ARMED FORCES DIGEST

VETERANS

Pension-report help

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission is offering help to veterans and widows receiving nonservice-connected disability pensions and widow’s pensions in completing their annual eligibility-verification and medical-expense reports.

Because of ever-changing Veterans Affairs Department policies, it is best to seek advice from an advocate to ensure continued receipt of benefits, said Barry E. Landgraver, service commission executive director. For tips and information on maintaining VA pensions, call the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission at (330) 740-2451.

HONORS

Bronze Star recipient

Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Hughes, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hughes of Girard, and a graduate of Ohio State University, was awarded the Bronze Star while serving as deputy commander, 407th Air Expeditionary Group, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Base, Iraq.

Hughes, deputy commander of the 116th Mission Support Group, 116th Air Control Wing, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., recently returned from a six-month deployment to Iraq.

The Bronze Star is awarded to members of the military for heroic or meritorious achievement while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States, and is the 10th-highest award that a military member can receive.

While deployed, Hughes led six squadrons with more than 700 members spanning two Air Expeditionary Force rotations. His leadership enabled the safe operation of more than 5,400 joint coalition, civilian, interagency, fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned-aerial-vehicles missions fighting insurgents and conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He led the Joint Emergency Operations Center, directing explosive ordnance disposal, fire and security force response teams amid several multirocket attacks. He also led the group amid a serious P-3C Orion aircraft ground accident and the near- simultaneous recovery of a UH-60 helicopter fire, both of which were followed by an enemy rocket attack. He was successful in the movement of more than 40,000 personnel and 12,000 tons of cargo and preparation of the airfield for return to the Iraqi Air Force.

DEPLOYED

East Liverpool graduate

Army Spec. Julie R. Dine has deployed to Iraq to serve in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dine, an automated logistics specialist with three years of military service, normally is assigned to the 249th Quartermaster Co. at Fort Bragg, N.C. She is the daughter of Jodi Dine of East Liverpool and Dosman R. Dine of Glen Allen, Va., and is a 2006 graduate of East Liverpool High School.

Returned to US

Army National Guard Sgts. John T. Conticelli and Robert L. Greimann II have returned to the United States after being deployed to an overseas forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are members of the 1st Battalion, 108th Field Artillery, based in Carlisle, Pa.

Conticelli, a field-artillery automated tactical data systems specialist with six years in the military, is the son of John R. and Karen E. Conticelli of West Middlesex, Pa. He graduated in 2003 from West Middlesex Junior-Senior High School and received a bachelor’s degree in 2008 from Slippery Rock University.

Greimann, a cannon-crew member with 13 years in the military, is the son of Robert L. and Kayren J. Greimann of Wheatland, Pa. His wife, Carrie, is the daughter of Kenneth and Carol Ulan of Farrell, Pa. He is a 1996 graduate of Farrell Area High School.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Reserve Airman Robert J. Comstock III, basic training honor graduate (Boardman High School, ’09), son of Robert and Pamela Comstock of Boardman.

Army: National Guard Pvt. Shane W. Javens (Salem High School, ’08), son of Cheryl Javens of Salem; National Guard Pvt. Greg A. Bookwalter (Grove City, Pa., Area High School, ’09), son of Greg Bookwalter of Grove City and brother of Justine Bookwalter of Slippery Rock, Pa.; Pvt. Cody M. Blake (Sebring McKinley High School, ’09), son of Robert Blake and Tiffany Burns, both of Sebring.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Todd D. Kuti (Austintown Fitch High School, ’09), son of Cherylann and Robert J. Kuti of Austintown; Seaman Recruit Robert J. Alexander Jr., son of Robert J. Alexander of Youngstown; Seaman Recruit Joseph D. Prox (Niles McKinley High School, ’09), son of Michelle R. Prox of Niles and Glenn M. Prox of Salem.

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.