VETERANS

VETERANS
Korean War anniversary
AUSTINTOWN -- The Korean War Veterans Association will have a wreath-laying ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday at Austintown Memorial Park to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the involvement of the United States and the United Nations in the Korean War and to honor the 54,200 U.S. veterans who died in the war.
Guest speakers will be state Rep. Kenneth Carano of Austintown, D-65th, and Dr. Pyong Soo Yoon representing the Korean-American community.
Military organizations and the general public are invited to participate in the ceremony.
Flag disposal ceremony
POLAND -- The Sons of the American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15, will have its second annual Flag Disposal Ceremony at 8 p.m. next Sunday at American Legion Mahoning Valley Post 15, 35 Cortland St.
Flags may be dropped off at the post home in a receptacle marked Flag Disposal. Questions should be directed to Jeff Vrabel Sr., commander of Squadron 15, at (330) 750-0488. The public is invited to attend the ceremony in which worn, frayed, torn and faded flags will be honorably destroyed.
BASIC TRAINING
Graduates
Several area residents graduated from military basic training. They include:
UAir Force: Airman Jesse A. Wozniak (West Middlesex High School '00), son of Lawrence Wozniak, Bend Road, Mercer; Airman David N. Martin (Howland High School '00), son of Gerald Martin and stepson of Linda Huseman-Martin, 30781 Demura Drive, Howland, also graduated from utilities systems apprentice course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas; Airman Mark W. Turner (Lawrence County Area Vocational School, New Castle '00), son of Mark and Melanie Turner, 218 E. Fairmont Ave., New Castle; Airman Nicholas C. Kehoe (Sharpsville Area High School '00), son of J. David and Diana Kehoe, 481 South Fourth, Sharpsville; Airman Joshua D. Wingard (West Middlesex High School '00), son of Scott and Martha Wingard, Mercer West Middlesex Road, West Middlesex.
UArmy: Pvt. La Quala D. Hammonds (Lawrence County Area Vocational High School, New Castle '97), daughter of Carla Hammonds, Neshannock Avenue, New Castle.
TRAINING
Military schools
Several area residents completed military schools. They include: Army Pvts. John J. Shelton III and Danyell L. York, food service specialist advanced individual training course, Fort Lee, Va. Shelton (Campbell Memorial High School '98) is a son of Mae E. Nicholson, 395 Lourdes Lane, Campbell, and John J. Shelton, Houston, Del.; and York (Youngstown Woodrow Wilson High School '00) is a daughter of Etta J. and Robert L. Huff, 231 Lora Ave., Youngstown.
Air Force Airman Michelle R. Byerly (East Palestine High School '98), aerospace propulsion apprentice (jet engine) course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. She is a daughter of Mark F. and Marsha L. Byerly, 48160 Heck Road, East Palestine.
Army 2nd Lt. Martisse L. Best (Poland Seminary High School '96), Army Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Fort Lee, Va. Best is assigned to the 498th Corps Support Battalion, Yongsan, Seoul, South Korea.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon J. McElhinny (Jamestown High School '00), son of Lawrence and Susan McElhinny, 2114 W. County Line Road, James, Nuclear Field "A" School, Goose Creek, S.C.
Air Force Senior Airman April L. Handwork (Real Life Christian Academy '95, Salem, and ITT Technical Institute '97‚ Youngstown), daughter of Harold and Joyce Handwork, 10682 Stratton Road, Salem, Airman Leadership School, Elgin Air Force Base, Fla. She is stationed in Greenland as an information manager.
PROMOTIONS
Army, Air Force
Army Warrant Officer I Anthony T. Sweasy was appointed to his present rank upon graduation Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS), Fort Rucker, Ala. He is a son of Barbara C. Radmon, Louisville, Ky., and John Sweasy, Warren.
Air Force 2nd Lt. Mark D. Gearo (Youngstown Woodrow Wilson High School '86) received his commission at Maxwell AFB, Ala., after completing Officer Candidate School. He was a technical sergeant as an enlisted man. A son of Karen Gearo of Austintown and David Gearo Sr. of Youngstown, he received an associate degree from Wesley College, Del., and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland. He is stationed at Offutt AFB, Neb., assigned to communications special projects.
ASSIGNMENTS
In Southwest Asia
Air Force Major Kevin S. Fleming was assigned temporary duty as part of Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The task force coordinates Operation Southern Watch, which plans joint military operations for United States, British and French forces to ensure Iraq's compliance with the United Nations ordered-inspections.
Fleming's regular assignment is as a joint and multinational requirements chief at the Aerospace Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center, Langley Air Force Base, Va. He is a son of John P. Fleming Sr., 29149 Salem-Alliance Road, Salem, and Mary L. Fleming, 850 Meridian Road, Youngstown. He graduated in 1984 from Lowellville High School, received a bachelor's degree in 1988 from Kent State University, and earned a master's degree in 1997 from Bellevue University, Neb.
Army Spec. Christopher A. Lane was an air defender in the deserts of Southwest Asia as part of the Patriot Missile Task Force, Fort Bliss, Texas, which provided integrated air defense capability in support of Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia. Lane, a Patriot crew member maintainer/operator, is a son of Stella M. Lane, Warren, and Terry E. Lane, Ashland, Ohio. He received a bachelor's degree in 1998 from Hiram College.
REUNIONS
USS Curtis (AV-4): Sept. 5-8, 2001, Monarch Hotel, Clackmas, Ore. Contact Bill Holt at (330) 726-1155.
XItems of note for the Military Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780.