VETERANS

VETERANS

Vets council to meet

AUSTINTOWN — The United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at American Legion Post 301, 3652 Oakwood Ave.

Holiday celebrations

The National College of Business and Technology, 3487 Belmont Ave., is conducting Veterans Day celebrations on Monday at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. The 30-minute ceremonies will honor National College student, faculty and staff who are veterans of the Armed Services.

Association’s meeting

SALEM — The Salem Patriotic and Memorial Association will meet at AMVETS Post 45, 750 S. Broadway St. at 7 p.m. Monday. The agenda includes completing plans for a benefit spaghetti dinner.

PROMOTIONS

Completed requirements

Atty. Robert R. Melnick, with offices in Youngstown, recently completed his military education requirements at the Army Command and General Staff College and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps. Melnick, of Salem, and his wife, the former Diana Baum, have five children. He is the son of Gladys Melnick of Boardman.

HONORS

Awarded for research

Air Force 1st Lt. Mike Kripchak, a 2004 graduate of the Air Force Academy, was recently awarded an achievement medal for producing research that resulted in the publication of five journal articles and moved the Air Force closer to its goal of a deployable supercomputer. He led a team of Air Force, Navy and Army personnel to develop precision aids in selecting weapons for increased accuracy with reduced collateral damage, factors critical to the success of close air support in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Kripchak, a 2000 graduate of Chaney High School, is a quantum computing project officer stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. He is the son of Joe and Ethel Kripchak of Youngstown.

RETIREES

Leaving Air Force Reserve

Air Force Reserve Chief Master Sgt. Mark H. Miller has retired from the Air Force Reserve after 24 years of military service. Miller, the son of Donna L. Moore of Hermitage, Pa., and brother of Matthew C. Miller of Omaha, Neb., received the Air Force Commendation Medal and letters of appreciation from the president and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

Before retiring, he was a museum specialist at the National Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton.

Miller, whose wife, Mary Ann, is formerly of Hermitage, joined the Air Force in 1982. He trained as an electrical power production specialist and served tours of duty in Japan and Kettering, Ohio. In the Air Force Reserve, as an individual mobilization specialist, he served tours of duty at Wright-Patterson, Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., and Robbins Air Force Base, Ga.

He graduated in 1982 from Sharpsville High School and received an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force.

DEPLOYED

Back from duty in Iraq

Marine Corps Cpl. Benjamin Kilar, promoted to his current rank while serving seven months in Al Asad, Iraq, with the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, has arrived back in the United States and is assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Kilar, the son of Tom and Marikay Kilar and a 2004 graduate of Hubbard High School, is home on leave.

Returned from overseas

Army National Guard Sgt. Jarett H. Buchanan has returned to the United States after being deployed overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Buchanan, a military policeman, is a member of the 1st Battalion, 213th Air Defense Artillery, based in Spring City, Pa. A 2002 graduate of Grove City, Pa., High School, he is the son of Theodore T. and Pamela S. Buchanan of Grove City.

BASIC GRADS

Air Force: Airman Justin S. Clark (Niles McKinley High School, ’07), son of Scott Clark of Warren, and Valorie Landis of Austintown; Airman 1st Class Chelsie R. McCall (Crestview High School, New Waterford, ’07) sister of Cheryl McCall of New Waterford, and niece of Tori Thomas of Struthers; Airman Jacquelyn N. Haines (East Liverpool High School, ’07).

Army: National Guard Pvt. Michael B. Lester (Columbiana High School, ’03), son of Tara Six of Columbiana; Pvt. Mikael L. Klotz (Austintown Fitch High School, ’07), son of Marci Emery of Austintown; Pvt. Brett P. Iannarelli (Riverside High School, Ellwood City, Pa., ’07), son of Janet Iannarelli of Ellwood City; National Guard Pfc. Robert H. Landsberger, son of Paula Landsberger of New Waterford; Pvt. Heather M. Barkey (Beaver Community College, Pa., ’07), daughter of Ray Barkey of Volant, Pa.; National Guard Pvt. Chase R. Crago (Austintown Fitch High School), son of Crispin Crago of Austintown and Annabelle Milkovich of Youngstown; Pvt. Brenton T. Witherow, son of Tom Witherow of Lisbon.

Coast Guard: Seaman Apprentice Nicole M. Garling (Austintown Fitch, ’04), daughter of Michele E. and Kenneth E. Garling of Austintown.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Frank A. Kalna IV (Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa., ’06), son of Toni L. Cull and Frank A. Kalna III, both of Hermitage; Seaman Apprentice Daniel G. Smith (Reynolds High School, Greenville, Pa., ’07), son of Sharon E. and David N. Smith of Greenville.

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.