VETERANS
VETERANS
Dinner, dance planned
A Thanksgiving dinner and dance will be at American Legion Posts 732 and 504, 2225 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown, from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday. The cost is $3 per person.
Displaying support
The United Spinal Association, a national veterans and disability rights organization, is offering two free items to help people display their support of America's veterans and troops.
One is a pamphlet that details proper etiquette when showing the American Flag. The second is a bumper sticker that says: "American Is #1 Thanks To Our Veterans." Single free copies of each item are available by calling (800) 444-0120 or ordering online at the group's Web site: www.unitedspinal.org.
RETIREMENT
Ends Air Force service
Lt. Col. Tamara Link, a veteran of the Gulf War, recently retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service as a nurse. Link, the daughter of Robert and Nancy Link of Liberty, retired from her last duty station at Pope Air Force Base, Fayetteville, N.C.
A 1980 graduate of Liberty High School, Link received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Bowling Green State University in 1984, and her master of science degree in nursing in 1998 from the Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Md.
During the Gulf War, Link was responsible for evacuating battle casualties by aeromedical evacuation. Her duty assignments included posts in California, Azores (Portugal), Germany, South Carolina and North Carolina. She received numerous decorations. Link lives in Sanford, N.C., where she is working as a family nurse practitioner in a clinic in Sanford.
PROMOTIONS
Army sergeant
Army Sgt. Robert Kirkpatrick was promoted to his present rank while assigned as a team leader in C Company 1/503 Infantry Air Assault, 2nd infantry Division, at Camp Manhattan in Ramadi, Iraq. Kirkpatrick, a 2002 graduate of Girard High School, is a son of Bob and Joyce Kirkpatrick of Girard.
Meritorious advance
Marine Corps Pvt. Joshua J. Marriotti, son of Laurie L. Weigle of Streetsboro, and David K. Marriotti of Hermitage, Pa., was meritoriously promoted to his current rank while serving with Marine Detachment, Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla. Marriotti is a 2001 graduate of Hickory High School in Hermitage.
Becomes a captain
Air Force Capt. Kristopher Kripchak, a meteorologist, was promoted to his current rank while assigned as acting flight commander of regional weather for the 11th Operational Weather Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, Alaska. Kripchak, a 1996 graduate of Chaney High School and a 2000 graduate of Akron University, is the son of Joe and Ethel Kripchak of Youngstown.
HONORS
Scores high on range
Marine Corps Cpl. Anthony F. Nagle, a native of Struthers, a tank gunner with Company B, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2d Marine Division, participated in cross-training with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment to teach infantry Marines the limits and capabilities of the $3 million M1A1 tank.
Nagle and his tank team, of which he is second in command, were recognized for scoring the highest among the 64 tanks in the battalion on the firing range.
Nagle is scheduled for deployment to Iraq in January or February 2005, which could prevent him from being home when his wife, Erin, gives birth to their first child, expected in March.
Nagle, a son of Dan and Sue Nagle of Struthers, is a 2001 graduate of Struthers High School, where he was an outside linebacker for the football team.
On 'Old Ironsides'
Navy Seaman Brooke Skinner, daughter of Richard Skinner of Warren and Diane Morgan of Negley, is one of 60 crew members serving aboard the nation's oldest warship, the USS Constitution -- "Old Ironsides" --- based in Boston, Mass. Skinner conducts tours, stands watch and attends training.
DEPLOYED
2 from area sent to Iraq
Army Pfcs. Kenneth S. Williams and Timothy J. Ohlin, regularly assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army, based in South Korea, have been deployed to Iraq.
Williams is the son of Diane E. Bailey and Kenneth D. Williams of Wellsville. He graduated in 2000 from Wellsville High School.
Ohlin is the son of William D. Ohlin of New Middletown. He is a 1996 graduate of Springfield High School.
Returned to home port
Navy Airman Michael Jordan, son of Tammy Hawkins and George Jordan, both of Youngstown, has returned to his home port of San Diego, Calif., after a deployment in support of the global war on terrorism, while serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Belleau Wood.
Jordan is a 2002 graduate of Chaney High School.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Graduated from course
Army Pvt. Todd E. Cope has graduated from the Unit Supply Specialist Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Lee, Va. Cope is the son of Catherine A. Cope of Girard, and Thomas E. Cope of Niles. He is a 2001 graduate of McDonald High School.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman Zachariah A.C. Blower (East Palestine High School, '04), son of Tod Blower and grandson of Bill Blower, both of New Middletown; Airman Thomas E. Brest Jr. (Sharpsville, Pa., High School, '04), son of Thomas Brest of Sharpsville; Airman Teresa Plumley (East Liverpool High School, '04), daughter of Virginia Plumley of East Liverpool; Airman 1st Class Jereamy M. Day (Mathews High School, Vienna, '04), son of Harry and Tammy Day of Vienna; National Guard Airman 1st Class Brendan T. McNally (Canfield High School, '00), son of Thomas McNally of Canfield and grandson of Frank Esposito of Boardman; Airman Sean M. Tullis (Joseph Badger High School, Kinsman, '04), son of Judith Tullis of Burghill; Airman Adam E. Demesko (Ursuline High School, '99), son of Barbara Demesko of Youngstown; Airman Anthony J. Horvath (Struthers High School, '04), son of Fred Horvath of Geneva Avenue and Sue Horvath of Ridgeway Street, both of Struthers.
Army: Pvt. Marvin E. Fry (Lakeview High School, Stoneboro, Pa., '01), son of Howard Fry of Sandy Lake, Pa.; Pvt. Mathew A. Myers, son of Troy Myers of Jamestown, Pa.
Navy: Seaman Recruit Thomas K. Costantini (Steubenville High School, '04), son of Maryann and William Costantini of Steubenville; Seaman Joseph R. Lecocq (Salem High School, '98), son of Debra J. and Robert J. Lecocq of Salem; Airman Apprentice David J. Fox (Chaney High School, '02), son of Rebecca S. Fox of Youngstown and Robert J. Fox of Austintown.
ROTC
Completes course
Lucas V. Rees has graduated from the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Wash. Rees is the son of David A. Rees of Smethport, Pa., and Sandy Morris of Niles. He graduated in 2001 from Smethport Junior Senior High School.
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.