Lt. Col. Joseph Whaley, a Rockville Centre resident, takes command of New York National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry

New York, N.Y. (03/18/2019) — A Rockville Centre resident who is a West Point graduate and a veteran of the Iraq War took charge of the New York National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry on Saturday, March 16.

Lt. Col. Joseph Whaley took over the 800-Soldier battalion, known as the "Fighting 69th" from Lt. Col. Don Makay, who has led the unit since 2016.

Makay is moving into a new assignment as the executive officer of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team which is based in Syracuse.

The change of command took place as part of the 69th Infantry's "Unit Day" ceremonies which took place at the Great Hall at Cooper Union following the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade.The 69th Infantry has led New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade since 1851.

Whaley, who was commissioned as an infantry office in June 1997, has served as the battalion's second in command and logistics officer in the past.

"Lt. Col. Whaley is no stranger to the 'Fighting 69th,'"said Col. Christopher Cronin, the commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. "He grew up in the regiment serving in various leadership positions, from platoon leader in Iraq to the executive officer of the battalion."

Whaley is a successful businessman in civilian life and that dual commitment to his military and civilian careers gives him a unique appreciation for the command, Cronin said.

"He understands the complexity, dedication and friction that all National Guard Soldiers face while balancing their civilian lives, their love of the Army and their dedication to fight for both our nation's freedom and strategic national interests," Cronin said. "Your selection is a credit to the quality officer that you are."

"It is an amazing honor to be selected to lead you," Whaley told the Soldiers. "I'll ask only one thing of you - to do your best every day - and I promise to do the same."

Whaley's other assignments include platoon leader in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., while serving in the Active Army. He served as a company commander and as the operations officer, liaison officer, and personal recovery chief for the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division which is headquartered in Troy, N.Y.

Whaley deployed to Iraq with the 69th Infantry in 2004 and 2005 and also served on state active duty in Manhattan following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and the Army's Command and General Staff College.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, and the Parachutist Badge.

As a civilian, Whaley serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of 5th Avenue Chocolatiere, LTD and Chocolate Works, LTD. 5th Avenue Chocolatiere is an international wholesale and retail chocolate company that conducts business around the world.

He and his wife Colleen have four children and live in Rockville Center.

The 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry has a distinguished history that includes service in the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reportedly, the regiment was given the name "that fighting 69th Regiment" by Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1863.

The battalion is the subject of the Irish folk song "The Fighting 69th" and the 1940 movie "The Fighting 69th" about its exploits in World War I.

In World War II the Soldiers of the 69th invaded Makin Atoll in 1943 and fought on the Islands of Saipan and Okinawa in the campaign in the Pacific against Japan.

In 2004-05 the battalion was mobilized and then deployed to Baghdad, Iraq where it was given the mission of security Route Irish, the road from the Baghdad Airport to the center of the city. At one time this was considered the most dangerous road in Iraq.

Members of the 69th also deployed to Afghanistan in 2008.

Closer to home, members of the battalion were part of the response to Superstorm Sandy and have participated in numerous state weather emergencies.

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