Media Advisory

St. Vincent’s Executive Nearing
End of Military Assignment

St. Vincent de Paul Village Executive Director Fr. Bill Metzdorf, a lieutenant colonel in the Maryland Army National Guard reserve unit, is nearing the end of his military assignment in Washington, D.C.

Three weeks ago, he was called to active duty to assist with recovery efforts at the Pentagon just days after a commercial airliner piloted by terrorists hurtled into the nerve center of the U.S. military, killing 189 civilians and defense officials. Metzdorf was in Washington on monthly reserve duty when the attack occurred and was within earshot of the explosion. He is tentatively scheduled to return to San Diego October 16.

In a letter to family, friends and colleagues, Metzdorf detailed the slow, tedious and emotionally taxing recovery work at the attack site, where virtually none of the remains found to date have been visually identifiable. A fully intact nametag on the body of an army officer was the only exception, says Metzdorf.

His letter in its entirety follows this advisory.

In 1998, Metzdorf was recruited by Village President Father Joe Carroll to head Toussaint Youth Villages, a residential program for abandoned or runaway children and teens consisting of the Toussaint Teen Center in downtown San Diego and PromiseLand Ranch, a 250-bed facility for foster youths being developed in Campo, Calif.

Media inquiries will be taken at (619) 525-1608.

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