VETERANS

VETERANS

Ohio Military Relief Fund

YOUNGSTOWN — Barry Landgraver, head of the Mahoning County Veteran Service Commission, urges veterans who have been wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq to apply for $500 grants that are available through the Ohio Military Injury Relief Fund. The fund, established in 2005, has about $1 million from donations designated for the fund when residents fill out their income tax forms, Landgraver said. He said the service commission has the forms necessary to apply for the money.

Landgraver said qualifying injuries include any physical injury suffered in the line of duty, or a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder incurred while serving on active duty in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. Required items for receiving the benefit are a completed application, copy of honorable discharge and military activation orders, IRS Form W-9, proof of injury and proof of Ohio residency. For more information, call the veteran service commission at (330) 740-2451.

Veteran-owned businesses

YOUNGSTOWN — Veterans and reserve and active military members are invited to join the U.S. Small Business Administration for a discussion of assistance to veteran-owned businesses 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Youngstown State University Metro Campus at Southwoods Commons in Boardman, Room 207. The presenter is John Renner, veterans business officer with the U.S. Small Business Administration in Cleveland.

The following topics will be addressed: Patriot Express loan program (a new business loan initiative specifically for members of the military and veterans); general selling to the federal government with an emphasis on the mandated 3 percent goal for service disabled veteran owned small businesses and the self imposed 7 percent Veterans Administration goal; and an opportunity in November to meet buyers from federal agencies and large businesses who are looking for veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

To register, call Rosie Sulik with the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU at (330) 746-3350.

Council meeting set

YOUNGSTOWN — The United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Mahoning Veterans Memorial at VFW Post 93, 2912 South Ave.

Supplies for troops

WARREN — The Horizon Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 2473 North Road N.E., is sponsoring a drive to collect basic supplies for troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anyone who wants to contribute items such as toothbrushes, baby wipes, deodorant, soap, lotions and suntan lotions may contact Mike McBride at (330) 372-2251.

PROMOTIONS

Navy chief petty officer

Navy Chief Petty Officer David G. Yuengert, a 1993 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High, was promoted to his present rank while stationed at the 32nd Street Naval Base in San Diego, Calif. During his career, he has served on the USS Bunker Hill and USS Hue City. Yuengert is the son of Barbara A. (Bodnovich) Yuengert of Austintown and David J. Yuengert of Olathe, Kan. He and his wife, the former Ahalya Holly Stanley, a 1994 graduate of Ursuline High School and daughter of Carol Downs of Lafayette, Colo., and Tim Stanley of Youngstown, have three children.

DEPLOYED

Back from Iraq

Marine Corps Cpl. Michael R. Wilson was promoted to his present rank Oct. 1 after completion of a seven-month deployment to Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Wilson has arrived back in the United States and is assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron Unit 371 in Yuma, Ariz. He is scheduled to arrive home Tuesday for three weeks. Wilson is the son of Douglas and Patricia Wilson of Struthers and is a 2005 graduate of Struthers High School.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Medical school

Navy Ensign Jessica L. Bluhm, a 2003 graduate of Neshannock High School, New Castle, Pa., was recently accepted into the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine on the campus of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. While attending the School of Medicine, students are considered active-duty military and receive pay of an active-duty Navy ensign. Upon graduation, students will be promoted to lieutenant, 0-3, and are expected to serve a minimum of seven years’ active duty and six years on inactive ready reserve.

BASIC GRADS

Air Force: Airman Matthew L. Smith (Austintown Fitch High School, ’07), son of Daniel and Jo Ann Smith of Austintown; Airman Bryan A. Enos (Mohawk Junior-Senior High School, Bessemer, Pa., ’06), son of Alan and Paula Enos of Edinburg, Pa.; Airman Kimberly A. Fox (Lakeview High School, Cortland, ’07), daughter of Robert and Patricia Fox of Cortland; Airman Adam T. Rudolph (Grove City High School, Grove City, Pa., ’05), son of Timothy and Donna Rudolph of Grove City; Airman Shawn C. Carvin (Howland High School, ’07), son of Chris Carvin and Kimberly Doran, both of Warren.

Army: National Guard Pvt. Reeva M. Black (Grove City High School, Grove City, Pa., ’07), daughter of Cynthia Lasko of Grove City, and granddaughter of Jackie Ludwiczak of New Kensington, Pa.; National Guard Pvt. Erik W. Riffle (Champion High School, ’06), son of Gary Riffle of Champion.

Navy: Seaman Apprentice Andrew I. Urey (Wilmington Area High School, New Wilmington, Pa., ’07); Seaman Joseph T. Hutter (Hubbard High School, ’07), son of Lisa K. Hutter of Salem.

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.