Sunday, October 26, 2008
PROMOTION
United grad earns wings
Navy Ensign Jordan Brye was recently awarded his Naval Flight Officer Wings of Gold in a winging ceremony at Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
Brye is completing advanced P-3 NFO training and will join his assigned squadron, VP-45, in January 2009. The VP-45 Pelicans of Jacksonville NAS fly the Orion P-3C, a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft.
Brye is a 2007 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a 2003 graduate of United Local High School. He is married to the former Angela Walentowski of Crandon, Wis., and is the son of Courtney and Elaine Brye of Winona.
DEPLOYED
Major deployed to Iraq
Army Maj. Joseph C. Richey was deployed to Iraq for one year, effective September 2008. A 1992 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, Richey, the son of John and Elvera Richey of Austintown, received a degree in political science in 1996 from St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y. Richey and his wife, Allison, have a son, Carter.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Sergeant trains in Germany
Air Force Tech Sgt. Christopher M. Sweet participated in the annual 14-day U.S. European Command-sponsored exercise Combined Endeavor 2008.
The exercise, conducted from the Baumholder Training Area, Lager Aulenbach, Germany, enabled interoperability between U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization/Partners for Peace military communications equipment by documenting and exercising technical and procedural solutions.
The sergeant, a network operations supervisor, is assigned to the 1st Combat Communications Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Kaiserslautern, Germany. He is the son of Kenneth and Nancy Sweet of Jefferson, and a 1990 graduate of Jefferson High School. His wife, Jessica, is the daughter of Jim and Renee Pondillo of Youngstown.
Officer participates in computer-simulated exercise
Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael L. Baker participated in Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States that tests the command, control and communications functions in wartime conditions using computer-simulated scenarios.
Baker, an information systems technician, is regularly assigned to the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii. He is the son of Robert and Theresa Baker of Youngstown, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1982 from Pace University in New York City and a master’s degree in 2004 from Hawaii Pacific University.
BASIC TRAINING
Air Force: Pvt. James A. Inghram (Boardman High School, ’06), son of Trinka Inghram of Boardman and James Inghram of Austintown; Air National Guard Airman Nathan V. Michael (basic training honor graduate and 2007 graduate of Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa.), son of Lisa Michael and Van Michael, both of Hermitage; Reserve Airman 1st Class Christopher A. Matzye (Austintown Fitch High School, ’05), son of Damon and Joyce Matzye of Austintown.
Army: National Guard Pvt. Christopher J. Gardner (Farrell Area High School, Farrell, Pa., ’07).
Marine Corps: Pvt. Adam Rios, son of Patricia and Mike A. Rios of Niles; Pvt. Travis W. Beckett, son of Vicky L. and Carl C. Beckett of Salem; Pvt. Ethan M. Johnson, son of Suzanne M. and Michael P. Johnson of Girard; Pvt. Sherry C. Phillips, daughter of Gerri A. Phillips and Napolean R. Lightning, both of Steubenville; Pvt. David J. Dickson, son of Kimala J. Callihan of Girard and David J. Dickson Sr. of Austintown.
Navy: Reserve Seaman Adam P. Reisinger (Jamestown High School, Jamestown, Pa., ’08), son of Darla Fry of Jamestown and Brian Reisinger of Meadville, Pa.; Seaman Recruit Ross M. Platt (Jefferson High School, Jefferson, ’08).
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.