ARMED FORCES DIGEST

VETERANS

Remembering Pearl Harbor

CANFIELD — Navy Engineman Chief Petty Officer (Surface Warfare) David A. Peterson of Hubbard is the main speaker for a service commemorating the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, to be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, at the Mahoning Veterans Memorial on the Canfield Fairgrounds.

After a brief service and wreath laying at the memorial, a light lunch will be served. All are welcome. For more information, contact John P. Brown III at (330) 726-2552.

Born in Perth Amboy, N.J., in 1972, Peterson entered the Navy in February 1991 and is command chief at the Navy Operational Support Center in Youngstown. While at Youngstown, he has been attending Kent State University in the evenings for the past three years and will graduate later this month. He and his wife, Deanna, have two sons, David and Devin.

Counseling services

YOUNGSTOWN — The Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center will provide free readjustment counseling and outreach services at Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, 345 Oakhill Ave., Suite 100.

Veterans who served in any combat zone, and their family members, have earned these benefits through their service, said Barry E. Landgraver, executive director of the county veterans service commission. For more information and scheduling, contact Jaime Page at (216) 932-8471.

Tax-exemption bill

COLUMBUS — Veterans disabled in the line of duty would be exempt from paying property taxes under legislation introduced last week in the Ohio Senate.

Sen. Tim Schaffer, a Republican from Lancaster, said at least 30 other states already provide property tax relief to disabled veterans, and Ohio should follow suit.

“Giving them relief on their property taxes is a small way to repay the sacrifices they have made to protect our democracy,” Schaffer said.

His bill is directed at veterans who were disabled in the line of duty and who were discharged or released honorably.

Freedom Awards

ARLINGTON, Va. — Ohio National Guard is urging members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families to thank supportive employers by nominating them for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the federal government to employers for their support of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Ohio is one of the top 12 states and territories with the highest numbers of nominations to date. In addition to honoring 15 employers this year, 2010 marks the 15th anniversary for the award.

Nominations will be accepted at www.FreedomAward.mil through Jan. 18. Award nominees will be announced in mid- winter 2010 and the 15 recipients will be announced in early summer. For questions regarding the Freedom Award, visit www.FreedomAward.mil or contact Maj. Melissa Phillips at (703) 380-9262.

DEPLOYED

Yankush returns to Iraq

LIBERTY — Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam A. Yankush, a 1994 graduate of Ursuline High School and son of Alex Yankush and Karen Conklin, both of Liberty, was recently deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq where he serves in the intelligence branch. This is his fifth tour of duty in the Middle East. Yankush and his wife, Nicole, have a daughter, Lila.

Freer mobilized

EAST PALESTINE — Army Reserve Maj. Josef D. Freer has been mobilized and activated for deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Freer, a company commander, is a member of the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion based in Whitehall, Ohio. The son of Ronald L. and Toni G. Freer of East Palestine, Freer is a 1991 graduate of East Palestine High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1996 from the University of Akron.

Vidovic enters 6th Fleet

JEFFERSON — Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher A. Vidovic, son of Crystal L. and Adrian J. Smith of Jefferson, a member of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, Norfolk, Va., and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp Lejeune, N.C., recently departed the 5th Fleet and entered 6th Fleet’s area of operations after traveling through the Suez Canal and entering the Mediterranean Sea. Vidovic is a 2006 graduate of Jefferson High School.

PROMOTIONS

Hahner made sergeant

Army Sgt. Philip Hahner was promoted to his current rank while deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C., serving with Bravo Co., 4th Brigade in Afghanistan.

Hahner, a 2004 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, is the son and stepson of Lori and Larry Senvisky of Austintown and son and stepson of Philip and Tracey Hahner of Berlin Center.

Passewitz is 1st Lt.

Army 1st Lt. Patrick Passewitz was promoted to his current rank while serving in eastern Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne Division. Passewitz, also a 2004 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and a 2008 graduate of Slippery Rock University, is the son of Tom and Darrel Passewitz of Austintown.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman Morgan K. Padgett (East Palestine High School, ’09), daughter of Connie Berresford of East Palestine; Airman Darnell L. Walker (Chaney High School, ’09), son of Tahnee Hall of Youngstown; Airman Anthony J. DiBiase Harris (Beaver Local High School, East Liverpool, ’09), son of Lori Brooks of Clover, S.C., and grandson of Cynthia Harris of East Liverpool.

Army: Pvt. Justin T. Paige (Boardman High School, ’06), son of Terrance M. Paige of Youngstown and Gwendolyn Hardin of Fairburn, Ga.

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.