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VETERANS
L.Z. Buckeye reunion
CINCINNATI -- Vietnam Veterans of America, Clermont County Ohio Chapter 649, is having its second annual L.Z. Buckeye reunion Aug. 10, starting at noon, at Highland Park, three miles north of Buford, Ohio.
Attendees should follow the signs from state Routes 286 and 134. Camping is also available on site, and veterans organizations will have booths featuring health and services information, and vendors will be selling military memorabilia. The event is open to all veterans and to the general public. Admission is free.
RETIREMENT
20 years in Air Force
Air Force Master Sgt. Kenneth J. Himes, son of Jim and Shirlee Himes of Hubbard, has retired after 20 years of service.
A 1982 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, Himes served eight years in England, four years in Germany and eight years stateside, the last four at McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. He also spent four months in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia, in the war on terrorism.
He is married to the former Helen Warren of Reigate, England, and they live in Austintown with their children, Amanda, Jim and Ken.
PROMOTIONS
Petty officer 2nd class
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard J. Cappellino, son of Rick and Rose Cappellino of Austintown, was promoted to his present rank while serving as an aerographer's mate at the Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nevada. The 1999 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School was also named Fallon's Junior Sailor of the Quarter.
USAF 2nd lieutenant
Gregory L. Nisula was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force after graduating from the 12-week Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Nisula is an aircraft maintainer officer assigned to the 49th Logistics Support Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, Alamogordo, N.M. His wife, Amy, is the daughter of Dorothy E. Keslar, 305 W. Hillcrest Ave., New Castle, Pa.
Air Force major
Air Force Maj. Douglas E. White was promoted to his present rank, and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, while assigned to the Department of Military Instruction at the Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. The medal is awarded for outstanding noncombat meritorious achievement.
White, a son of Larry and Julie White of Salem, graduated in 1987 from Salem High School. He received a bachelor's degree in 1991 from the Military Academy and a master's degree in 2001 from Long Island University, Rockland, N.Y.
HONORS
Bronze Star Medal
Army Sgt. Joseph R. Ortiz has been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during armed conflict. Ortiz is a chemical operations specialist assigned to the Army Technical Escort Unit at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
He is the stepson of Adalberto and Alicia Santiago of 544 Hyatt Ave. Ortiz graduated in 1996 from Campbell Memorial High School and received an associate degree in 1997 from Sawyer Business College, Pittsburgh.
ROTC scholarship
Jason P. Coombs has been awarded an Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) college scholarship. Upon graduating from college and completing the ROTC program, he will be commissioned as second lieutenant. Coombs, a son of Gerine C. Coombs of Austintown, is a 2002 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Leadership school
Air Force Senior Airman John T. Martucci graduated from the five-week Airman Leadership School at Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, N.M. He is an aircraft armament systems journeyman with the 27th Fighter Wing Maintenance.
Martucci is a son of Anthony J. Martucci and brother of Marla Martucci, both of Youngstown. His wife, Kimberly, is the daughter of Sophia J. Miller of Youngstown. He is a 1992 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School.
BASIC GRADS
Local recruits
Army: Pvt. Terry M. Chizmar (Commodore Perry High School, Hadley, Pa. '94), son of Tim M. and Brenda L. Chizmar of Hadley.
Navy: Seaman Recruit Melissa Pasha (McDonald High School, '01), daughter of Mark and Tina Pasha of McDonald.
Marine Corps: Pvt. Steven E. Coley (Mineral Ridge High School, '01), son of Mary J. Moore of Mineral Ridge.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780.