Editor's note: The Source newspapers publish available information about Virgin Islanders who are serving their country in the military. For earlier notices, see previous months' files in this section. Please e-mail information about yourself or any family member serving in these regards to visource@gmail.com. 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. Please limit the information to about 200 words. We welcome photos.
Master Sgt. St. Clair A. Allen/St. Thomas
Jan. 2, 2009 – On Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, Master Sgt. St. Clair A. Allen will be promoted. First Sergeant Allen is a native of St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands and entered the U.S. Army in September 1990. He attended basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, and advance individual training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, as a transportable switching systems operator / maintainer (36L).
The soldier has served in many leadership positions as a 36L. His tenure began in the 304th Sig Bn, Camp Colbern, Korea, where he served as a transportable message switch systems maintainer. Throughout his 18-year career, he served in technical, tactical and leadership positions including: team chief, B Co., 304h Sig Bn, Camp Long, Korea, B Co., 67th Sig Bn, Fort Gordon, Ga.; section sergeant and S3 Operations, 414th Sig Co., Mannheim, Germany; instructor / writer, 369th Sig Bn, Fort Gordon, Georgia; network manager and CNOS Battalion LNO, 440th Sig Bn, Camp Victory, Iraq; platoon sergeant and instructor / writer, 447th Sig Bn, Fort Gordon, Ga.; platoon sergeant and S3 NCOIC, 122nd Sig Bn, Camp Red Cloud, Korea; STMS Division NCOIC and CNS directorate operations NCO, 551st Sig Bn, Fort Gordon, Ga.; and transition team communication advisor, 1st Infantry Division, Baghdad, Iraq, 15th Sig Bde S3 NCOIC, Fort Gordon, Ga.
The first sergeant's awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star, Distinguished Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Accommodation Medal, Army Accommodation Medal (5th Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (with numeral 4), NATO Medal (2 Bronze Stars) and Driver's Badge.
Currently pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Columbia Southern University, he is married to Glenise Rhymer-Allen, and they have three children. Allen is the son of Malgarita Allen and Randolph V. Allen Sr. of St. Thomas, and the son-in-law of Joseph and Edith Rhymer, also of St. Thomas.
Army National Guard Sgt. Lydia O. Gomes/St. Croix
Jan. 2, 2009 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Army National Guard Sgt. Lydia O. Gomes has been mobilized and activated for deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the people of Iraq.
Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.
The sergeant, a first cook with four years of military service, is normally assigned to the 135th Military Police Company, Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
She is the daughter of Kessuma and Valerie Gomes of Barren Spot, Christiansted, Virgin Islands.
Gomes is a 2005 graduate of St. Croix Central High School, Christiansted.
