ARMED FORCES DIGEST

ARMED FORCES DIGEST

VETERANS

Council sets meeting

YOUNGSTOWN — The United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at American Legion Post 15, 35 Cortland St., Poland.

PROMOTIONS

Army Reserve

Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder, the sister of Leanne G. Grinnell of Stoneboro, Pa., was promoted to her current rank while assigned as the Army's deputy chief of the Army Reserve at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

Before her current assignment, Eder was the Army’s deputy chief of public affairs and also was a member of the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee.

During her 30-year military career, Eder has been mobilized for three active-duty tours since Sept. 11, 2001. She has commanded at the company, battalion and brigade levels, and has had additional joint experience, serving with the U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, in the capacity of deputy director of public affairs.

As a civilian, she served as the director of public affairs at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Her awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

Eder graduated in 1971 from Lakeview High School in Stoneboro and received a bachelor’s degree in 1975 and a master’s degree in 1976, both from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. She also has several cousins in the area including Virginia Bonacker of Sharon, Pa.; and Joseph and Bonnie Burch, both of Oil City, Pa.

Beaver graduate

Air Force Senior Airman Alisha M. Sollick was promoted to her current rank while assigned as a C-17 aircraft loadmaster with the 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Sollick, the daughter of Roger and Jo Sollick of East Liverpool, and the granddaughter of Anita Pedro of Towanda, Pa., is a 2002 graduate of Beaver Local, Lisbon.

Newest squadron

Air Force Col. Matthew L. Kell was named the first commander of the Air Force Materiel Command’s Intelligence Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton. An activation ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force signaled the birth of the command’s newest squadron. The AFMC Intelligence Squadron is a direct reporting unit to the AFMC director of intelligence.

Kell, a 23-year military veteran, is the son of Stanley L. and Justina Kell of East Palestine. He graduated in 1979 from East Palestine High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1983 from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. He earned a master’s degree in 1988 from the State University of New York at Binghamton, N.Y.

DEPLOYED

Third tour of duty

Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam A. Yankush, son of Alex Yankush and Karen Conklin, both of Liberty, was recently deployed to Iraq for his third tour of duty in the Middle East. He will be stationed at Tikrit, north of Bagdad. Before this deployment, he was stationed in Korea for a year and most recently at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. Yankush, a 1994 graduate of Ursuline High School, is in the intelligence branch of the Air Force.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Ammunition course

Marine Corps Pfc. Courtney M. Kuhns, daughter of Lorene Martin and David Kuhns, both of Lisbon, recently graduated from the Ammunition Technician Specialist Course while assigned to Marine Corps Detachment Redstone Arsenal, Ala. Kuhns is a 2002 graduate of Lisbon David Anderson High School of Lisbon.

MISCELLANEOUS

Cell Phones for Soldiers

HERMITAGE, Pa. — A local office supply store is taking part in a nationwide effort to collect used cell phones to help American soldiers abroad stay in touch with their families. Residents with phones to donate can take them to Hicks Office Plus locations at 1920 E. State St., Hermitage, and 114 S. Center St., Grove City, Pa.

The cell phones are then recycled for cash and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards for soldiers serving in the Middle East. Each donated cell phone will be sent to ReCellular, which will pay the Cell Phones for Soldiers program enough for each phone to provide one hour of talk time to a soldier.  ReCellular reconditions and resells phones to 40 countries and reclaims materials from phones which cannot be salvaged. The goal of Cell Phones for Soldiers is to provide every U.S. soldier with a way to call home free.

BASIC GRADS

Air Force: Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Vinessa M. Cilli (South Side Area High School, Hookstown, Pa., ’98, Waynesburg College, Pa., ’07), daughter of Marchelle Harvey of state Route 14, East Palestine; Airman David W. Perry (Maplewood High School, Mecca, ’05), son of Beverly Perry of Farmdale; Airman William R. Forsman (Canfield High School, ’07), son of Richard Forsman of St. Augustine, Fla., and Nena Forsman of Canfield; Airman Zachary D. Russell (Howland High School, Howland ‘07), Niles; Airman Garie J. Routhieaux (David Anderson High School, Lisbon, ’03), son of Jodi Routhieaux of Lisbon.

Army: Pfc. Shayla McGrady (Orange Park High School, Orange Park, Fla., ’07), sister of Natasha McCain of Orange Park, and Trina McCain of Youngstown; Pvt. Samantha M. Owens, wife of Clarence Perkins, who is the son of Tim Perkins of Southington; Reserve Pvt. Amber L. Buckner (Neshannock High School, New Castle, Pa., ’07), daughter of John Buckner of New Castle, and Lu Ann Znosko of Butler, Pa.; Sgt. William R. Seskey (North Hills High School, Pittsburgh, ’02, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., ’06), son of William Seskey Sr. of East Liverpool, and Janine Kenzig of Pittsburgh; Pvt. Michael C. Richards (Sharpsville High School, Sharpsville, Pa., ’04), son of Scott A. Richards of Hermitage, Pa., and Lori E. Richards of Sharpsville, Pa.

Marine Corps: Pvt. Jose Pagan (Mahoning Valley Opportunity Center and Chaney High School, ’07), son of Wadly and Anna Vega of Youngstown.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Kirstin E. Ladesic (Wilmington Area High School, New Wilmington, Pa., ’07), daughter of Suzanne E. Ladesic of West Middlesex, Pa. and Michael J. Ladesic of New Castle, Pa.; Seaman Recruit Jonathan R. Hughes (Champion High School, ’07), son of Linda L. Harms of Cleveland, and Paul C. Hughes of Warren; Seaman Emily K. Hall (Canfield High School, ’00), daughter of Shari L. and Andrew J. Hall of Canfield; Seaman Recruit Christopher J. White (Niles McKinley High School, ’04), son of Debbie A. and Roy A. White of Niles; Seaman Alex Graham (David Anderson High School, Lisbon, ’00).

910TH

Personnel programs

Air Force Reserve Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Krohn, a personnel programs supervisor, has been assigned to the 910th Military Training Facility at Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station in Vienna. Krohn, the son of Anita J. Krohn of Youngstown, graduated in 1992 from Woodrow Wilson High School, Youngstown, and received an associate degree through the military extension program in 2007 from Central Texas College, Washington, D.C.

ROTC

Course graduate

Giani N. Ruffo graduated from the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Wash. Ruffo is a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a son of Brian K. and Darlene L. Ruffo of West Middlesex, Pa. He is a 2004 graduate of West Middlesex Junior-Senior High School.

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.