Armed forces

Armed forces

VETERANS

Retirement

COLUMBUS

Mike McKinney has retired as communications director for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. He was replaced by Eileen Corson, who can be reached at 614-728-0235.

Flag presentation

VIENNA

Lt. Col. Thomas G. Raseta Sr., retired, featured speaker at a recent meeting of Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter of the Military Officers Association, was presented a chapter flag at the meeting by Lt. Col. Roderick Hosler, retired.

Raseta, a former member of the White House Military Office of Emergency Operations and a charter member of MSVC-MOAA, served in the White House under Presidents Ronald W. Reagan, George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton. Raseta also served in the Army Intelligence and Security Command and Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the White House Military Office of Emergency Operations.

He graduated from Hubbard High School and Youngstown State University and lives in Hubbard with his wife, Marla.

DEPLOYED

Heading to Kuwait

COLUMBUS

About 150 soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment in Columbus are deploying to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The unit’s mission is to provide aviation support and conduct partnership operations with regional countries.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Reserve Airman 1st Class Jeffrey A. Gales (Hubbard High School, 2010), son of Cynthia J. Walker-Gales and Charles K. Gales of Hubbard; brother of Theresa Gales of Struthers and Charles T. Gales of Youngstown; and grandson of Milton Walker and Judith Walker of Youngstown.

Army: Pvt. Tyler A. Burnett (Campbell Memorial High School, 2014), son of Dwayne and Lisa Burnett of Campbell; Pvt. Frederick A. Baumgartner (Brookfield High School, 2012), son of Frederick Baumgartner and Lisa Lucente of Poland, and grandson of Salvatore Lucente of Lowellville; Pvt. Skylar Pinkerton-Lamp (Oak Glen High School, New Cumberland, W.Va., 2014), son of Tabbie Hoffman and stepson of Richard Hoffman, both of Boardman; Pvt. Zachary A. Barlett (Jackson-Milton High School, North Jackson, 2014) son of Bonnie and Douglas Barlett of Diamond, and grandson of Gloria Hummell of Hermitage, Pa.; and Pvt. Dallas S. McCuskey (Sharpsville High School, Sharpsville, Pa., 2014), son of Scott A. McCuskey of Boardman and Ginny L. McCuskey of Sharpsville.

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