3 Fort Drum soldiers shoot down enemy drones, earn prestigious 'Ace' status

FORT DRUM, New York (WWNY) - A trio of Fort Drum soldiers back from combat have earned “Ace” status. It’s a major achievement.

The three are members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

“It was our job. We knew the consequences of our actions if we did it or didn’t do it,” said Staff Sgt. Henry Davis.

The consequences were injury or death.

Unmanned drones are used as a way to bomb U.S. forces from the air. To achieve Ace status, a service member has to shoot down at least 5 of them.

That’s exactly what Davis, Sgt. William J. Taroc and Staff Sgt. Daniel Smith did. They shot down a combined 28 drones while deployed to Iraq.

“It’s just a surge of adrenaline. You see it coming. You see it coming. You get ready. You sit up in your seat and you get ready to shoot it down,” said Smith.

The effects of attack drones were seen in Syria where other 2nd BCT members were stationed. Last fall, 10th Mountain Division soldiers were injured with possible concussions from the drone blasts. None died.

As for these three men, they point to their training, saying the simulations gave them the skills they needed to protect their lives and the lives of their fellow commandos.

“It was second nature. It was like breathing. The training took over and we were able to complete our mission,” said Taroc.

During deployment, Taroc says their achievement didn’t exactly register. After all, it was just part of the job. That changed when they got back to the U.S.

“Coming home and realizing the actual impact we’ve had over there made me glad and proud of everything that we accomplished over there,” he said.

“I’m happy to be back to my wife and kid. That tops the cake here,” said Smith.