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.
Army Spec. Bradley Fontenelle/St. Croix
Feb. 1, 2013 (Defense Media Activity) — Army Spec. Bradley Fontenelle has returned to the U.S. after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners. Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. troops serve in South, Southwest and Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, islands in the Pacific, and Europe.
Fontenelle is assigned to the 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Ala.
He is the son of Julianita Fontenelle of Frederiksted, Virgin Islands.
The specialist is a 2008 graduate of Central High School, Christiansted, Virgin Islands.
Army Sgt. Rene P. Garcia/St. Croix
Feb. 6, 2013 (Defense Media Activity) — Army Sgt. Rene P. Garcia has returned to the U.S. after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners. Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. troops serve in South, Southwest and Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, islands in the Pacific and Europe.
Garcia is a power generation equipment repairer noncommissioned officer-in-charge assigned to the 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He has served in the military for eight years.
He is the son of Rene Garcia Sr. of Scofield Court, Peekskill, N.Y., and Alma Richards of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
The sergeant is a graduate of Benjamin Banneker High School, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Air Force Airman Javan E. James/St. Croix
Feb. 13, 2013 (Joint Hometown News Service) — Air Force Airman Javan E. James graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
James is the son of Marilyn Martin of Sion Hill, Christiansted.
He is a 2005 graduate of St. Croix Central High School, Fredericksted.
Navy Seaman Antonio L. Thigpen Jr./St. Thomas
Feb. 13, 2013 (Fleet Hometown News Center) — Navy Seaman Antonio L. Thigpen Jr., son of Debra A. Quetel of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and Antonio A. Thigpen Sr. of Elizabeth City, N. C., recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Thigpen completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations." This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Its distinctly Navy flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.
Thigpen is a 2011 graduate of Pasquotank County High School of Elizabeth City, N. C.
Marine Corps Pvt. Akell D. Davy/St. Croix
Feb. 13, 2013 (Fleet Hometown News Center) — Marine Corps Pvt. Akell D. Davy, son of Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlton Davy Sr. of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, earned the title of United States Marine after graduating from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S. C. For 13 weeks, Davy stayed committed during some of the world’s most demanding entry-level military training in order to be transformed from civilian to Marine instilled with pride, discipline and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Training subjects included close-order drill, marksmanship with an M-16A4 rifle, physical fitness, martial arts, swimming, military history, customs and courtesies.
.One week prior to graduation, Davy endured The Crucible, a 54-hour final test of recruits’ minds and bodies. Upon completion, recruits are presented the Marine Corps emblem and called Marines for the first time.
Davy is a 2012 graduate of St. Petersburg High School of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Army Spec. Sonya Shepherd/St. Thomas
Feb. 20, 20013 (Defense Media Activity) — Army Spec. Sonya Shepherd has returned to the U.S. after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners. Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. troops serve in South, Southwest and Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, islands in the Pacific and Europe.
Shepherd is a supply clerk assigned to the 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. She has served in the military for three years.
She is the daughter of Doyon Mignott of Cedar Valley, St. Thomas.
Navy Seaman Apprentice David B. Gumbs/St. Thomas
Feb. 25, 2013 (Fleet Hometown News Center) — Navy Seaman Apprentice David B. Gumbs, son of Hazra and Louis Gumbs of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, along with other sailors attached to the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB)-1 1, recently received the Rear Admiral Eugene J. Peltier Award for fiscal year 2012.
Units selected for this prestigious award are recognized leaders in the Naval construction force in safety, overall performance, readiness, construction accomplishment, equipment management, logistics programs, retention and training.
NMCB-11 completed an eight-month deployment in Afghanistan during 2012 in which the battalion set the stage for the surge drawdown of U.S. and coalition forces, and eventual transfer of mission to the Afghan forces.
NMCB-11 is a Seabee battalion specializing in contingency construction, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance. The battalion is homeported in Gulfport, Miss.
Gumbs is a 2006 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School of St. Thomas, V. I. and joined the Navy in April 2011.
Navy Seaman Apprentice Kevin C. Taylor/St. Croix
Feb. 27, 2013 (Fleet Hometown News Center) — Navy Seaman Apprentice Kevin C. Taylor, son of Kephrin E. and Beverly Taylor of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Taylor completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations." This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Its distinctly Navy flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.
Taylor is a 1998 graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex of St. Croix, V. I.
Army National Guard Pfc. Teshawn W. Adams/St. Thomas
Feb. 27, 2013 (Defense Media Activity) — Army National Guard Pfc. Teshawn W. Adams has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values and 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, the military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.
Adams is the son of Natasha Adams, and grandson of Carlton and Islyn Adams, all of St. Thomas.
He is a 2012 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas.
