ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

VETERANS

Seeking survivors

YOUNGSTOWN

The Vindicator is seeking survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, as well as relatives and friends of military personnel who survived or were killed in the attack, to interview for a story commemorating the event’s 75th anniversary.

Survivors, family members and others with memories and/or memorabilia of the attack they are willing to share are asked to contact staff writer William K. Alcorn by calling 330-747-1471, ext. 1303, or by email at alcorn@vindy.com. Put Pearl Harbor in the subject line if sending by email.

Freedom Warrior event

VIENNA

The third annual Freedom Warrior golf outing this summer, sponsored by the Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council’s Charitable Fund and held at the Avalon Golf & Country Club in Howland, raised more than $191,000, of which $156,000 is to be distributed to disabled and disadvantaged veterans. Money also will be used for the emergency needs of local military personal in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys.

Major contributors included Ron and Frannie Klingle, owners of Avalon Golf & Country Club; cash donations from Carl Verholek and Sharon George through her Shah-nini George Foundation. Other major sponsors were Phantom Fireworks/Youngstown Phantoms, Covelli Enterprises, Mel Grata Chevrolet Toyota, Scion, Cafaro Foundation and J.T. Motorcars, Inc., Joyce & Mike Hughes of Franklin, Pa., and Astro Shapes LLC.

Monetary donations can be mailed to YARBCC Charitable Fund, c/o Jerry Lyda, P.O. Box 75, North Lima, OH 44452.

DEPLOYED

Serving on USS New York

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rashard Lewis, a Youngstown native and 2010 East High School graduate, is serving aboard the USS New York, a ship built of steel from the World Trade Center that was attacked by terrorists Sept. 11, 2001.

Lewis, a yeoman, is responsible for legal and administration procedures at the command for his fellow shipmates. The USS New York is designed to deliver Marines and their equipment where they are needed to support a variety of missions ranging from amphibious assaults to humanitarian relief efforts.

With its home port in Mayport, Fla., the USS New York is 684 feet long, 105 feet wide and weighs more than 24,000 tons. It has four diesel engines that can push the ship through the water in excess of 26 mph.

Joined casualty drill

Navy Hospitalman James Gordon of Youngstown recently participated in a mass casualty drill aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Sailor of the Day award

Navy aviation boatswain’s mate Airman Theodore R. Welke of Warren recently received the Sailor of the Day award while serving aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), which provides a combat-ready force to protect collective maritime interests. The John C. Stennis was on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment when Welke was recognized.

Logistics specialist

Petty Officer 2nd Class Chena Cross of Youngstown is a logistics specialist aboard the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the USS O’Kane, operating out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

A 2010 Youngstown Chaney graduate, Cross is one of about 300 who serve aboard the O’Kane, which is about 500 feet long and is powered by four gas turbines that allow the destroyer to achieve more than 30 knots in open seas.

Aboard aircraft carrier

Navy Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class Cullen Kyser of Youngstown works in the machine repair shop aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike), which was recently sailing in the Arabian Gulf.

Ike and its Carrier Strike Group are deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Air Force Airman Imalei A. Chipoco (James Madison High School, Brooklyn, N.Y., ’15), niece of Luisa Maisonet of Youngstown; Air Force Airman Brian P. Dawson (2015 graduate of East Liverpool High School, ’15), son of Kelly and William Dawson of East Liverpool, and brother of Courtney Dawson.

Items of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or emailed to William K. Alcorn at alcorn@vindy.com