PROMOTIONS

PROMOTIONS
Enduring Freedom
Army Staff Sgt. Kevin R. Strupkus, a graduate of Hubbard High School, was promoted to his present rank while serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan. He is a son of Fred and Sherry Halt of Hubbard and of Richard Strupkus in Maryland.
Serving in Texas
Air Force Technical Sgt. Jay J. Cooper Jr. was promoted to his present rank while assigned as a munitions inspection assistant chief with the 7th Munitions Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. He is the son of Jay J. and Judith A. Cooper of New Castle, Pa., and a 1990 graduate of Shenango High School, New Castle.
VETERANS
Reserve Officers group
YOUNGSTOWN -- Walter M. Duzzny has been elected president of the Mahoning County Chapter of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States.
Duzzny retired as a colonel from the Army Reserve, where he had served as group commander of the 1654th Civil Affairs Headquarters at Youngstown Air Force Reserve base in Vienna. He also is director of the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency.
Other officers elected include: Willard Stamp, vice president; William Meshot, secretary; Paul Stepuk, treasurer; and Pam Ferguson, president of the Reserve Officers Ladies' Auxiliary.
Ex-POW Ohio convention
The American Ex-Prisoners of War, Department of Ohio, annual convention is Aug. 21-23 in Lima, Ohio. Contact Norman Swaney at (330) 726-9217 for more information.
Commission meeting
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday instead of Friday. The meeting is at the Mahoning County Annex, 2801 Market St.
Paralyzed Veterans office
The Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association has opened an office at 1146 19th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. The association, with headquarters in New York City, received Veterans Administration certification as a national veterans service organization. This enables it to provide VA benefits claims representation to its membership and other veterans. For more information about the group, visit www.unitedspinal.org.
VFW Post 3538 officers
STRUTHERS -- VFW Post 3538 and its Ladies Auxiliary will install officers when it meets at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at the post home, 155 Lowellville Road. Post 3538 officers include: Stephen A. Miner, commander; Ray Ornelas, senior vice commander; Lloyd Edwards, junior vice commander; James Dill, quartermaster. Auxiliary officers include: Helen Tablack, president; Betty Cikovich, senior vice president; Anastasia Filicky, junior vice president; and Helen Grvan, treasurer.
MISCELLANEOUS
Vacation-time bill
COLUMBUS -- State Sen. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, D-33rd, is primary sponsor for Senate Bill 63, which would enable civil service employees to continue accruing vacation time for their jobs while they are on active military duty during wartime. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
Guard distance learning
AKRON -- The Ohio Army National Guard has launched its statewide, distance-learning training center at the University of Akron. The classroom is used to disseminate information about the deployment and briefing of Guard units during emergencies, and for ongoing professional development of Guard members. Through distance-learning technology, the classroom will eventually be linked to every Ohio National Guard armory and several community colleges.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Jet propulsion study
Air Force Airman 1st Class Brian P. King, a 2001 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, is studying jet propulsion at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. King, who completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is a son of Paul and Rosemarie King of Austintown.
Finished specialist course
Army Pvt. Robert M. Carr graduated from the 10-week advanced individual training course for signal support systems specialists at Fort Gordon, Ga. Carr is the son of Christine M. Carr of Champion and a 2002 graduate of Champion High School.
DEPLOYED
Serving overseas
Several area residents have been deployed overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. They include:
UArmy Pfc. Matthew W. Murphy, a military police officer normally assigned to the 300th Military Police Company at Fort Riley, Kan. He is the son of Carolin F. and Robert Murphy of Youngstown and a 2001 graduate of Youngstown Chaney High School.
UMarine Corps Lance Cpl. Kristopher J. Conaway, son of Alice A. Conaway of Niles and John Conaway of Mineral Ridge, is assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Conaway is a 2000 graduate of Mineral Ridge High School.
UMarine Corps Pfc. M.S. Fleming, son of Debbie L. and John E. Fleming of Canfield, is also assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Fleming is a 2001 graduate of Canfield High School.
UMarine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael J. Yarina Jr., son of Michael J. Yarina of Canfield, is also assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
UMarine Lance Cpl. Dustin E. Edwards, 2nd LAR Battalion, Bravo Company, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C., has been deployed with the 1st Marine Division serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Edwards, son of Brenda Powell of Girard and Richard McNeely of Virginia Beach, Va., is a 1998 graduate of Girard High School.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman 1st Class Kenneth P. Umeck (Niles McKinley High School, '95), son of Kenneth L. and Jacqui L. Umeck of Boardman.
Army: Pvt. Dean C. Spradlin, son of Ovia E. York of Lowellville; Pvt. Andrew N. Hart (Salem Senior High School, '96), son of Grace Webb of Salem.
Navy: Seaman Apprentice Daniel S. Chapin (Pymatuning Valley High School, Andover, '01).
REUNIONS
U101st Airborne Division Association: Aug. 14-16, 2003, Reno, Nev. Contact Norman Swaney at (330) 726-9217.
UFormer crew members of the seven ships of the DeSoto/Suffolk County Class LSTs: Oct. 23-26, Hampton, Va. The ships are: USS DeSoto County, LST-1171; USS Suffolk County, LST-1173; USS Grant County, LST-1174; USS York County, LST-1175; USS Graham County, LST-1176; USS Lorain County, LST-1177; and USS Wood County, LST-1178. Contact Charles C. Patton, P.O. Box 1093, Perrysburg, Ohio 43552-1093.
UUSS Whitfield County, LST-1169: Oct. 9-12, Louisville, Ky. Contact Carl Forbes at cdkforbes_1@juno.com or Mike Coughlin at cough@minot.com.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780.