VETERANS

VETERANS
Man of the Year
BOARDMAN -- J. Chester Franczkowski, 1233 Valley View Drive, was named Man of the Year by the Ohio Polish Legion of American Veterans during a ceremony Nov. 4 in Euclid. Franczkowski attended Sharon High School and served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946 as a pharmacist mate aboard the USS Rescue.
He was president of PLAV Post 87 and is now its vice commander. Franczkowski is also a member of VFW Post 3538 in Struthers and American Legion Post 565 in Boardman.
He has volunteered thousands of hours at Butler, Pa., Veterans Affairs Medical Center, to which PLAV 87 is assigned, and has also helped at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Youngstown.
Franczkowski worked 42 years at General American Transportation Co. (GATX) in Masury. He and his wife, the former Virginia Constanovich, are members of St. Luke Catholic Church and previously attended St. Adelbert Church in Farrell, Pa.
Ohio Naval Militia
CAMP PERRY -- The Ohio Naval Militia is seeking men and women, ages 17 to 67, in reasonably good health and willing to serve in a nonpay volunteer military naval unit.
The Ohio Naval Militia responds to the call of the governor in the event of a natural disaster, civil emergency, domestic disorder, civilian assistance or other volunteer public service support missions. The Ohio Naval Militia cannot be called to federal duty as a unit. The base of operations is at Camp Perry near Port Clinton. For more information, call CWO2 Frank Jackson at (740) 349-7405 or Capt. Danny L. McDaniel at (765) 474-7759.
Oral histories
The Department of Veterans Affairs is partnering with the Library of Congress/American Folklife Center's Veterans History Project to collect and preserve audio- and videotaped oral histories of America's war veterans.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi said there are only a few thousand World War I veterans left, all over age 100, and the average age of World War II veterans is 77. "We have to reach them and preserve their great legacy right now," he said.
The Veterans History Project offers instructions for taping oral histories on its Web site: www.loc.gov/folklife/vets. Also, start-up information is available by writing Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540-4615.
BASIC GRADS
Trained
Several area residents have completed basic military training. They include:
UAir Force -- Reserve Airman 1st Class Nick J. Lockard (Boardman High School '01), son of Christine Lockard, 25 Melbourne Ave., Boardman; Airman Joshua M. Armour (home school program '01), daughter of Terry Armour, 1050 Hilltop Road, Greenville, Pa.
UArmy -- Pvt. Wesley B. Williams, son of Karen Williams, 336 Halco Drive, New Castle, Pa., and Clyde Williams Jr., 3360 Oakland Road, Dover, Pa.; National Guard Pvt. Stephen K. Burrus II, son of Stephen K. Burrus, 1171/2 N. McKinley, Sand
Springs, Okla., and Barbara J. Raver, 38 James Lane, Girard.
TRAINING
Marine Corps
Marine Corps Pfc. Ian J. Goodhart (Mathews High School '00), a son of Larry and Barbara Goodhart, 3690 Ridge Road, Cortland, completed Naval Aircrew Candidate School. The five-week course is training preparatory to further training as an aircrewman.
CONCERT TOUR
From Bessemer
Army Spec. Michael S. McConnell was one of 15 road crew members on special duty with Army Concert Tour 2001.
During a three-month period, the Army Concert Tour traveled to 14 states. McConnell, a watercraft operator assigned to the 73rd Transportation Company, Fort Eustis, Va., is a son of Lola French, 205 15th St., Bessemer, Pa., and is a 1998 graduate of Mohawk High School, Bessemer.
PROMOTIONS
Farrell native
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Bradley Henlen was promoted to his current rank while serving with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Seven, Naval Air Station, Fla. Henlen, a son of Cynthia S. Henlen, Masury, and Martin L. Henlen, Farrell, Pa., is a 1998 graduate of Brookfield High School.
HONORS
Pararescue school
Air Force Airman 1st Class Adam Gray was an honor graduate of the two-year Pararescue school at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and as such received the Arthur N. Black and Duane D. Hackney awards. Pararescuemen provide rescue and recovery of personnel and material and emergency medical treatment in hostile areas.
Gray, a 1999 graduate of United High School and a son of Gary and Carol Gray, 35625 Lisbon-Dungannon Road, Lisbon, has been assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Air Force Special Operations, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780.