Armed Forces digest

VETERANS

Services for the homeless

NEW CASTLE, Pa. – Homeless military veterans and those who help them are invited to hear Daniel Slack, director of the Butler County Veterans Office Homeless/Outreach Clinical Coordinator, speak about services available to homeless veterans.

The event is from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday in the Lawrence County Commissioner’s meeting room in the basement of the courthouse. Slack will also talk about Butler County’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans’ Program.

Shirley Noga is director of Lawrence County’s Veterans Office.

RETIREMENT

Retiring after 21 years

YOUNGSTOWN — Army Sgt. 1st Class Winston C. Pegues Jr., son of Winston C. Pegues Sr. of Youngstown and the late Victoria E. Pegues of Youngstown and Decatur, Ga., has retired after 21 years of active duty.

Pegues, a decorated Iraq War veteran, underwent basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and advanced infantry training at Fort Lee, Va., and served as a petroleum supply specialist his entire career.

His duty stations included two tours of duty in Iraq; Baumholder, Germany; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Hood, Texas; and two tours in Korea.

He and his wife, Kimberly A., will reside in Midlothian, Texas.

HONORS

Inducted into regiment

NILES — Kenneth J. David of Niles, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Army’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, along with two comrades, Gregory P. Phillips and Stephen G. Avgerinos. The trio was part of D-Co., 1st Battalion, 2nd Platoon, who were wounded in an early-morning battle May 7, 1970, at Abandoned Fire Support Base Maureen.

Because of their heroic actions, David was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Phillips the Silver Star, and Avgerinos the Bronze Star with “V” Device. The three also received Purple Hearts for wounds they suffered during the battle.

Their induction ceremony took place at Fort Campbell, Ky., home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). David and the others were inducted by Col. John P. Johnson, commander of the 506th.

David was joined at Fort Campbell by his wife, MaryAnn; and his mother and father, Emil and Virginia David of Girard.

David, 58, is a member of the 506th Airborne Infantry Division Association, Disabled American Veterans Trumbull County Chapter 11 and Purple Hearts Chapter 606 in Warren.

DEPLOYED

Back from overseas

Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Flowers has returned to the United States after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Flowers, a unit supply specialist/supervisor, is normally assigned to the 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Rockville, Md. He is the son of Robert L. and Bernie C. Flowers of Campbell, and is a 1989 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School.

Serving in Afghanistan

Marine Corps Cpl. Richard C. Orto Jr. is serving a six-month deployment in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Orto, a 2005 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, is the son of Kathy Orto of Austintown and Richard Orto Sr. of Raleigh, N.C.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Robert C. Turczany (South Range High School, North Lima, ’06), son of Terri Turczany of North Lima.

Army: National Guard Pvt. Matthew C. Day, son of Christine Lucarell of Boardman, and Christopher Day of Long Pine Road, South Mills, N.C.

Marine Corps: Robert Waring (Campbell Memorial High School, ’09), son of Eileen Waring and grandson of Ted and Jennie Spencer, all of Campbell.

Navy: Seaman Jonathan J. Stone (Austintown Fitch High School, ’06), son of Doris M. and Walter W. Stone of Austintown; Seaman Donovan P. O’ Donnell (Leetonia High School, ’08), son of Rebecca Lewis of Salem, and Todd P. O’Donnell of Leetonia.

CIVIL AIR PATROL

Competed in national event

VIENNA — The Civil Air Patrol drill team at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station recently participated in the 2009 National Cadet Competition at Linfield College and Evergreen Air & Space Museum in McMinnville, Ore.

Area cadets won state and regional competitions to earn the right to compete in the national event. The Civil Air Patrol is the auxiliary of the Air Force. Its cadet program is for boys and girls age 12 to 20.

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.