Military News

Army Reserve Pvt. Dennis J. Buddenhagen has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Buddenhagen is a 2009 graduate of McGuffey High School, and his father is Dennis Buddenhagen of Washington.

Lt. Cmdr. Michael A. Burchik Jr. has been assigned to the U.S. Marines II MEF FWD Brigade, Camp Al Assas, Iraq, as a U.S. Navy individual augmenter volunteer and global war on terriorism special assignment electronic warfare officer. Burchik is a 1992 graduate of McGuffey High School.

Air Force Airman Paula S. Clark graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. She is a 2009 graduate of Jefferson-Morgan High School, and her stepmother is Lisa Dorsey of Waynesburg.

Army National Guard Sgt. Justin M. Foertsch has returned to the United States after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base in support of the war in Iraq. Foertsch, a fire support specialist, is normally assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Philadelphia. He has served in the military for 10 years. Foertsch's grandmother is Clare Foertsch of Scenery Hill. He is a 1994 graduate of Bentworth High School and received a bachelor's degree in 2006 from Point Park University.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony R. Fortunato graduated with honors from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Fortunato is a 2000 graduate of Trinity High School, and his parents are Robert and Lyn-Nette Fortunato of Amity.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Kristin M. Gilesjohns has deployed to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to serve as a member of Joint Task Force-GTMO. Gilesjohns is a military police guard with two years of military service. Her mother is Esther Wilson of McDonald, and she is a 2007 graduate of Elderton High School.

Air Force Airman Eric W. Gilstrap graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Gilstrap graduated in 2009 from Upper St. Clair High School, and his father is Scott Gilstrap of McMurray.

Army Reserve Pvt. Aundrea L. Harter graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Harter is a 2009 graduate of Kiski Area High School, and her grandmother is Aimee Morris of Canonsburg.

Benjamin J. Hillbery graduated from the Army ROTC Leader's Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. Hillberry attends Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and his father is Charles L. Hillbery of McDonald.

Army Reserve Col. Lewis G. Irwin graduated from the U.S. Army War College Department of Distance Education program at the Carlisle Barracks. The two-year program is equivalent to the college's one-year resident program that prepares officers of all U.S. military services, as well as civilian officials of the federal government, to serve in top-level command and staff positions with the U.S. Armed Forces. Irwin, brigade commander of the 301st Regional Support Group based at the Butler Army Reserve Center, has served 23 years in the military. He is a son of Patricia L. Maggi and stepson of Carl Maggi of Claysville. Irwin is a 1982 graduate of McGuffey High School and earned a bachelor's degree in 1986 from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. In 1998, Irwin earned his doctorate from Yale University.

Air Force Airman Tanner C. Menzel graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Menzel's mother is Barbara Carelle of Eighty Four, and he is a 2009 graduate of Bentworth High School.

Army National Guard Pvt. Amanda A. Peterson has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Peterson's mother is Janice Trumpie of Bunola, and she is a 2009 graduate of Ringgold High School.

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Michael J. Sosnak graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Sosnak's parents are Tina Sosnak of Fredericktown and Michael Sosnak Sr. of Brownsville, and he is a 2006 graduate of Bethlehem-Center High School.

Army National Guard Spec. Nathaniel J. Senf has returned to the United States after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base in support of the war in Iraq. Senf, an infantryman, is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment in Philadelphia. He has served in the military for three years. His mother is Rebecca L. Eye of Donora, and he is a 2007 graduate of Ringgold High School.

Air National Guard Airman Christopher J. Statzula graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Statzula's parents are Chris and Betty Statzula of Brownsville, and he is a 2006 graduate of Bethlehem-Center High School.

Army Pvt. Lee G. Thomas has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. His parents are Gary Thomas of Finleyville and Debra Thomas of Pleasant Hills. He is a 2009 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School.

1st Lt. Nicholas James Weightman, son of David and Kathy Weightman of Burgesttown and Larry and Wilma Tuttle of Rices Landing, graduated from commissioned officer training with the U.S. Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. He has been assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M., and is employed as an element leader of patient administration in the 377th Medical Support Squadron. Weightman is a 2002 graduate of Carmichaels Area High School, and received a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with a major in biology from California University of Pennsylvania in 2007. In 2009, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Cal U.

Published 11/15/2009

Air National Guard Airman Michael A. Arnold graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Arnold earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. His mother is Carla Provenzano of Bridgeville, and he is a 2007 graduate of South Fayette High School.

Army Reserve Pvt. Dennis J. Buddenhagen has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Buddenhagen is a 2009 graduate of McGuffey High School, and his father is Dennis Buddenhagen of Washington.

Lt. Cmdr. Michael A. Burchik Jr. has been assigned to the U.S. Marines II MEF FWD Brigade, Camp Al Assas, Iraq, as a U.S. Navy individual augmenter volunteer and global war on terriorism special assignment electronic warfare officer. Burchik is a 1992 graduate of McGuffey High School.

