VETERANS

VETERANS

Help for ALS patients

MERCER, Pa. — Veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may receive support for themselves and their families after the Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that ALS will become a presumptively compensable illness for all veterans with 90 days or more of continuously active service in the military. According to Jeffrey W. Greenburg, public information officer for the Mercer County (Pa.) Veterans Affairs office, any veteran with the disease should call Gary Solander at (724) 662-3800, Ext. 2211.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake said his decision was based primarily on a November 2006 report by the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the association between active-duty service and ALS, which said veterans are developing ALS in rates higher than the general population.

ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neuromuscular disease that affects about 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States, is often relentlessly progressive, and is almost always fatal.

The new interim final regulation applies to all applications for benefits received by VA on or after Sept. 23, 2008, or that are pending before VA, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, or the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on that date.

Council meeting set

The United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown will meet at VFW Post 93, 2912 South Ave., at 7 p.m. Oct. 20.

Free offer from YMCA

COLUMBUS — Ohio is one of 10 states participating in a new YMCA and Department of Defense collaborative aimed at helping deployed National Guard members and their families.

The DoD has contracted with participating YMCAs throughout Ohio to provide free family memberships and child care while National Guard soldiers and Airmen are deployed for six or more months, said Military OneSource Consultant Mike Magnusson, a member of Ohio’s Joint Family Support Assistance Program. Eligible members can receive up to 18 months of free YMCA membership and 32 hours per month of free child care at participating YMCAs in Ohio. Child care may be available whether members take advantage of the free membership or not.

To find out if a local YMCA participates in the program, or for more information about signing up, call Military OneSource toll-free at (800) 342-9647.

DEPLOYED

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Army Reserve Spec. James F. Foster has been mobilized and activated for deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The specialist, a power generator mechanic with three years of military service, is normally assigned to the 157th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Willow Grove, Pa. He is the son of Debbra L. Paulson of Sharpsville, Pa., and is a 1997 graduate of Calvary Christian Academy, Mercer, Pa.

Begins 7-month tour

Marine Corps 1st Lt. Aaron T. Whiteman, son of Margaret J. Test of Hermitage, Pa. and Thomas D. Whiteman of Hermitage, Pa., along with more than 6,000 Marines and sailors of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), Norfolk, Va., and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., recently began a seven-month deployment to the Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations and the global war on terror.

BASIC TRAINING

Air Force: Airman Brittany N. Stephens (East Liverpool High School, ’06), daughter of Debbie Stephens of East Liverpool; Airman Jodi L. Mattocks (Shenango Valley Faith Academy, Hermitage, Pa., ’06), granddaughter of James Clary of Hermitage, and niece of Lisa Marcucci of West Middlesex, Pa.

Army: Pfc. Stephen DiDonato (Sharon High School, Sharon, Pa., ’97, and an associate degree, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, ’07), son of Gordana and stepson of Dale Caporossi of Sharon; Pfc. Brianne K. Phillis (Crestview High School, Columbiana, ’06), daughter of Kim Phillis of New Waterford.

Navy: Navy Seaman Porsha R. Corley (Campbell Memorial High School, ’06), daughter of Belinda E. Corley of Campbell; Seaman Nicholas M. Marriotti (Sharpsville High School, Sharpsville, Pa., ’06), son of Judy and stepson of Robert Bralich of Sharpsville; Fireman Apprentice Justin P. Roberts (Mohawk High School, Bessemer, Pa., ’08), son of Carrie A. and Charles P. Roberts of New Castle, Pa.; Seaman Recruit Jered R. Martin (Jamestown Area High School, Jamestown, Pa., ’07), son of Tina M. Rollins and Gerald R. Martin, both of Jamestown, Pa.

XItems of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com.