ARMED FORCES DIGEST

ARMED FORCES DIGEST

VETERANS

Freedom Days

Whispering Oaks retirement community, 260 S. Buhl Farm Drive, Hermitage, Pa., invites the public to its Freedom Days Celebration in honor of local veterans Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event offers information on services for veterans, including the Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance Pension Program under which veterans and surviving spouses could be eligible to receive up to $2,582 per month tax-free. All veterans who wear their military uniforms will earn a prize. To register for the celebration or to learn more, call Whispering Oaks at 724 347-3050.

In celebration of this event, seniors who tour Whispering Oaks before Sept. 30 will receive a Freedom Days scratch card for the chance to instantly win up to five years of free rent.

RETIRING

29 years in Air Force

Air Force Col. Ronald J. Mozzillo, chief of the Expeditionary Combat Support Division, Directorate of Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, is retiring after 29 years of service.

Mozzillo, son of the late Ralph and Elizabeth Guarino Mozzillo of Girard, was the command’s primary interface with mission-support commanders in the field, and responsible for developing and coordinating cross-functional command policies and process initiatives supporting the provision of expeditionary and garrison mission support for the command.

The colonel, brother of Donna Miller of Girard, entered the Air Force through the basic military and officer training schools at Lackland AFB, Texas. He is a master navigator with more than 2,700 flying hours in T-37, T-43 and B-52 aircraft.

He served in various capacities with the 5th Bomb Group and was bomber navigator adviser and chief of the Personnel Issues Branch at Headquarters Air Combat Command.

Mozzillo commanded the 9th Mission Support Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., and had various other command assignments including support-group commander for the U.S. military training mission to Saudia Arabia from 2000 to 2002. He was senior military assistant to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq during a one-year deployment there.

He graduated in 1982 from Youngstown State University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration and received a master’s degree in business administration in 1992 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. He also graduated from several military schools, including Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College.

Among his major awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Department of State Meritorious Honor, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Mozzillo’s retirement ceremony was in July at Scott AFB, followed by a celebration at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Jon Miller, Girard.

28 years in Army

Army Col. Richard T. Curry, son of James and Barbara Curry of Boardman, has retired after 28 years of service. Curry is a 1974 graduate of Boardman High School and attended Youngstown State University.

His overseas assignments included Korea, Kuwait and two tours in Iraq, the first as battalion commander of the 1-107th Cavalry and the second as commander of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

His major awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation (Iraq), and the Order of Saint George (Armor), Order of Saint Maurice (Infantry) and Order of Saint Barbara (Artillery) Medals.

Curry and his wife, Christine, will reside in the Columbus area.

HONORS

Coast Guard medal

Coast Guard Lt. Mike Snyder, son of Karla R. Snyder and William M. Snyder, both of Mercer, Pa., was recently awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal while serving as co-pilot aboard Coast Guard helicopter CG6011 after the successful search and rescue of two fishermen in the Cape Cod Canal.

The helicopter was dispatched from Air Station Cape Cod, Maine, after a call was received from the Carol and Allison, a 38-foot fishing boat in distress. The search-and-rescue mission began an hour before sunset and continued into the night. The mission was conducted during rough seas, 40 mph winds, heavy rain and low visibility. Snyder displayed outstanding piloting skills during the rescue efforts, allowing the crew to recover the fishermen without injury, the Coast Guard said.

Snyder graduated in 1999 from Mercer Area High School and in 2003 from the Coast Guard Academy.

DEPLOYED

In Afghanistan

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. David C. Thomas of Canfield, a 1985 graduate of Chaney High School, is deployed to Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment with headquarters in Brook Park, Ohio. He is commander of the 1st Platoon in the unit’s Security Forces Co. Thomas, the son of Norma and Robert Thomas of Youngstown, was deployed to Iraq in 2005.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Army War College

Army Reserve Lt. Col. Lisa L. Doumont has graduated from the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa., with a master’s degree in strategic studies. The college is the Army’s senior educational institution. Doumont is an executive officer assigned to the 256th Combat Support Hospital at Twinsburg. The colonel is a resident of Winchester, Va., when not on active duty. She is the daughter of Lillian E. Johnson-Ward of Youngstown and mother of Patrick J. Doumont of the Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and Nicholas R. Doumont of the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. She is a 1984 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman Taylor S. Snyder (East Palestine High School, '08), son of Scott Snyder of East Palestine; Airman 1st Class Asia N. Vernon (Jackson-Milton High School, North Jackson, '02), daughter of Deborah Kaloci of Lake Milton; Reserve Airman Cody A. Smeltzer, honor graduate (United Local High School, Hanoverton, '08) son of Shayne Smeltzer of Lisbon.

Army: Pvt. Allen R. Parker (Greenville, Pa., Senior High School, '09), son of Laurie Parker of Greenville.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Kyle A. Owens (Lordstown High School, '05), son of Pamela B. and Dana L. Owens of Lordstown.

910TH AIRLIFT WING

Vehicle operator

Air Force Reserve Airman Julian C. Kalis has arrived for duty at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Vienna, where he is a vehicle operator assigned to the 910th Logistics Readiness Squadron. He is the son of Kathy M. and Christopher J. Kalis of Canfield and is a 2009 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School.

Items 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.