VETERANS

VETERANS
Legion of Honor bill
COLUMBUS -- A bill aimed at establishing a new honor for Ohio veterans has received its first hearing in the Ohio Senate. Introduced by Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd, of Liberty, the bill would create a Legion of Honor Certificate to be issued through the Governor's Office of Veterans Affairs. The bill has been assigned to the Ohio Senate State and Local Government and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
If passed, any veteran honorably discharged from any conflict, including World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, would be eligible for the certificate. If the veteran is deceased or listed as missing in action, the family would be able to apply to the Veterans' Service Commission for the honor.
New specialty plates
HARRISBURG -- Three new commemorative license plates are now available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to honor veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for veterans of general service, said state Rep. Dick Stevenson of Grove City, R-8th, sponsor of the legislation that created the specialty plates.
The plates cost $20 in addition to the normal annual registration fee. PennDOT is required to certify those veterans applying for such plates as serving in one of the above-mentioned military campaigns, or in the case of the general service veteran plate, any military service by the applicant.
Specialty license plates are only available only for passenger cars, motor homes and light trucks with a registered gross weight of 9,000 pounds or less. Specialty plates are not available for motorcycles and trailers.
For more information, visit the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services Web site at www.dmv.state.pa.us.
PROMOTIONS
Chief petty officer
Navy Chief Petty Officer Sean A. Heinz, son of Elizabeth A. and Thomas C. Heinz of Austintown, was promoted to his current rank while serving with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Zero, Patuxent River, Md. Heinz is a 1994 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School.
Petty officer first class
picNavy Petty Officer 1st Class Amy Conklin-Hensdill, a hospital corpsman, was promoted to her current rank while stationed at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va. During her enlistment, she spent three years at the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy, and served nine months in the deserts of Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Conklin-Hensdill, a daughter of Linda Conklin of Canfield and the late William Conklin, is married to Aaron Hensdill. She is a 1993 graduate of Canfield High School.
Second lieutenant
picAir National Guard 2nd Lt. Meghan 12/6/05 ok E. Connell was promoted to her current rank upon graduation from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. She is assigned to the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, where she is a C-130 pilot candidate.
Connell, a daughter of Mary C. and Patrick M. Connell of Canfield, is a 1999 graduate of Canfield High School and a 2004 graduate of Kent State University, where she received a degree in aeronautics.
HONORS
Achievement medal
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John H. Johnson, son of Cassandra L. Johnson of Youngstown, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal while serving as group administrative clerk for Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. Johnson is a 2000 graduate of Orange High School, Pepper Pike.
DEPLOYED
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Air Force Airman 1st Class Andrew C. Scherer is deployed overseas at a forward operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Scherer, of Montgomery, Texas, is a cardiopulmonary laboratory journeyman regularly assigned to the 759th Medical Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
His wife, Heather, is the daughter of Luther Griffiths of Indian Run Road, and Barbara and Joseph Morell of Callahan Road, all of Canfield.
At overseas location
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tenika H. Hodge is deployed overseas at a forward operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hodge, an airfield management craftsman, is normally assigned to the 97th Operational Support Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.
She is the daughter of Brenda Green of Austintown, and Herbert Green of Altus, Okla. Hodge, whose grandmother, Myrtle Butler, lives in Youngstown, is a 1992 graduate of East High School.
Flight chief overseas
Air Force Master Sgt. Scott Heberling is deployed to an overseas forward-operating location to support the missions of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Heberling is a flight chief regularly assigned to the 75th Security Forces Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah.
He is the son of Richard and Diane Heberling of New Middletown and a 1983 graduate of Springfield High School.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Graduates of course
Two area residents graduated from the Light-Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic Advanced Individual Training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. They are:
Army Reserve Pvt. Nicholas A. Bailey, son of Richard F. Bailey of Sodom-Hutchings Road, Farmdale, and Yvonne D. Stull of Sodom-Hutchings Road N.E. Northeast, Vienna. He is a 2005 graduate of Maplewood High School, Cortland.
Army Pvt. Daniel V. Mellott, son of Victoria O. Mellott of Lisbon. He is a 1998 graduate of David Anderson Junior/Senior High School, Lisbon.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman Jessica L. Cearfoss (New Castle, Pa., Senior High School, '05), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Cearfoss of New Castle.
Army: Reserve Pvt. James F. Foster (Calvary Christian Academy, Mercer, Pa., '96), son of Debra Paulson of Sharpsville, Pa.; Pvt. Sandra F. Nickell (Austintown Fitch High School, '97), daughter of Connie Nickell of Youngstown.
Navy: Seaman Recruit Dean A. Bates (Joseph Badger High School, Kinsman, '05), son of Barbara J. Craig of Kinsman, and Dean A. Bates of Bristolville.
Items 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.