VETERANS

VETERANS
Effort to save USS Barney
Navy veterans who served aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Barney DDG-6 are trying to raise funds to save their ship, which has been decommissioned and is scheduled to be cut up for scrap. The Miami-Dade Historical Maritime Museum wants to buy the Barney and turn it into a permanent part of its museum, which would save the ship from the scrap yard.
Two things must happen to save the ship, according to the USS Barney DDG-6 Foundation, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. The Naval Sea Systems Command, a department of the Navy, must put the Barney on museum hold, and $2 million is needed to refurbish the ship for display.
The Barney played a key role in the Cuban missile crisis, and to date, no U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer has been saved for public display, according to the association. People interested in the project can visit www.uss-barney-ddg6.org and click on "Save the Barney" for more information or to donate; or contact John Van Dusen, founder of the USS Barney Association, at 1007 Cambridge Drive, Carrollton, Texas 75007.
ITAM pupil essay contest
The Italian American Veterans National 2004 essay contest is open to pupils in grades seven through 12. The author of the winning essay will receive cash awards at the post, state and national levels. The deadline for entry is May 8. Locally, contact Lewis A. DiLallo, ITAM Post 3 essay chairman, at (330) 758-4120 or John E. Malys, ITAM Ohio Department essay chairman, at (330) 782-0340 for more information and applications.
WARRIOR OF THE YEAR
Event will honor recipient
The USO of Northern Ohio and the Newton D. Baker-Cleveland Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army will honor the Warrior of the Year from 29 northern counties of Ohio at the 31st annual Warrior of the Year luncheon. The event will be Feb. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 5300 Rockside Road, Independence. The guest speaker is Air Force Reserve Brig. Gen. Tim White.
The event is open to the public. For tickets, which are $20 each, write: Jim Maurer, 205 South Main St., Hudson, Ohio 44236, by Feb. 15. Select either London broil or stuffed chicken Sicily. Checks should be made payable to Association of the United States Army.
PROMOTIONS
Marine lance corporal
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. James R. Shiderly, son of Barbara A. and Richard Shiderly of East Palestine, was promoted to his current rank while serving with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C. Shiderly is a 2002 graduate of East Palestine High School.
Petty officer 3rd class
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik B. Adams, son of Kim A. Buckley and Jeff H. Adams of Greenville, Pa., was promoted to his current rank while serving with Mobile Mine Assembly Group Unit 15, Naval Air Station, Kingsville, Texas. Adams is a 2001 graduate of Greenville High School.
HONORS
Basic training honor grad
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher T. Orr, a 1998 graduate of Youngstown Cardinal Mooney High School and a 2002 graduate of Bethany College in West Virginia, was honor graduate of Platoon 2110 during basic training at USMC Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. Orr, son of Thomas and Kathleen Orr of Berlin Center, is undergoing advanced infantry training at Camp Geiger, N.C.
Combat Spurs Award
Army Pfc. Justin Wagner, son of Pamela Drennen of Sharpsville, Pa., has received the Combat Spurs Award, a U.S. Army Cavalry tradition dating back to the horse-mounted cavalry when the Army supplied spurs. Wagner is a 1998 graduate of Reynolds High School, Greenville, Pa.
DEPLOYED
Transportation unit
Air Force Airman 1st Class Stephanie Cetor Cole's transportation unit is scheduled to leave Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, next week for deployment to Iraq for at least 90 days. Cole, a daughter of John and Misha Cetor of Austintown, is a graduate of Austintown High School.
Headed for Middle East
Sgt. 1st Class Pat Billett, 635th Quartermaster Liaison Detachment, Farrell, Pa., is at its mobilization site at Fort McCoy, Wis., waiting for transfer to the Middle East for a one-year tour of duty. The 635th will manage petroleum operations for Iraq and Kuwait. He had previously served on active duty with the Army.
Billett, a 1986 graduate of Boardman High School, graduated from Youngstown State University in 1993 with a degree in public administration. He is district administrator for the Northeast District Office of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Coast Guard in Bahrain
Coast Guard Seaman Nick Poklemba of Canfield is serving on the island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf in the Patrol Forces of South West Asia as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Poklemba, a 2001 graduate of Canfield High School, is assigned to the land unit patrol of the Coast Guard. He is the son of Dan and Elaine Poklemba and brother of Katie Poklemba, all of Canfield.
864th Engineer Battalion
Several area residents who are members of the 864th Engineer Battalion, Fort Lewis, Wash., have been deployed to Iraq. They include:
UStaff Sgt. Randy C. Stephens, a senior construction equipment repairman. He is the son of Charles L. Tyson and Mary F. Washington of Vivian, La. His wife, Tasha, is the daughter of William and Joanne Mosley of Youngstown.
USgt. Rachel R. Smith, a carpentry and masonry specialist. She is the daughter of Joyce D. Morgan of Warren. Her husband, Lynn, is the son of Sydney Dunlap of Oklahoma City, Okla. Smith is a 1995 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, Warren.
Reservists activated
Several area reservists have been activated to support Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. They include:
UArmy Reserve Sgt. Yvette N. Curry, a health-care specialist at the Army reserve center at Columbus. She is the daughter of Ronald T. Kinney of Warren and is a 1990 graduate of Warren Western Reserve High School.
UArmy Reserve 1st Lt. Glynis A. Herns, a battalion chaplain assigned to the 319th Quartermaster Battalion, Warrensville Heights. Her mother is Elois C. Herns of Campbell. She graduated in 1981 from Campbell Memorial High School, received a bachelor's degree in 1986 from Youngstown State University and earned a master's degree in 1998 from Howard University, Washington, D.C.
UArmy Reserve Pfc. Darrell J. Guesman, a motor transport operator assigned to the 660th Transportation Company, Cadiz. His parents are Donald R. and Marlene C. Guesman of Leavittsburg, and he is a 2003 graduate of Labrae High School, Leavittsburg.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Cannon Crewman Course
Marine Corps Pvt. Brandon E. Gibbs, a 2001 graduate of Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa., graduated from the Cannon Crewman Course while assigned to the Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman 1st Class Stephanie R. Bates, daughter of Donald Bates of Birmingham, Ala., and Sherri Thornburg of Rogers; Airman Andrew T. Nannah (United High School, Hanoverton, '03), son of Kim Casto of Salem and Tim Nannah of Sebring.
Army: Pvt. Jesse C. Mahosky (Mohawk High School, Bessemer, Pa., '03), son of Charlie Mahosky of Wampum, Pa.; Pfc. Jared M. Hanna, One Station Unit Training (Greenville, Pa., High School, '01), son of Marsha Hanna of Greenville, Pa.
Navy: Seaman Apprentice John N. Lawrence, son of Jamie L. and Wayne A. Lawrence of Greenville, Pa.
Marine Corps: Pvt. Kenneth E. Grubb (Jackson-Milton High School, North Jackson, '03), son of Jessie D. Colescott of Austintown and William L. Grubb of Ravenna; Pfc. Joseph H. Courtney (Youngstown Chaney High School, '03), grandson of Barbara A. and Charles W. Elsbury of Youngstown.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com.