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DEPLOYED

Saturday, January 7, 2006


DEPLOYED
Bilas sent to Iraq
Marine Corps. Maj. John E. Bilas, a Youngstown native, was recently deployed for one year in Iraq where he will be an intelligence advisor embedded with an Iraqi Army Brigade in Al Anbar Province.
This is Bilas' second deployment to Iraq within 18 months. He is stationed with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
A 1983 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Bilas graduated in 1987 from Youngstown State University.
He also has attended numerous military schools, including the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
Bilas' military service includes tours as an intelligence officer for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and as commanding officer for a Small Craft Company, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
He also was stationed at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., where he participated in numerous ceremonies for the U.S. President and visiting heads of state, and was platoon commander for the Marine Corps' Silent Drill Team in 1994.
Bilas is a son of John and Francis Bilas, and brother of Dennis Bilas, all of Poland. He is married to the former Kimberly Anzevino of Struthers. The couple have two children, Christine, 11, and Nicholas, 10, and live at Camp Pendleton.
A Battery mobilized
About 110 soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard's A Battery, 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery, located in Woodlawn, mobilized this month for a yearlong mission in Europe to support the Global War on Terrorism.
The soldiers will go to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to the Army's Military Police School, where they will receive specialized training to prepare them to perform law and order duties at Army installations in Germany.
3 Guard units return
Three Ohio Army National Guard units, totaling some 450 soldiers of the 612th Engineer Battalion, have returned home from a yearlong deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The units are: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Walbridge, 150 soldiers; Company C, Norwalk, 100 soldiers; and Company B, Tiffin, 100 soldiers.
Company B lost one soldier, Sgt. Jeremy M. Hodge, who was killed in action. Twenty-eight soldiers from the battalion received the Purple Heart for combat-related injuries.
Ceremony set in Stow
A public ceremony to welcome home 180 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 107th Cavalry, with headquarters in Stow, is at 6 p.m. Monday at John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., Akron.
The 1st Battalion mobilized in 2004 and arrived in Iraq in January 2005.
During its deployment, the unit operated the theater's only high-value criminal detainee facility and was responsible for the security and safety of some 140 high-profile former Iraqi regime members and suspected terrorists. In addition, the battalion conducted about 600 convoy security escort missions throughout Iraq.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman Timmie L.J. Batley (Youngstown Christian High School, '05), son of Timmie Batley of Detroit Avenue, and Sherry Brayer of East Boston Avenue, both Youngstown; Airman Timothy J. Tomayko (Riverside High School, Ellwood City, Pa., '04), son of August and Judith Tomayko of Ellwood City.
Army: Pvt. James R. Brady, son of Sally Buttermore of Youngstown; National Guard Pvt. Aaron C. Ahern, son of Roy Ahern of Hubbard, and Jane Robinson of Louisville, Ky.
Marine Corps: Pvt. Darren R. Brush, son of Pamela L. and Robert D. Brush of Hubbard.
REUNIONS
USS Maddox Destroyer Association (DD-168, DD-622, DD-731): June 21-25, Portland, Ore. Contact Ken Chestnut, 6844 Clara Lee Ave., San Diego, Calif. 92120.
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.