ARMED FORCES DIGEST || VETERANS

VETERANS

Eligible for bonus

COLUMBUS

Although America’s war in Iraq officially is over, veterans of that conflict remain eligible for the Ohio Veterans Bonus, a monetary award that has paid more than $24.5 million to over 19,000 Iraq veterans.

Since August 2010, the Ohio Veterans Bonus has paid nearly $45.3 million to 54,232 Ohio resident service members and veterans, of all qualifying time periods, and eligible families. Veterans of the periods of the Persian Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are eligible, as well as the next of kin of those killed in action. The bonus is not subject to federal or state taxes and can be used for any purpose, said Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Tom Moe.

The bonus is available to veterans who served more than 90 days of active duty, not for training, during the periods of the Persian Gulf War and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. For the Persian Gulf, the period is from Aug. 2, 1990, through March 3, 1991; for Afghanistan, from October 7, 2001, through a date to be determined by the president, and for Iraq, from March 19, 2003, and also through a to-be-determined date. Payment can be received for active-duty service anywhere in the world during these periods but is higher for veterans who served in the Persian Gulf or in Afghanistan or Iraq. Eligible veterans must have been Ohio residents at the time of their entry into the service, and must be Ohio residents currently.

The bonus pays $100 a month to veterans who served in the Persian Gulf theater, or in the countries of Afghanistan or Iraq, up to a maximum of $1,000. For veterans who served elsewhere, the payment is $50 a month up to a $500 maximum. Veterans medically discharged due to injuries suffered in combat can receive $1,000, plus up to $500 for months of service elsewhere. Family members of those killed in action or who died from disease as a result of their in-theater service can receive a bonus of $5,000 plus whatever the service member was eligible for, up to a total of $6,500. The Ohio Veterans Bonus is not taxed by either the federal government or the state.

For information or to apply, call toll-free at 877-644-6838, option 2; visit online at www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov., or visit any county veterans service office.

Health fair scheduled

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

The Butler Veterans Affairs Medical is offering a veterans health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28. The event is hosted by the Lawrence County VA Office at 430 Court St., New Castle, Pa.

PROMOTIONS

Chief Warrant Officer 4

AUSTINTOWN

Marine Ralph Smith, recently promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4, has served two combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was promoted to warrant officer in 2002.

Smith, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1991, is a son of Richard Smith of Austintown and Patricia Pondoff in Texas. He is a 1988 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, where he was a varsity wrestler.

During his military career, he has served in the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force; 2nd Marine Division; 2nd Marine Air Wing; 3rd Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Intelligence Group; 3rd Marine Air Wing; 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, and had drill instructor duty as an instructor in water survival. He is also a 1st Degree black-belt Marine martial-arts instructor.

MISCELLANEOUS

Campaign launched

QUANTICO, Va.

The Marine Corps Recruiting Command has launched Toward the Sounds of Chaos, a multimedia engagement campaign that highlights the diverse range of Marine Corps missions conducted in defense of our nation, restoring order and stability through reconstruction efforts, humanitarian interventions, natural-disaster relief or peacekeeping missions around the world.

“The Marine Corps aims to recruit the best and brightest, and today that means we need young men and women who will run toward chaos to help others in need,” said Brigadier General Joseph L. Osterman, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.

DEPLOYED

In war zone again

GIRARD

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Kirkpatrick, son of Bob and Joyce Kirkpatrick of Girard, has begun his fourth war-zone deployment since 2004. The 2002 graduate of Girard High School served two tours in Iraq, and the most- recent deployment is his second in Afghanistan.

The location of his unit is expected to be in the southern region where they will assist in fighting the Taliban as well as training Afghan soldiers. Kirkpatrick is a squad leader in the 4th Combat Brigade Team of the 4th Infantry Division.

He is based at Fort Carson, Colo., where he lives with his wife, Natalie, and daughter, Karadee. His wife and daughter will live in Girard with his parents during the deployment.

In Afghanistan

Two area Navy personnel are deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

They are Constructionmen Anna L. Parcher, daughter of Deborah A. Foltz of Jamestown, Pa., and Mark E. Parcher of North Lawrence, Ohio; and Petty Officer 2nd Class William M. Ferenczy, son of Linda L. and William J. Ferenczy of North Jackson.

As members of a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11, they conduct general, mobility and survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, in partnership with Afghan National Army and detachment of units in Combined/Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan to help neutralize insurgents and support improved governance and stability operations. The unit is homeported in Gulfport, Miss.

On USS Enterprise

HERMITAGE, Pa.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Barton D. McCoy, son of Jessica L. McCoy and James W. McCoy Sr., both of Hermitage, Pa., is assigned to the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) which recently departed Norfolk Naval Station for the ship’s 22nd and final deployment.

Enterprise is slated to deploy to the U.S. Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation as part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the globe.

For Enterprise, the Navy’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the deployment represents the culmination of more than 50 years of distinguished service. Commissioned in 1961, the Enterprise is both the largest and oldest active combat vessel in the Navy.

Throughout its history, the Enterprise has played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, and was one of the first Navy assets deployed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Completed course

Marine Corps Pfc. Ryan L. Derby, a 2008 graduate of David Anderson High School, Lisbon, recently completed an aircraft maintenance administration course while assigned to Naval Air Station, Meridian, Miss. Derby joined the Marine Corps in July 2011.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman William S. Farr, honor graduate (Austintown Fitch High School, ’08), son of Kimberly Edwards of Villa Rica, Ga.; Airman Matthew A. Nelson (Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa, ’11), son of Mary Hasson and James Nelson, both of Hermitage.

Army: National Guard Pvt. Patrick Braham, One Station Unit Training, son of Raymond Braham of Lake Milton and Kathleen Braham of Youngstown; Reserve Pvt. Timothy M. Woolley, top marksman for his class, son of Timothy M. and Mary M. Woolley of Boardman.

Coast Guard: Seaman Apprentice Lenny Liguore (Poland Seminary High School, ’05), son of Lou and Loretta Liguore of Poland, assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay, St. Ignace, Mich.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Matthew A. Silbaugh, grandson of Evelyn Silbaugh of Mineral Ridge; Seaman Recruit Karlesia D. Edwards (Sharon High School, Sharon, Pa., ’11) daughter of Debra D. and stepdaughter of Jimmy Gadson of Sharon.

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.