Armed Forces Digest

VETERANS

VA office to be closed for accreditation

MERCER, Pa. — The Mercer County Veterans Affairs office will be closed March 8-12 for accreditation training at Fort Indiantown Gap. The office will reopen March 15, said Gary Solander, director of veterans affairs for Mercer County.

PROMOTIONS

Arrived for duty

Army Reserve Sgt. Derek L. Miller has arrived for duty at the Ottumwa Army Recruiting Station, Iowa. Miller, an Army recruiter with eight years of military service, is assigned to the Minneapolis Army Recruiting Battalion.

He is the son of William J. and Linda Miller of Wellsville. His wife, Jessica, is the daughter of Dallas H. and Christie Yeager of East Liverpool. He is a 2000 graduate of Wellsville High School.

DEPLOYED

On the USS Carney

Navy Lt. Ronald J. Williams, son of Virginia G. and Roger J. Williams of Girard, is assigned to the USS Carney, based in Mayport, Fla., which recently deployed for about six months to the Mediterranean and Middle East.

The USS Carney will join Carrier Strike Group Eight in support of anti-piracy, air defense, maritime security and theater-security- cooperation operations with coalition partners.

Williams is a 1990 graduate of Girard High School, a 1995 graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, and a 2007 graduate of Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.

Returning to the US

Army National Guard Spec. Justin H. Robinson is returning to the U.S. after a deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom.

Robinson, a Chinook helicopter door gunner, is a member of Company B, 104th General Support Aviation Battalion, based in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. He is the son of Diane Robinson and Randy Robinson, both of Grove City, Pa., and graduated in 2003 from Grove City High School.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman Adam C. Long (Mercer High School, Pa., ’09), son of Georgi Roth of Grove City, Pa.; Airman Nicholas C. Stowers, honor graduate (East Liverpool High School, ’08), son of Michelle Allison and Craig Stowers, both of East Liverpool; Air National Guard Airman Craig D. Noel (Crestview Local High School, Columbiana, ’07), son of Dave and Christine Noel of East Palestine; Airman Eric L. Bates (Beaver Local High School, Lisbon, ’08), son of Jean Bates of East Liverpool.

Marine Corps: Pfc. Xavia A. Roch (Chaney High School, ’09), daughter of Betsy Roch of Youngstown; Pfc. Wyatt J. Duffield, son of Dana L. and David J. Duffield of East Liverpool.

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