Armed forces digest

VETERANS

Morse to speak at meeting

CANFIELD — Earl Morse, president of Honor Flight, is guest speaker at the United Veterans Council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Mahoning Veterans Memorial at the Canfield Fairgrounds. Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that provides transportation for World War II veterans to see war memorials in Washington, D.C. Volunteers are needed to form a committee to bring the air flights to the Youngstown-Warren region. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Barry Landgraver of the Mahoning Veterans Service Commission at (330) 740-2451.

RETIREMENT

Geister leaves Air Force

Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Geister, a native of Austintown, retired from the Air Force during recent ceremonies at his last duty station, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

Geister, the son of Alberda Geister of Austintown and the late John Geister, joined the Air Force under the delayed enlistment program in November 1986. Trained in heating and air conditioning and ventilating systems and power generation, Geister’s duty stations included Francis E. Warren AFB, Wy.; Galena Airport, Alaska; Castle AFB, Calif.; and Holloman AFB, N.M.

While at Castle AFB, he was deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Southern Watch, where he was the noncommissioned officer in charge of the HVAC/R shop responsible for the support of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. At Robins AFB, as part of the 78th Civil Engineers, he was NCOIC of the Industrial Mechanical and HVAC/R shop. During his career, Geister deployed three times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in Aatar.

Geister retired to Bonaire, Ga., with his wife, the former Linda Davis of Mineral Ridge, and their three daughters, Jessica, Marissa and Emma.

PROMOTION

Jayne promoted to major

Air Force Maj. Tara M. Jayne, promoted to her present rank while assigned as chief of optometry services at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, will be transferred to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in August for three years.

Jayne is the daughter of Samuel and Christine Paul of Austintown, and the daughter-in-law of Ronald and Patricia Jayne of Youngstown. Her husband, Ronald Jayne Jr. works for the B.J. Alan Co. of Youngstown.

Jayne graduated from Austintown Fitch High School in 1993, from YSU with a bachelor of science degree in 1994, and then from the Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2003. She was commissioned into the Air Force in November 2001, and entered active duty after graduation from OSU in June 2003. She is an optometrist for the Air Force, and while stationed at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., from 2003 to 2005, was deployed to the Dominican Republic on a humanitarian-assistance mission and received the Space Command Company Grade Officer Optometrist of the Year award. She was stationed at Osan AB, South Korea, before going to Hickam, from which she was deployed to the Philippines and Thailand on Joint Service Humanitarian Assistance Missions in 2007 and 2009 and received CGO of the year award for 2006 and 2007.

DEPLOYED

Burk-Layton returns

Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Vickie L. Burk-Layton has returned to her regular assignment with the 444th Adjutant General Human Resources Company, Pittsburgh, after being deployed to an overseas forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Burk-Layton is a human-resources specialist with 26 years of military service. She is the daughter of Margie A. Stevenson of Stoneboro, Pa., and sister of Robin L. Greggs of Mercer, Pa., and is a 1976 graduate of Lakeview High School in Stoneboro.

Thompson in Iraq

Army Spec. Jason E. Thompson has deployed to Iraq to support the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A wheeled-vehicle mechanic, Thompson is normally assigned to the 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. He is the son of Kenneth and Debra Lynn Holt of Youngstown and graduated in 2007 from The Rayen School.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman Dedra A. Roach (East Liverpool High School, ’07), daughter of Mellissa Coats of Chester, W.Va., and Ronald Roach of East Liverpool; Airman Leah G. Peterson (Grove City, Pa., High School, ’08), daughter of Patty Peterson of Grove City, and niece of Julie Ollila of Mercer, Pa.; Airman 1st Class Christopher L. Turjan, honor graduate (West Middlesex High School, ’04), son of Harvey and Karen Turjan of West Middlesex, Pa.; Airman Matthew J. Mong, honor graduate (Reynolds Junior-Senior High School, Transfer, Pa., ’02), son of Thomas Mong and Marsha Kennedy, both of Greenville, Pa.; Airman Robert W. Padgett Jr. (East Palestine High School. ’08), son of Penny Miller of East Palestine.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Lashonda D. Casillas (Aurora Central High School, Aurora, Colo., ’08), daughter of Kimberly K. Casillas of Aurora, Colo., and Davoy G. Casillas of Hermitage, Pa.; Seaman Eric C. May (Poland Seminary High School, ’92), son of Richard and Lois May of Poland.

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.