Tet Offensive and was promoted to specialist fourth class. He extended enlistment in Vietnam to transfer to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmoble).
Wands Sacca was assigned to C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry as a door gunner on a Huey gunship and later as radiotelephone operator in the Troop’s infantry platoon. He participated in cavalry raids in the A Shau Valley west of Hue, reconnaissance missions along the demilitarized zone and west of Hue, then down south around Saigon.
He departed Vietnam in February 1969, enlisted in the 1-210 Armor, New York Army National Guard and was promoted to Sergeant.
After a nine-year break in service, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving in the 1157th U.S. Army Reserve School as senior instructor. He moved up in rank and responsibility until his reassignment to the StandBy Reserve in 1991.
In 1995, Wands Sacca was commissioned a Captain in the Guard and assigned as with the 10th Brigade and the 2nd Emergency Response Battalion in Troy. He served in various positions and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2006, before retiring in 2013.
Wands Sacca’s awards and decorations include the Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Commendation Medal,
Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and other U.S., Vietnam and New York State service awards.
In addition to his service, this local veteran also has 43 years teaching in Capital District schools at middle school, high school and college levels. He is a 1975 graduate of the University at Albany, has two Masters Degrees, one from the University at Albany (1976) and one from The College of Saint Rose (1979), and a Doctor of Philosophy from University at Albany (1989). He has published numerous articles and papers and is an active member of several academic organizations.
Wands Sacca is a life member of both the Tri-County Vietnam Veterans Council and North Albany American
Legion Post 1610.
He and his wife Hiesook Kim have two sons and reside in Albany.
On Saturday, Wands Sacca was recognized by representatives from both the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District of New York Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, as well as Brig. Gen. John Andonie of the New York National Guard and Congressman Paul Tonko.
“It is not often enough that we can say thank you and welcome home,” Tonko said to Wands Sacca at Saturday’s event. “We thank you for your commitment to the United States Army, being deployed to Korea and then Vietnam, and to some very difficult assignments that you handled with tremendous patriotism and devotion to this nation, and all for which she stands.”
Following the award presentations, attendees heard from Wands Sacca himself. “This is a true honor,” the 2019 Veteran of the Year said while accepting his award.
Wands Sacca humbly spent his moment in the limelight thanking others. He asked fellow veterans in attendance, along with their supporting family members, to stand during the ceremony. “Any one of you could be standing here,” he said. “I’m just representing you.”