Military Briefs

By Staff
Feb. 20, 2003
Quartermaster 2nd Class George Ray Neal, a member of the Coast Guard, recently completed assignments in law enforcement throughout the Caribbean.
Before leaving for a new assignment in Corpus Christi, Texas, he was presented a citation that commended him for superior performance of duty, outstanding leadership and initiative, with excellent professionalism and providing hundreds of hours of mentoring.
Neal is a graduate of Clarkdale High School and Mississippi State University. He is the son of Jewel Neal and the late William Neal.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer A. Wash, daughter of Emma R. Wash of Newton, and Frankie L. Wash of Newton, is halfway through a six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf while assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Milius, home ported in San Diego.
Wash is one of more than 8,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors aboard the ships of the USS Constellation Carrier Battle Group. She is a 1999 graduate of Newton High School and joined the U.S. Navy in July 1999.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Zachary J. Stephens, son of Betty J. Jones of Philadelphia, is halfway through a six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf while assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Milius, home ported in San Diego.
Stephens is one of more than 8,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors aboard the ships of the USS Constellation Carrier Battle Group.
During the first half of the deployment, Stephen's ship made port visits in Hong Kong and Singapore. Volunteers from Stephens' ship helped clean and restore the Armenia Church of St. Gregory, which was established in Singapore in 1835.
Navy Seaman Earnest C. Hampton, son of Cloria and Earnest Hampton of Bailey, recently contributed to relief efforts on Guam during a Western Pacific deployment while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
Sailors aboard Hampton's ship joined members of the Fleet Activities Yokosuka community setting up field galleys to aid people whose homes were battered by Super Typhoon Pongsona, which hit Guam with winds of 180 mph.
Hampton, a 2001 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, joined the Navy in September 2001.
Victoria Snow of Newton has enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard.
Snow, a graduate of Heidelberg High School, joined Company G, 185th Aviation in Meridian according to her recruiter, Sergeant 1st Class Ray Turnage. She will serve as a petroleum supply specialist.
Keith D. Haguewood of Meridian has enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard.
Haguewood, an employee of Wackenhut Correctional Facility, joined headquarters and headquarters company, 150th Engineer Battalion in Meridian.
Haguewood will attend basic and advanced training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He is married to the former Jessica Meiser and the couple has a son, Daniel Wayne. Haguewood is the son of Carolyn Croft and Daniel Haguewood.
Marine Corps Cpl. Tony K. Lilly Jr., son of Ronda Ragsdale of Hazel Green, Ala. and Tony K. Lilly of Philadelphia, recently was promoted to his current rank while serving with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14, Second Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C.
Lilly was promoted based on sustained superior job performance and proficiency in his designated specialty.
Lilly, a 2000 graduate of Choctaw Central High School, joined the Marine Corps in September 2001.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dustin E. Yeager, a 2001 graduate of Newton High School, is currently on his fifth month of deployment while assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Yeager is one of more than 4,000 Atlantic Fleet sailors and Marines deployed aboard the ships of the USS Nassau Amphibious Ready Group. Part of his unit is currently providing security for the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
During this deployment, Yeager's unit has participated in training, humanitarian assistance and peace support operations in Spain, Italy, Kosovo, Kenya, and Djibouti, Africa before patrolling the seas and skies in the U.S. Forces Central Command area of responsibility.
Yeager is the grandson of Shirley Nelson and nephew of James Stribling, also of Little Rock.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie D. Lawson, a 1992 graduate of Sumter County High School in York, Ala., is currently on his sixth month of deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, homeported in Everett, Wash.
Lawson is one of more than 8,000 Pacific Fleet sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Battle Group. The battle group is currently on the longest deployment since the war on terrorism began.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Latonya L. Turner, granddaughter of Susie M. Young, of Pennington, Ala., recently departed on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa, homeported in San Diego.
Turner is one of more than 4,000 Pacific Fleet sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group.
Turner, a 1986 graduate of Lynwood High School in Los Angeles, N.Y., joined the U.S. Navy in August 1988.