Armed forced digest

VETERANS

U.S. flag retirement event

YOUNGSTOWN — American Legion Post 472, 323 East Indianola Ave., is having a United States flag retirement ceremony at the post from 2 to 4 p.m. April 18. The public is asked to bring their worn or tattered American flags to the post hall from 2 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through April 17. Call Bob Raver at (330) 501-88496 for more information.

3 take part in sports clinic

Three area veterans with disabilities participated in the 23rd National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo.

The clinic promotes rehabilitation by teaching downhill and cross-country skiing to veterans with significant physical or visual impairments. Veterans are also introduced to other adaptive activities such as rock climbing, scuba diving and sled hockey, and can attend educational workshops.

Area men who participated in this year’s event, from March 29 to April 4, and the branch of the military in which they served, are: Don Crago of Lowellville, Army; Richard Ackerman of North Bloomfield, Air Force; and Darrel McCauley of Warren, Navy.

Supplies will be sold

COLUMBUS — The Wright Patterson Air Force Base Commissary and Army Air Force Exchange Service are selling various items to authorized personnel at the Defense Supply Center in Columbus on April 25 and 26. Authorized users include active- duty military personnel, including National Guard and reservists, 100-percent-disabled veterans, retirees, and their dependents, who possess a valid military ID card.

The Defense Supply Center Public Safety Pass and ID Office will be open both days of the sale to provide ID cards and DSCC vehicle decals to eligible veterans and their families. The DSCC is at 3990 East Broad St., Columbus, Bldg. 17, Section 4. The hours are 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 25 and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Forms of payment are Visa, MasterCard, Star, American Express, check and cash. Items for sale include cereals, laundry and paper products, canned goods, juices, diapers, fresh meat, frozen pizza, HDTVs, cameras, Blu-ray players, bikes, large appliances, mowers, indoor plants, rugs, grills, recliners, beverages and related military items. For more information, call (614) 692-3141.

HONORS

Bronze Star Medal

Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel W. Paine has been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for his actions in a combat zone while deployed in Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.

His work as sergeant of the guard and supervisor in charge of visitation from November 2007 to May 2008 resulted in no successful escape attempts or major confrontations with any of the more than 2,000 detainees guarded by his compounds.

During three 107mm multiple rocket attacks, Paine ensured custody and control of detainees was maintained as sweeps for casualties and unexploded ordinance were completed, according to his citation.

Paine, who has served in the military for 24 years, is an investigations supervisor with the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron at Vogelweh military complex in Kaiserslautern, Germany. His wife, Trisha, is the daughter of David Marsteller of Sharon, Pa.

PROMOTION

Officer Candidate School

Army 2nd Lt. Peter R. Mrvos has graduated from the 14-week Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., where he was commissioned. He is the son of Elliott Mrvos of Hartstown, Pa., and Debra Fisher of Greenville, Pa. Mrvos graduated in 2004 from Jamestown Area High School, Pa., and received a bachelor’s degree in 2008 from the University of Pittsburgh.

DEPLOYED

With 3rd Battalion

Some area Marines and sailors are deployed with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Camp Lejeune, N.C., assigned as the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan. The Marines recently graduated 150 Afghan national policemen from an eight-week training program, and with Afghan national police in the lead, conducted a search of a high-interest village.

Area Marines deployed include:

Lance Cpl. Luke A. Johnson, son of Jeanette M. Caruso and Robert A. Johnson, both of Hubbard. He is a 2007 graduate of Hubbard High School.

Pfc. Jacob A. Merold, son of Carol J. Merold and Robert L. Merold, both of Hubbard. He is a 2007 graduate of Hubbard High School.

Returned from Iraq

Army National Guard Spec. Christopher R. Adams is returning to the United States after a deployment to the Iraqi Theater of Operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Adams, an infantryman with nine years of military service, is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry, based in Cambridge Springs, Pa. He is the son of Carl Adams of Erie, Pa., and Barb Pellice of Austintown, and is a 1991 graduate of Corry Area High School, Corry, Pa.

Back after deployment

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Marine Corps 1st Lt. Aaron T. Whiteman, son of Margaret J. Test and Thomas D. Whiteman, both of Hermitage, Pa., a member of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., has returned from a seven-month deployment to the Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleets’ area of operations in support of Maritime Security Operations and the Global War on Terror. He served aboard ships of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, Norfolk, Va.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman 1st Class Timothy J. Abbate (Beaver Local High School, Lisbon, ’08), son of David Abbate of Rogers; Airman 1st Class Janee M. Jenkins (Woodrow Wilson High School, ’07), daughter of Patti Jenkins and granddaughter of Oria Lumpkin, both of Youngstown.

Army: National Guard Spec. Roger C. Martig (West Branch High School, Beloit, ’99, and a bachelor’s degree Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, ’08), son of Sam and Debbie Martig of Sebring; Pvt. Benjamin V. Izzo (Farrell Area High School, Farrell, Pa., ’08), son of Kenneth J. Izzo of Farrell; Pvt. Jennifer D. Fry (Franklin High School, Franklin, Pa., ’06), daughter of Terry Fry Sr. of Oil City, Pa., and Mary Vanwormer of Sandy Lake, Pa.

Navy: Seaman Recruit William Rice (Niles McKinley High School, ’09), son of Christy Markopoulos of Niles.

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.