RETIREMENT

RETIREMENT
Ending career in Navy
Command Master Chief Michael Tsikouris, a 1973 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School, is retiring from the Navy on Friday.
Tsikouris, son of the late Nicolas and Mary Tsikouris, enlisted in the Navy in 1975, completed recruit training in Orlando, Fla., and machinist's mate school at Great Lakes Naval Station, Ill. He later qualified as a surface warfare specialist.
He was promoted to chief petty officer in 1984. In 1987, he was promoted to senior chief petty officer. He advanced to master chief petty officer in 1991.
In 1994, he assumed duties as Command Master Chief aboard the USS Vicksburg until 1997, when he received orders to the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy as a facilitator and then as deputy director. In 2001, Tsikouris assumed the duties of Command Master Chief, USS Bataan, and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, qualifying as an air warfare specialist. In January 2003, he was assigned Command Master Chief, Recruit Training Command, at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, and assumed the duty of Command Master Chief, in August 2003.
Tsikouris is married to the former Norma Jean Dolan, a 1975 graduate of Campbell Memorial. They have three children: Nicholas, stationed with the Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and twin daughters, Anna, who is in the Navy in Florida, and Maria.
VETERANS
Seeking parade applicants
The Salem Patriotic and Memorial Association is seeking applicants for its Memorial Day Parade, which will be May 29 at 10 a.m. All participants who were in last year's parade are registered for this year. However, anyone interested in placing a new unit, or driving a convertible in the parade is asked to contact Sam McKinney at (330) 332-9810.
Groups elect officers
VFW Post 3332 and its Ladies Auxiliary elected officers for the 2006-07 year. They include:
Post 3332: Commander Ray Hanzes; senior vice commander Bill Straight; junior vice commander Bill Smith; quartermaster Steve Garcar; judge advocate Faustian Rapczak; chaplain Gideon Fetterolf; surgeon Herb Blevins; and three-year trustee Ron Widowfield.
Ladies Auxiliary: President Wanda Thompson; senior vice president Emma Gilanyi; junior vice president Louann Miller; treasurer Pat Beaulieu; chaplain Cheryl Waldorf; conductress Charlene Fluharty; guard Brenda Morrison; and three-year trustee Patti Hanzes.
ASSIGNMENTS
Command of squadron
Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph A. Less has assumed command of the 80th Operations Support Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
Less, the son of Joseph and Marianne Less of Columbiana, graduated in 1982 from Leetonia High School, and received a bachelor's degree in 1987 from Kent State University. His wife, Cynthia, is the daughter of Jerome and Helena Uzl of Auburndale, Fla.
PROMOTIONS
Lieutenant colonel
Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Hughes, son of Mitzi and Ralph Hughes of Girard, was promoted to his present rank while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., where he is a member of the United States Strategic Command.
Hughes is a 1984 graduate of Girard High School and a 1988 graduate of Ohio State University. He also has master's degrees from California State University in history/international relations and in military operational arts and science from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Ala., where he is slated to become an instructor.
Hughes and his wife, the former Ann Marie Lukaszewski, have two daughters, Alyssa and Kayla.
BASIC GRADS
Army: Spec. Brian D. Bevan (Warren G. Harding High School, Warren, '96, and Youngstown State University, '00), son of David A. and Joan T. Bevan of Warren; Reserve Pfc. Ryan C. Gillespie (Champion High School, '03), son of Brian and Susan Gillespie of Warren; Reserve Pfc. Terry Minteer Jr. (Lakeview High School, Sandy Lake, Pa., '05), son of Terry and Deb Minteer of Jackson Center, Pa.; National Guard Pvt. Ryan H. Jones (Woodrow Wilson High School, '05), son of Harvey Jones and Debra Wilson, both of Youngstown.
Marine Corps: Pvt. Michael R. Wilson (Struthers High School, '05), son of Douglas and Patricia Wilson of Struthers; Pvt. Michael A. Sopko (Struthers High School, '05), son of Ronald and Susan Sopko of Sharpsville, Pa., and Chris and Rick Pompeii of Struthers.
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.