Local Soldier Heroes to be Honored for Service in Iraq and Afghanistan at Customized Car Show

Honorees include California National Guard Soldier who designed tribute car for fallen comrades

 WHAT:       Several area Soldiers will be honored for their service in
             Iraq and Afghanistan as part of festivities at the Boost
             Mobile "Night Shift" customized car show this Saturday at
             Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.  One Soldier, Lt. Col.
             Samuel Jones, returned home earlier this week from service
             in Afghanistan. Joining them on stage will be California
             National Guard Soldier, Sgt. Nick Ashby, who suped-up his
             2004 Infiniti G-35 coupe as a tribute to commemorate the
             memory of his three fallen comrades killed in Iraq. Ashby
             will be accompanying his award-winning car, "Fallen Heroes,"
             at select shows on the "Hot Import Nights" tour.

             A haven for car show enthusiasts, the "Hot Import Nights"
             shows feature performances by hip-hop artists alongside
             tricked-out cars. Soldier recognition ceremonies are
             scheduled for each stop on the 20-city tour between now and
             December. The recognitions are part of the Army's Operation
             Tribute to Freedom program, which honors returning Soldiers
             for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

             -- Soldiers are available for interviews before and
                after the recognition. --

 WHEN:       Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 4 p.m. CDT
             Recognition activities will take place during the show at
             7 p.m. on the Mazda Main Stage. Contact Brandi Schiff at
             (312) 907-0189 to coordinate specific times and locations
             for Soldier interviews.

 WHERE:      Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive-
             South Lot, Chicago, Ill.

 ***
             -- Lt. Col. Samuel Jones, Chicago, IL, served in
                support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a military
                liaison to U.S. and NATO forces in counter narcotic
                operations with the Combined Security Transition
                Command Afghanistan. He will rejoin the 85th Training
                Support Division of the Army Reserve based in Arlington
                Heights, Ill.

             -- Master Sgt. Sheldrick McNeal, Naperville, IL, served
                in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan
                with the 10th Mountain Division as an Operations
                Sergeant. He returned home this past January and serves
                with the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs for the
                Midwest.

             -- Sgt. Nick Ashby served in support of Operation Iraqi
                Freedom with the A Company, 579th Engineer Battalion
                as a Demolition Expert. Ashby returned home in March
                2005 and serves as a Combat Engineer for the California
                National Guard.


Web Site: www.army.mil/otf