VETERANS

VETERANS
Flag disposal ceremony
Lowellville American Legion Post 247 will conduct a United States Flag disposal ceremony at the City Hall Memorial from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Damaged flags can be brought to the ceremony for proper disposal. For more information, call (330) 757-9449 or (330) 550-2985.
RETIREMENT
Air Force sergeant retires
Air Force Master Sgt. William T. Miller III, son of Dorothy and William McBride of Poland, and the late William T. Miller Jr., has retired after 22 years in the military.
Miller, a 1984 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, enlisted in the Air Force that same year, completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, and then attended technical training at Keesler AFB, Miss., in wideband communications equipment.
His duty stations during his career included tours with the 2186th Communications Squadron in Spain; the 609th Tactical Control Squadron, Hessich-Oldendorf Air Station, Germany; the 507th Tactical Air Control Center Squadron Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He later returned to Riyadh for Operation Southern Watch.
In 1997, he was selected for assignment to the White House Communications Agency, Anacostia Naval Station, Washington, D.C., where he provided direct support for the president, vice president and first lady.
In January 2001, Miller, who now lives in Alamagordo, N.M., arrived at his final assignment, the 4th Space Control Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M., where he was chief of maintenance support and maintenance flight chief, and where he was promoted to master sergeant.
Miller's medals and awards include the Defense Meritorious Serve Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He also received the Presidential Service Badge and Master Maintenance Badge.
PROMOTIONS
New warrant officer
Army Chief Warrant Officer Jack C. Van Zanten was promoted to his current rank while serving as a command food adviser with Headquarters, Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Ga. The 33-year veteran is the brother of Jeanette E. Stumpf of Ridgway, Pa., and nephew of Velma Perdian of Hermitage, Pa. His wife is the former Connie Vail of Altamont, Ill.
Officer Candidate grad
Army 2nd Lt. Samuel M. Burns was commissioned to his current rank upon graduation from the 14-week Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. He is the son of Joseph R. and Diane L. Burns of Greenville, Pa.
HONORS
Maryland graduate
Army Sgt. 1st Class Damon Draught has received a bachelor's degree in business and management from the University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, Md. In addition, the sergeant recently was selected for the university's masters in management and finance program.
Draught, a detachment sergeant stationed in Baumholder, Germany, is the nephew of Nellie Franklin of Warren. His wife, Sonja, is the daughter of James and Carolyn Rawlings of Warren. He graduated in 1991 from Warren G. Harding High School, Warren.
DEPLOYED
95 sent to Kosovo
Ninety-five soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard's Co. D, 148th Infantry Battalion at Akron-Canton Airport, mobilized this month for a mission in support of the 29th Infantry Division's deployment to Kosovo. The unit's call to duty ceremony was Wednesday. The soldiers will receive specialized training at Fort Dix, N.J., to prepare them for a yearlong mission performing NATO peace operations.
Staff sergeant overseas
Air Force Staff Sgt. William K. Archuleta is deployed overseas at a forward-operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Archuleta, an air transportation specialist, is normally assigned to the 38th Aerial Port Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
Archuleta, the son of Sid and Vicky Archuleta of Warren, graduated in 1990 from Maplewood High School, and received an associate degree in 1993 from ETI Technical College, Niles.
Guard soldier home
Army National Guard Spec. John W. Ray has returned to the United States after being deployed to an overseas forward-operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ray, a chemical operations specialist, is assigned to the 103rd Battalion, at the Armory in Philadelphia. His wife, Alice, is the daughter of Andrew P. Patterson of Stoneboro, Pa., and Wanda G. Patterson of Grove City, Pa.
Girard man returns
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Parillo of Girard has returned from a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean and Black seas. He is assigned to the USS Porter in Norfolk Va. While overseas, Parillo received a promotion and a Commanding Officer Letter of Commendation.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Air Force basic
Air Force 2nd Lt. Jason R. Hardman graduated from the 12-week Air Force Basic Officer Training program at Maxwell AFB, Ala. Hardman, a logistics readiness officer, is the son of Karen S. Postlehwait of Cortland. He is a 1997 graduate of Maplewood High School and a 2004 graduate of the University of Maryland.
30-day desert exercise
Army Pvt. Tyler E. Wheaton and Sgt. Eric J. Pahon, members of the Army 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash., recently participated in a 30-day training exercise at the National Training Center for desert warfare at Fort Irwin, Calif.
Wheaton, the son of Ron E. and Laureen L. Wheaton of Sandy Lake, Pa., is a 2003 graduate of Lakeview High School, Stoneboro, Pa.
Pahon, a broadcast journalist, is the son of Kenneth and Teri Pahon of Boardman. He graduated in 1995 from Boardman High School and received a bachelor's degree in 2005 from the University of Southern California.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman Bradley M. Benedictus (Lakeview High School, Cortland, '99), son of Michael Benedictus of Cortland, and Lauretta Rapone of Warren; National Guard Airman 1st Class John J. Kajtar (Jackson-Milton High School, North Jackson, '03, and the Choffin School of Nursing, Youngstown, '06), son of John Kajtar Sr. of Seville, and Debra Kajtar of Austintown; Airman Xanadu Z. Moldenhauer (Chalker High School, Southington, '04), daughter of Stephen and Dolores Moldenhauer of Warren; Airman Lance E. Santos (Navarre High School, '04), son of Melody Santos of Navarre, Fla., and grandson of Edward Cleckner of Cortland; Reserve Airman 1st Class Matthew D. Shuffstall (Mohawk High School, Bessemer, Pa., '05), son of Floyd Shuffstall of Fredonia, Pa.
Army: National Guard Spec. Daryl B. Okresik (Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa, '92, and Penn State University, University Park, Pa. '98), son of Donna Okresik of Hermitage; Reserve Pvt. Anthony M. Rogers, honor graduate, (New Castle Senior High School, '05), son of Steve Rogers of New Castle, and Marylee Rogers of East Palestine; Reserve Pvt. Larry N. Yake (Jamestown, Pa., High School, '01), son of Larry and Carla Yake of Jamestown.
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.