ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

PROMOTION

Poland native

Navy Capt. James Thomas Hosack has been promoted to his current rank at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va.

Hosack, a 1978 graduate of Poland Seminary High School, served four years in the Army, five years in the Ohio National Guard as a military policeman, and since 1988, served in the Navy as a nurse-corps officer.

A highlight of his career was to serve as a White House nurse to the president. He is serving as associate director for primary care and branch health clinics at the medical center in Portsmouth.

He and his wife, Carrie, to whom he has been married 24 years, have two sons, J.T., 22, and Brennan, 20. He is the son of Earl and Shirley Hosack of Poland.

Bristol graduate

Navy Airman John D. Evans, son of John D. Evans Sr. of Warren, was promoted to his current rank upon graduation from recruit training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Evans is a 2009 graduate of Bristol High School of Bristolville.

VETERANS

Deadline reminder

Veterans are reminded to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay before the Oct. 21 deadline.

Although the Department of Defense announced the program in October 2009, the majority of eligible service members have yet to apply for the special payment they are due.

Under Stop Loss Special Pay, eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that the member was retained on active duty due to stop loss.

Service members, including members of Reserve components, former and retired members, are eligible if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, while their enlistment was extended, or whose retirement was suspended, due to the terrorist attacks in 2001.

The Defense Department estimates about 185,000 personnel are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. Extensive information is available at www.defense.gov/stoploss.

ACTIVE DUTY

Lakeview graduate

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jesse P. Redmond, son of Sharon K. Wiseman of Cortland, recently reported for duty with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, Okinawa, Japan. Redmond is a 2009 graduate of Lakeview High School.

DEPLOYMENT

Afghanistan service

Several local people attached to the 3rd Battalion 25th Marines, stationed in Moundsville, W.Va., recently were deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 3rd Battalion is a reserve infantry unit whose mission is to repel the enemy assault by fire and close combat.

Those deployed are Cpl. Steven M. Bennett, son of Sharon M. Yuhas and Gregory L. Bennett, both of Boardman; Pfc. Joshua M. Coil, son of Michelle D. and Gary L. Coil of East Liverpool; Pfc. Chad E. Dewitt, son of Kimberly A. Mountain of Poland and Christopher Dewitt, of Salem; Lance Cpl. James R. Graham, son of Roberta and Dave Graham of North Jackson; Lance Cpl. Michael J. Lesko, son of Paula E. and Leonard S. Lesko of Boardman; Cpl. Ryan V. Romack, son of Doreen J. and Victor A. Romack of Warren; and Cpl. Shane P. Ott, a 2004 graduate of New Castle Senior High School, New Castle, Pa.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Officer course

Rebecca L. Marrie has graduated from the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky.

The four-week course is a leadership internship for cadets that can lead to the ultimate goal of becoming an Army officer.

She is the daughter of Donald P. and Linda M. Marrie of Poland.

Marrie is a 2008 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown.

Marine specialist

Marine Corps Pfc. Jessie L. Meredith, daughter of Carol L. and Richard K. Meredith of New Springfield, recently graduated from the Marine Aviation Operations Specialist Course. Meredith is a 2005 graduate of Springfield Local High School of New Middletown and joined the Marines in March.

Copter maintenance

Marine Corps Pfc. Arthur L. Talbert, son of Stephanie D. and Arthur L. Talbert of East Liverpool, recently graduated from the CH-53 Helicopter Airframe Organizational Maintenance Course at Fleet Replacement Skills Training, Helicopter Marine Training 302, Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, N.C. After graduating, Talbert reported with Naval Aviation Technical Training Marine Unit New River, Marine Corps Air Station, Jacksonville, N.C.

He is a 2009 graduate of East Liverpool High School and joined the Marines in August 2009.

BASIC TRAINING

Navy: Seaman Recruit Kyle S. Hedrick (Warren G. Harding High School, Warren, ’10), son of Stacey J. and stepson of Keith A. Stone, both of Warren; Seaman Thomas M. Fitzwilliams (Youngstown Chaney High School, ’04).

Army: Pfc. Joseph T. Underwood (Ursuline High School, ’06), son of Tina Underwood and grandson of Delores Mitchell, both of Youngstown.

Coast Guard: Seaman Jaime D. Shearer (West Middlesex High School, West Middlesex, Pa., ’04; Flagler College, St. Augustine, Fla., ’08), daughter of Susan L. and Larry A. Shearer of New Wilmington, Pa.

REUNIONS

82nd Airborne Division Association: 48th All Ohio Days, Friday through next Sunday, Toledo; 23rd Florida Airbone Days, Oct. 20-24, Orlando, Fla.; 65th annual convention, Aug. 10-14, 2011, Reno, Nev. For details, write to Airborne Reunions, 5459 Northcutt Place, Dayton, OH 45414; call 937-898-5977; or e-mail, srgabn@aol.com

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 news@vindy.com