VETERANS

VETERANS
Elected president of fund
J.P. Brown III, national second vice commander for AMVETS and national deputy representative for Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS), has been elected president of the James H. Parke Memorial Youth Scholarship Fund. Brown, of Youngstown, was tapped for the position at the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service 60th Annual National Advisory Committee (NAC) meeting in Sparks, Nev.
The James H. Parke Memorial Fund, made up of VAVS NAC member organizations, was established in 1976 to serve as the nonprofit source of funds for a VAVS Youth Scholarship. Annually, each VA medical center may nominate one VAVS student volunteer for consideration.
Groups' officers elected
Col. Walter Duzzny (U.S. Air Force, retired), director of the Mahoning County Emergency Management Services, has been elected 2006-07 president of the Mahoning County Chapter of the Reserve Officers Association. Other officers include: Willard J. Stamp, vice president; Paul Stepuk, treasurer; and William Meshot, secretary.
Pam Ferguson was elected president of the Reserve Officers Association Ladies for 2006-07. Other ROAL officers include: Bonnie Rasile, vice president; Carol Stepuk, secretary; and Rita Hendricks, treasurer.
Annual biking event set
The ninth annual Bikes for Vets, sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Pennsylvania, is from noon to 4 p.m. June 17 at the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Home, 560 E. Third St., Erie, Pa. There will be prizes and a picnic lunch. Bike judging will be done by veterans of the Soldiers and Sailors Home. For more information, call (814) 459-5773.
PROMOTIONS
Air Force Airman
Air Force Airman Stephen R. McFate was promoted to his present rank while serving as a C-17 crew chief with the 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. He is the son of Robert and Janet McFate of Enon Valley, Pa., and a 2003 graduate of Mohawk Area Junior Senior High School, Bessemer, Pa.
HONORS
In command of 934th
Air Force Reserve Col. Timothy E. Tarchick, a Howland native and former member of the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, recently took command of the 934th Airlift Wing at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn. The 934th is equipped with eight C-130H Cargo aircraft.
Formerly, Tarchick was commander of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla.
Tarchick is the son of George and Amy Tarchick of Howland. He graduated from Howland High School in 1978 and Youngstown State University in 1984. He and his wife, the former Cynthia Clow, have six children.
DEPLOYED
Supporting mission
Air Force Master Sgt. Phillip E. Dobay is deployed overseas at a forward-operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dobay, a flight superintendent of force protection with 21 years of military service, is normally assigned to the 92nd Communications Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Wash.
He is the son of Phil and Margaret Dobay Brookfield. He graduated in 1984 from Brookfield High School, and received an associate degree in 2005 from the Community College of the Air Force.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Graduated from course
Army Pfc. Pamela D. Higginbotham has graduated from the Ammunition Specialist Advanced Individual Training course at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala. She is the daughter of Bruce L. St. Clair of Ellwood City, Pa., and Sandra L. Higginbotham of St. Marys, Ohio. Higginbotham is a 2005 graduate of Memorial High School, St. Marys.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman Evan L. Johnston (Poland Seminary High School, '05), son of Eric Johnston of Poland, and Monica Dietrich of Mars, Pa.; Airman Brian G. Sterling (Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa, '00), son of Diane Sterling of Hermitage; Airman Brett D. Preston (Reynolds High School, Greenville, Pa., '05), son of Mary Preston of Transfer, Pa.; Airman Baron J. Reynolds (Chaney High School, '00), son of Yvette Cruz and grandson of Ralph Cruz, both of Youngstown; Airman Autumn L. Fife (Lakeview High School, Cortland, '05), daughter of Todd and Evelyn McCart of Cortland; Reserve Airman 1st Class Jared L. Thompson (Crestview High School, Columbiana, '05), son of David and Regina Thompson of Leetonia; Reserve Airman 1st Class Kyle R. Rhodes (Crestview High School, Columbiana, '05), son of Bill and Kelly Rhodes of Leetonia; Airman Nicholas A. Delio (Poland Seminary High School, '03), son of Terrence Kachurek of Marengo, Ohio, and Jennie Delio of Poland; Reserve Airman 1st Class Brian H. Horner (Niles McKinley High School, '99), son of Ruth Horner of Niles.
CIVIL AIR PATROL
Officer of the year award
James Evans Jr., son of Jim and Pam Evans of Berlin Center, was recently named Ohio Wing Cadet Officer of the Year for Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force youth auxiliary.
James is a member of the Youngstown Air reserve Station's Composite Squadron, and has achieved the rank of cadet first lieutenant. He has received the Mitchell Award and the Wright Brothers Award, and attended the CAP Honor Guard Academy and CAP Engineering Technologies Academy, where he was chosen as Honor Cadet. He was also selected as the Honor Junior Officer at the Ohio Wing Encampment at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton.
James is a sophomore at Western Reserve High School, where he is a member of student council, the band and the Quiz Bowl team. He is also a varsity letterman in cross country and track.
James, a member of the Youth Leadership Mahoning Valley Class of 2006, will attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership conference at Mount Union College. He will also attend the Cadet Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and the Air Education and Training Command Familiarization Course at Columbus AFB, Miss.
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.