Air Force Airman Paula S. Clark graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. She is a 2009 graduate of Jefferson-Morgan High School, and her stepmother is Lisa Dorsey of Waynesburg.

Army National Guard Sgt. Justin M. Foertsch has returned to the United States after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base in support of the war in Iraq. Foertsch, a fire support specialist, is normally assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Philadelphia. He has served in the military for 10 years. Foertsch's grandmother is Clare Foertsch of Scenery Hill. He is a 1994 graduate of Bentworth High School and received a bachelor's degree in 2006 from Point Park University.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony R. Fortunato graduated with honors from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Fortunato is a 2000 graduate of Trinity High School, and his parents are Robert and Lyn-Nette Fortunato of Amity.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Kristin M. Gilesjohns has deployed to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to serve as a member of Joint Task Force-GTMO. Gilesjohns is a military police guard with two years of military service. Her mother is Esther Wilson of McDonald, and she is a 2007 graduate of Elderton High School.

Air Force Airman Eric W. Gilstrap graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Gilstrap graduated in 2009 from Upper St. Clair High School, and his father is Scott Gilstrap of McMurray.

Army Reserve Pvt. Aundrea L. Harter graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Harter is a 2009 graduate of Kiski Area High School, and her grandmother is Aimee Morris of Canonsburg.

Benjamin J. Hillbery graduated from the Army ROTC Leader's Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. Hillberry attends Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and his father is Charles L. Hillbery of McDonald.

Army Reserve Col. Lewis G. Irwin graduated from the U.S. Army War College Department of Distance Education program at the Carlisle Barracks. The two-year program is equivalent to the college's one-year resident program that prepares officers of all U.S. military services, as well as civilian officials of the federal government, to serve in top-level command and staff positions with the U.S. Armed Forces. Irwin, brigade commander of the 301st Regional Support Group based at the Butler Army Reserve Center, has served 23 years in the military. He is a son of Patricia L. Maggi and stepson of Carl Maggi of Claysville. Irwin is a 1982 graduate of McGuffey High School and earned a bachelor's degree in 1986 from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. In 1998, Irwin earned his doctorate from Yale University.

Air Force Airman Tanner C. Menzel graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Menzel's mother is Barbara Carelle of Eighty Four, and he is a 2009 graduate of Bentworth High School.

Army National Guard Pvt. Amanda A. Peterson has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Peterson's mother is Janice Trumpie of Bunola, and she is a 2009 graduate of Ringgold High School.

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Michael J. Sosnak graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Sosnak's parents are Tina Sosnak of Fredericktown and Michael Sosnak Sr. of Brownsville, and he is a 2006 graduate of Bethlehem-Center High School.

Army National Guard Spec. Nathaniel J. Senf has returned to the United States after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base in support of the war in Iraq. Senf, an infantryman, is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment in Philadelphia. He has served in the military for three years. His mother is Rebecca L. Eye of Donora, and he is a 2007 graduate of Ringgold High School.

Air National Guard Airman Christopher J. Statzula graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Statzula's parents are Chris and Betty Statzula of Brownsville, and he is a 2006 graduate of Bethlehem-Center High School.

Army Pvt. Lee G. Thomas has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. His parents are Gary Thomas of Finleyville and Debra Thomas of Pleasant Hills. He is a 2009 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School.

1st Lt. Nicholas James Weightman, son of David and Kathy Weightman of Burgesttown and Larry and Wilma Tuttle of Rices Landing, graduated from commissioned officer training with the U.S. Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. He has been assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M., and is employed as an element leader of patient administration in the 377th Medical Support Squadron. Weightman is a 2002 graduate of Carmichaels Area High School, and received a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with a major in biology from California University of Pennsylvania in 2007. In 2009, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Cal U.

Published 10/11/2009

Justin D. Boardley, son of Daniel and Kathy Boardley of Arlington, Wash., has been promoted to captain in the Washington Air National Guard. Boardley served on active duty for four years in the U.S. Air Force. He is a 1994 graduate of Arlington High School and 2009 graduate of Washington State University. Boardley' s grandmother is Blanche Boardley of Washington and his uncle is Ret. Gen. William Boardley of the Pittsburgh Air National Guard. Gen. Boardley is a 1970 graduate of Washington High School.

Chief Warrant Officer William (Bill) Mellars retired from the U.S. Army with 43 years and nine months of military service. Mellars enlisted after graduating from Washington High School in 1966 and served two terms in Vietnam. Upon returning from Vietnam, he went on to Airborne and Ranger School and was selected as a ranger instructor at Fort Benning, Ga. His was being awarded the coveted Green Beret. After graduating from the special forces qualification course, Mellars served with the oldest special forces unit in the Army, the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany and Fort Carson, Colo., and six tours of duty in Iraq. He is the son of Charles and Evelyn Mellars of Washington. His wife is Beverly, formerly of Canonsburg. They have two sons, Kalin and Devin.

Pvt. E2 Heather Selway graduated Aug. 27 from Army Basic Training and Military Police Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Her parents are Robert and Rebecca Selway of Washington, and she is a 2007 graduate of Trinity High School.