Armed forces digest

PROMOTIONS

Marine Corps Capt. Owen J. Paris was promoted to his current rank while stationed at Naval Air Station in Lemoore, Calif. Paris has received orders transferring him to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, where he will be flying the F/A-18 Hornet, a multimission fighter/attack aircraft.

Paris, a former Leetonia resident, received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Appalachian State University in 2004. He is the son of Debbie and Nick Mager of Poland and Jay and Carmi Paris of Marblehead, Mass.

Marine Corps Capt. Mark A. Selak was promoted to his current rank while stationed at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, San Diego, where he is a helicopter pilot flying the CH-52 Super Stallion.

Selak, married to the former Molly Roberts Hartman, is the son of August and Maria Selak of Girard. After graduating from Ursuline High School in 2001, he attended Duquesne University from which he received a bachelor’s degree in information systems in 2005.

HONORS

Ohio Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Michael Kane, a 2000 graduate of Boardman High School, will perform with the Air Force Band of Flight on July 6 at Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre in Boardman Park at 7 p.m.

Kane is the son of Joseph and Deborah Kane of Boardman and grandson of Suzanne Kane of Boardman and the late Francis Kane and William and Judy Melago.

Kane enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard shortly after graduation and is a member of the Air National Guard Band of the Great Lakes, formerly known as Triple Nickel. He has served in Swanton, 0hio, as part of the 180th Air National Guard for nine years.

He was a member of the Boardman High School band and orchestra, and graduated in 2005 from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He is manager of a Walgreens store in Stephen City, Va.

DEPLOYED

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Kirkpatrick of Girard has been deployed for a one-year tour of duty in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, his third combat deployment since 2004. Previous tours were in Fallujah/Ramadi Iraq in 2004-05 and Baghdad, Iraq, from 2006 to 2008. He is serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 4th Infantry Combat Brigade Team, 4th Infantry Division based at Fort Carson, Colo.

Kirkpatrick was recently married to a fellow soldier in Colorado. Both were scheduled to deploy, but she will not because they are expecting a child.

In previous deployments, Kirkpatrick served as a team/squad leader, humvee gunner/commander, unit marksman/sniper and trainer for the Iraq army. He was also responsible for the protection and transport of his brigade commander while in Baghdad as well as many high level visiting officials. He participated in some 150 missions in some of the most dangerous areas of Baghdad.

Kirkpatrick graduated from Girard High School in 2002 and is the son of Bob and Joyce Kirkpatrick of Girard.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher A. Vidovic, promoted to his current rank while serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, home ported in Norfolk, Va., has deployed as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to support Maritime Security Operations, provide crisis response capability, and increase theater security cooperation and forward Naval presence in the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of operation.

Vidovic, the son of Crystal L. and Adrian J. Smith of Jefferson, Ohio, is a 2006 graduate of Jefferson High School, and joined the Navy in June 2006.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Marine Corps Sgt. Evan T. Crowgey has graduated from the 12-week Explosive Ordnance Disposal Qualifying Course at the Navy Explosive Ordnance School at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

He is the son of Phil Crowgey and Tina Scipione, both of Salem, and grandson of Fred and Cathie Crowgey of Matthews, N.C. His wife, Alexis, is the daughter of Robert and Karen Grimm of Salem. Crowgey is a 2003 graduate of Salem High School.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman 1st Class Donald A. Sheen (United Local High School, Hanoverton. ’08), son of Don Sheen of Hanoverton; Airman Jason P. Landgraff (Poland Seminary High School, Poland, ’04); Airman Jesse R. Gamble (East Palestine High School, ’08), daughter of Stella and Daren Gamble of East Palestine; Airman First Class Michael J. Lord (Austintown Fitch High School, ’06), son of Teresa Lord of Austintown and Mark Lord of Dacula, Ga., and grandson of Peter Nagy of Youngstown.

Army: Pfc. Bryan J. Geltz (Poland Seminary High School, ’06, and Pittsburgh Culinary Institute, ’08), son of Becky and Jeff Geltz of Poland; Army National Guard Pvt. Kristian J. Hough (Salem Senior High School, ’07; Army National Guard Pvt. Ashley N. Melott (East Liverpool High School, ’06), daughter of Robin S. Melott of Wellsville; Reserve Spec. Jason P. Kampfer, son of Ronald E. Kampfer of Leetonia.

Marine Corps: Pvt. Wyatt Carlisle (Springfield Local High School, ’08), son of Jodie and Dan Carlisle of New Springfield; Pfc. Mark Evan Richmond Jr. (Springfield Local High School, ’08), son of Peggy and Mark Richmond Sr., of New Springfield.

Navy: Airman Jason R. Newhouse (Southern Local High School, Salineville, ’97), son of Saundra J. Newhouse of Salineville and Stephen R. Newhouse of Rogersville, Tenn.

MISCELLANEOUS

The American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter is offering free education and training to eligible families of military personnel from 9 to 10:30 a.m. July 18 at the Red Cross Boardman facility, 8392 Tod Ave., across from St. Elizabeth Health Center, Boardman Campus.

The 90-minute program, “Get to Know Us Before You Need Us,” offers insight into the services the Red Cross provides to members of the Armed Forces, as well as special classes and training opportunities for qualified participants available at no cost through a grant secured by the Mahoning Chapter. Call (330) 726-6063.

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.