VETERANS
VETERANS
Commission schedule
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, 2801 Market St., will be closed Monday through Wednesday and reopen at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
Also, the service commission meeting scheduled for Friday is canceled.
HONORS
NCO of the Year
VIENNA -- Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Ricardo Gonzalez was selected 2001 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year for the 910th Airlift Wing.
He is a law office manager for the 910th's Staff Judge Advocate's office.
He graduated in 1995 from Youngstown State University with a bachelor of science degree and in 1983 from Gabriela Mistral High School in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.
Gonzalez lives in Youngstown with his wife, the former Nellie Torres, and their three children, Ricardo Jr., Adriana and Carlos. His is a son of Ruth Nazario of Youngstown and has been in the Air Force for more than 10 years.
BASIC GRADS
First step done
Several area residents completed basic military training. They include:
U Air Force: Airman Chad E. Wran (Lakeview High School, Cortland '01), son of Martha Pachilis, 2064 Timbercreek Drive, Cortland; Airman William E. Allison (Reynolds High School, Transfer, Pa. '01), son of Joe and Suzanne Allison, 53 Beech Road, Greenville, Pa.
U Army: Spec. Anne Hrovatic (Salem Senior High School 1990, Kent State University '98), daughter of James and Barbara Hrovatic, 196 S. Union Ave., Salem; National Guard Pfc. Steven M. Luciani (Reynolds Junior Senior High School, Transfer '01), son of Karen Ondo, 211 W. Jamestown Road, Greenville, Pa., and Tom Luciani, 363 E. Crestview Drive, Transfer; Pvt. Henry W. Landgraff IV (Struthers High School '01), son of Henry Landgraff, 178 Como St., Struthers, and Debbie Landgraff, Mesa, Ariz.; Pfc. Wesley B. Williams (Dover Area High School '01), son of Clyde D. Williams, 3360 Oakland Road, Dover, Pa., and Karen Williams, 336 Halco Drive, New Castle, Pa.; National Guard Pvt. Brandon B. Herring (Brookfield High School '01), son of Debbie Jamieson, 7668 Catherine, Masury. His grandmother, Maryann Jamieson, resides at 7670 Connelly Road, Hubbard; Pvt. Richard T. Pigg (Newton Falls High School '00), son of Terri and Larry Pigg, 615 Ridge Road, Newton Falls; Pvt. Denae D. Defoor (Rayen High School, Youngstown '01), daughter of Carla Defoor, Youngstown; Pvt. Daniel W. Bartley (Shenango Area High School, New Castle '98), son of Daniel and Barbara Bartley, 2310 Roy Drive, New Castle, and grandson of James and Florence Bartley, 1400 County Line Road, New Castle.
RETIREMENT
Navy Reserve
AUSTINTOWN -- Yeoman Chief Petty Officer (E-7) Michael R. Handel has retired from the Navy Reserve after more than 22 years' service, including three and one-half years' active duty at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.
Handel, a 1959 graduate of Youngstown Chaney High School, enlisted in the Navy 1959 and in the Navy Reserve in 1983.
He was assigned to Personnel Mobilization Team Detachment 105 and most recently as a member of the Naval Coordination and Protection Shipping Unit Detachment 109 assigned to the commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain, Persian Gulf.
During his reserve career, he had various assignments in Korea, England, Germany and Italy as well as with several units in the United States. He also served aboard the USS Abbott (DD-629), USS Miller (FF-1091) and USS La Salle (AGF-3).
Among his numerous awards were Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center Youngstown Sailor of the Year in 1995, and Naval and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal.
Handel and his wife, Frances, live on Vollmer Drive in Austintown. They have two sons, Michael R. Jr. and Matthew. He is a manager in the engineering department at YSD Industries.
PROMOTIONS
Ranger training
HUBBARD -- Army Cpl. Kevin R. Strupkus was promoted to his present rank after completing the nine-week Ranger training course at Fort Benning, Ga., and is now station with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Strupkus, a son of Fred and Sherry Halt, 6262 W. Liberty St., graduated in 1997 from Hubbard High School.
He has completed other military training and served with the NATO peacekeeping forces in Bosnia.
He has also received the Army Commendation, Achievement and Expeditionary medals, and was named Soldier of the Month and Soldier of the Quarter for his unit.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780.