armed forces digest

armed forces digest

VETERANS

Akron

Two Boardman women, Jennifer Baun and Marlana Robertshaw, were inducted recently as president and vice president, respectively, of North Coast WAVES Unit 21.

Dalene Sherrod of Akron is the veterans organization’s treasurer, and Lillian Hawley of Wadsworth its secretary.

Baun served in the Navy from 1985 through 1991 as an Ocean System Technician Analyst and was discharged as a petty officer second class.

Robertshaw retired from the Navy as a counselor with the rank of petty officer first class. She completed her master’s degree in 2011 at Youngstown State University and is a licensed professional counselor.

Sherrod was a Mess Management Specialist in the Navy stationed aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). She served from 1998 to 2002 and was discharged with the rank of petty officer 3rd class. Hawley was discharged from the WAVES in 1955. She was a journalist during the Korean War era and held the rank of seaman.

WAVES National, established in 1979, is a Sea Service organization for women who have served or currently are serving in one of the sea services, and accepts women veterans. The local unit was organized 26 years ago.

PROMOTIONS

VIENNA

Air Force Reserve Col. Kenneth M. Herstine was promoted to his present rank while serving as inspector general at the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

Herstine, a 35-year military veteran, is the son of Mary A. Herstine of New Waterford and brother of Joyce A. Herstine of East Palestine. He graduated in 1976 from Crestview Local High School, Columbiana, and earned a master’s degree in 2003 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.

DEPLOYED

Two area men serving in the Navy, Seaman Apprentice Jonathan J. Leydic and Petty Officer 1st Class Richard K. Possert Jr., are aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99), which recently departed for a scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and to build on maritime partnerships in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility as part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the globe.

Leydic, son of Lori E. and David M. McLaren of Sharpsville, Pa., is a 2010 graduate of Sharpsville Area High School.

Possert, son of Debra L. Martin of The Villages, Fla., and Richard K. Possert Sr. of Hubbard, is a 1994 graduate of Hubbard High School.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Three area military members, Navy Petty Officers 3rd Class Barton D. McCoy and William P. Hanahan, and Marine Corps Cpl. Joseph E. Miller, all aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), formed a Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions committee, a peer-to-peer mentoring program geared toward assisting sailors in making positive decisions in all areas of their lives.

McCoy is a son of Jessica L. McCoy and James W. McCoy Sr., both of Hermitage, Pa., and is a 2009 graduate of Sharon High School, Sharon, Pa.

Hanahan is a 2005 graduate of Sharpsville Area High School, Sharpsville, Pa.

Miller, a son of Laura and Kenneth Miller of Hermitage, Pa., is a 2009 graduate of Hickory High School of Hermitage.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman Curtis A. Esquibel (Mercer, Pa., Area Junior/Senior High School, ’08), son of Edie Krofcheck and stepson of Glenn Krofcheck of Mercer; Airman Cory J. Escamilla (United High School, Hanoverton, ’11), son of Roberto and Paula Escamilla of Salem; Airman Ryan M. Donlon (Salem High School, ’06), son of Andrea and James Donlon of Salem; Airman Amy L. Miller, honor graduate, (Reynolds High School, Transfer, Pa., ’02), daughter of Janice Zahniser of Greenville, Pa.; Airman Bradley M. Stevens (Springfield Local High School, New Middletown, ‘11), son of Geraldine Stevens of Poland; Reserve Airman Courtney P. Miller (Austintown Fitch High School, ’11), daughter of Jennifer Miller of Austintown and granddaughter of Claudia McGrath of Pittsburgh; Airman Nathan P. Bistrica (Liberty High School, ’11), son of Jose Gagnon of Youngstown.

Army: Pvt. Cameron D. Weyer (Alliance High School, ’09), son of Larry Weyer of Beloit and Cindy Weyer of Atwater; Army National Guard Pvt. Amanda J. Swartz (Salem High School, ’11), daughter of Anthony Swartz of Raleigh, N.C., and granddaughter of Wilma Ladner of Salem; Army National Guard Pvt. Marissa J. Wright (Salem High School, ’11), daughter of Jennifer Wright of Salem; Pvt. Victoria O. Reeves (United Local High School, Hanoverton, ’08), daughter of Doris Humphrey of Hanoverton; Pvt. Marquis L. Hawkins (Youngstown Early College, ’11), son of Thelma Burroughs of Youngstown and Marcus Hawkins of Boiling Springs, S.C.

Marine Corps: Pfc. Timberly R. Rigel (Mercer Area High School, Mercer, Pa., ’09), daughter of Sherry R. and Michael J. Rigel of Mercer; Pvt, Dylan M. Czoka (Jefferson County High School, Bloomingdale, Ohio, ’11), son of Kelly Martin of Steubenville; Pvt. Glen R. Dermer, son of Martha and Robert Dermer of Cortland.

Navy: Seaman Brendan T. Gallagher (New Wilmington Area High School, New Wilmington, Pa., ’07; Seaman Recruit Shelby D. Moncrief (Beaver Local High School, Lisbon, ’10), daughter of Linda M. and stepdaughter of Ken B. Devore of Rogers.

ACADEMY NEWS

BOARDMAN

Daniel Kennedy, a 2011 graduate of Boardman High School, has been appointed to The Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. He was nominated by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon. Kennedy is one of some 200 midshipmen in the Class of 2016.

He also will perform the duties of kicker/punter for the USMMA Mariners football team. Completion of the four-year regimental and academic curriculum, which includes three trimesters at sea on Flag Merchant vessels and Navy ships, and an internship, leads to a bachelor of science degree, a Merchant Marine officer’s license as either a deck or engineering officer and a commission as a Navy officer.

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