Mako to Deploy in Fight Against Terror
HARRISBURG – Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton), a combat veteran and U.S. Army helicopter pilot in the Pennsylvania National Guard, today announced that he will deploy to the Middle East this fall to help fight terrorism and secure international peace.
Mako, attached to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment, Fort Indiantown Gap, which traces its history to Battle of the Bulge, received orders to support Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS), where he will join more than 50 Army National Guard soldiers.
OFS is part of the Global War on Terrorism and is the official name for the mission succeeding Operation Enduring Freedom. Terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda still function in the OFS area of operations and remain a threat to international stability, peace and safety. Mako’s colleague Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) spent most of 2018 serving in the Middle East with a different division of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
“It is an honor to serve the great people in the 183rd District, both as a state representative and soldier,” Mako said. “I take both oaths very seriously and I’ve been humbled by the support of my family, friends and neighbors during every aspect of my duties.”
Mako enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in January 2008 and has been a Chinook pilot since July 2011. He was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2012 for nine months as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2016, he was selected to be an adviser to Estonia’s top military officials. In 2017, he completed elite training as an Aviation Mission Survivability Officer (AMSO).
“Soldiers don’t get to pick and choose when to serve, but please be assured my office’s top priority remains the constituents’ needs,” Mako said. “While I will not be in the office during my deployment, my amazing staff is eager and more than ready to continue top-level assistance for residents of the 183rd Legislative District. I’m blessed to have a veteran staff and look forward to returning to continue my state representative duties.”
“In his time in the General Assembly, Rep. Mako has proven to be a tireless advocate and worker on behalf of his constituents, always remaining focused on the needs and interests of those he represents,” said Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). “He further shows his commitment to serving others by once again answering the call to serve our nation overseas. We are honored to call him a colleague and wish him a successful deployment and pray for a safe return.”
To view Rep. Mako’s comments, click the video below.
The 183rd District includes South Whitehall (part), Washington and Whitehall (part) townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.
Representative Zachary Mako
183rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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