Editor's note: The Source newspapers will publish available information about Virgin Islanders on military duty in the Middle East and across the world.
Please e-mail information about yourself or any family member serving to source@viaccess.net. Provide the individual's full name, age, rank, service branch or organization, home island, immediate family members in the Virgin Islands, brief description of education and training, and, if possible, a description of where the person is based or has been deployed. We welcome photos.
Army Captain Helen Thomas / St. Croix
May 30, 2003 — Army Captain Helen A. Thomas, FC Commanding, reports by e-mail that she is presently serving in the U.S. Army in Korea. She has been in the Army for 13 1/2 years, and plans to retire. With a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's in human resource development, she serves as an officer in Finance.
Thomas, born in Christiansted and a 1984 graduate of Central High School, is the daughter of Edmund Lake of Campo Rico and the late Ireta Lake, who died May 10, 2003.
Navy Seaman Marcus A. Lee / St. Croix
May 28, 2003 (Fleet News) — Navy Seaman Marcus A. Lee, son of Joanna Leon of Frederiksted, recently returned from the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to Sea Control Squadron 22. The unit was embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Va.
Lee was one of more than 8,000 Atlantic Fleet Sailors and Marines assigned to the ships and squadrons of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group who participated in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Aviators flew 1,280 sorties off the deck of USS Harry S. Truman, accumulating more than 5,700 flight hours and expending more than one million pounds of ordnance.
Based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., Lee's squadron flies the S-3B Viking, a multi-purpose jet aircraft capable of long-range surveillance of shipping, air-to-air refueling, locating and destroying enemy submarines, and other missions as required.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Lake / St. Croix
May 28, 2003 (Fleet News) — Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Lake, son of Delores E. Lake of Christiansted, recently returned from a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Va.
Lake joined the Navy in September 1979.
Marine Corps Sgt. Ezekiel Turpin / St. Thomas
May 27, 2003 (Fleet News) — Marine Corps Sgt. Ezekiel S. Turpin, son of Monica Turpin of St. Thomas and Robert Turpin of Prescott, Ariz., recently returned from a deployment to the Arabian Gulf while assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, based at Miramar, Calif. The squadron was embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, which is homeported in San Diego, Calif.
Turpin was one of more than 8,000 Pacific Fleet Marines and Sailors aboard the ships of the USS Constellation Carrier Battle Group. Aviators flew 1,300 sorties off USS Constellation's flight deck, accumulating more than 4,000 flight hours and expending more than one million pounds of ordnance. Turpin's squadron flies the F/A-18C Hornet, a twin-engine supersonic strike fighter which features an all-weather intercept and ground attack capability.
Turpin, a 1993 graduate of Prescott High School, joined the Marine Corps in March 1999.
Navy Seaman Louise Hanley / St. Croix
May 23, 2003 (Fleet Home Town News) — Navy Seaman Louise C. Hanley, daughter of Alfred and Wendell Hanley of Frederiksted, recently made a port visit to Manama, Bahrain, while on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa, homeported in San Diego.
Hanley is one of more than 4,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group. Prior to the port visit, she was part of a coalition amphibious force that participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sailors and Marines aboard Hanley's ship had the opportunity to shop, go sightseeing, and enjoy the local culture and cuisine.
USS Tarawa supports amphibious operations using landing craft air cushions which are specially designed hovercraft to deliver vehicles and equipment. The ship also has conventional landing craft and helicopters, and is equipped with medical facilities staffed by Navy doctors, dentists, nurses and corpsmen.
Hanley is a 2000 graduate of Freewill Baptist High School of Frederiksted. She joined the Navy in August 2001.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steve A. Hodge / St. Thomas
May 23, 2003 (Fleet News) — Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steve A. Hodge, son of Ola M. Hodge of St. Thomas, recently made a port visit to Manama, Bahrain while on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa.
Hodge is one of more than 4,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group. Prior to the port visit, he was part of a coalition amphibious force that participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hodge also enjoyed the same shore leave as Hanley, above.
Hodge joined the Navy in January 1990.
Army Pvt. Nicky Titre / St. Thomas
May 19, 2003 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) — Army Pvt. Nicky V. Titre. A 1996 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School has graduated from the utilities equipment repairer advanced individual training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.
Titre learned to perform maintenance, test, repair, adjust, and inspect gasoline engine systems, utility equipment and special purpose support systems, including: bottle cleaning/ charging stations, air conditioning electrical and vapor systems, refrigeration unit electrical systems, portable heater fuel/ electrical systems, and fire extinguisher rechargers and valves.
Titre is the brother of Jennifer V. Gabriel of St. Thomas.
Navy Airman Apprentice Benjamin J. Dudley / St. Thomas
May 15, 2003(Fleet News) — Navy Airman Apprentice Benjamin J. Dudley, son of
Adriane J. Dudley of St. Thomas, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Dudley completed a variety of training on naval customs, first aid, fire fighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is the "Battle Stations" exercise.
Army Pvt. Angie A. Estien / St. Croix
May 13, 2003 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) — Army Pvt. Angie A. Estien, daughter of Lidia Quinones of St. Croix, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, Estien studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Navy Seaman Recruit Sherlow Brooks / St. Thomas
May 13, 2003(Fleet News) — Navy Seaman Recruit Sherlow R. Brooks, son of Doreth B. Gumbs of St. Thomas, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Brooks completed a variety of training on naval customs, first aid, fire fighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness. The capstone event of boot camp is the "Battle Stations" exercise.
Navy Senior Chief Leroy Anthony James / St. Croix
May 8, 2003 – LeRoy Anthony James of 142 Strawberry Hill has een promoted
to the rank of Dental Technician Senior Chief. He is currently stationed aboard the USS BlueRidge, homeport Yokosuka, Japan.
He is the husband of Merlene C. James (formerly DeWindt). He has two son: DuJuan, 11, and Brandon, 9. Just wanted everyone to share in our happiness and his success in the United States Navy. (E-mail received from Leroy A. James.)
Marine Corps Pfc. Karl C. A. Brodie / St. Thomas
May 7, 2003 (Fleet Home Town News) – Marine Corps Pfc. Karl C. A. Brodie, a 2001 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Brodie is one of more than 4,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines who deployed aboard the ships of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.
The majority of Marines and Sailors in Brodie's unit have safely returned to the ships of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group from Mosul, Iraq, as Operation Iraqi Freedom continues to transition to humanitarian missions.
Brodie's unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment. MEUs are divided into an infantry battalion, aircraft squadron, support group and command element. With this combination, Brodie's unit supplies and sustains itself for quick mission accomplishment and for clearing the way for follow-on forces.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ivan McClean Jr. / St. Thomas
May 5, 2003 (Fleet Home Town News) — Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ivan McClean Jr., son of Joan C. McClean and Ivan McClean Sr. of St. Thomas recently reported for duty at Naval Air Facility, Key West, Fla.
McClean joined the Navy in March 1998.
Editor's note: For military news prior to May 2003, see earlier articles in the People section.
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