Editor's note: The Source newspapers publish available information about Virgin Islanders who are serving their country in the military. For earlier notices, see separate files in this section.
Please e-mail information about yourself or any family member serving in these regards 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. Please limit the information to about 200 words. We welcome photos.
Navy Officer Carl Christopher / St. Thomas
Navy Officer Barry Emanuel / St. Thomas
Navy Lt. Mzcah Harley / St. Thomas
Dec. 30, 2003 (Fleet News) – Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Carl Christopher, son of Annie Christopher of St. Thomas; Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Barry M. Emanuel; Mzcah B. Harley, son of Barbara Harley of New York City and Aubrey W. Harley of St. Thomas; and their fellow crewmembers recently hosted actor Ben Affleck aboard USS Enterprise in the Arabian Gulf.
Affleck delivered a morale-boosting message to 5,300 Sailors and Marines as they prepared to spend the holiday season defending the country.
"Thank you for your dedication, your service to the Navy and to this country," said Affleck, speaking from the ship's bridge. "You are loved and missed back home and we await your safe return."
He later posed for photographs and signed autographs for the crew, who were treated to a special showing of Affleck's new film "Paycheck."
Carriers such as USS Enterprise are deployed throughout the world to maintain U.S. presence and provide rapid response in times of crisis. They serve as a highly visible deterrent to would-be aggressors, and are equipped with the most versatile and powerful weapons and aircraft available.
Their ship is currently providing close air support to ground units in Iraq as part of the Navy's 5th Fleet.
Christopher joined the Navy in December 2000, and Harley joined the Navy in February 1994. Emanuel is a 2000 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School.
Army National Guard Pvt. Vincent Gordon Delemos / St. Croix
Dec. 23, 2003 (Army & Air Force News) – Army National Guard Pvt. Vincent M. Gordon Delemos 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, 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.
Gordon Delemos is the son of Stephen Delemos of Whim Estate and of Veronica Gordon of Grove Place, both of Frederiksted, St. Croix.
Army Pvt. Derrick Ballantine / St. Croix
Dec. 23, 2003 (Army & Air Force News) – Army Pvt. Derrick Ballantine has graduated from basic military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo.
The son of Lynette and Derrick Ballantine of Kingshill, St. Croix, he graduated in 2003 from St. Croix Center High School.
During training, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, rifle marksmanship, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions.
Army Reserve Pvt. Everton Coates / St. Thomas
Dec. 23, 2003 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Army Reserve Pvt. Everton S. Coates 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, 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.
Coates is the son of Millentine Coates of Bovoni, St. Thomas, and brother of Coreen Williams of Winston-Salem, N.C.
Navy Seaman Gideon Jones / St. Croix
Dec. 22, 2003 (Fleet News) – Navy Seaman Gideon J. Jones, son of Gordon J. Jones of Christiansted, V. has recently returned from a routine six-month deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of responsibility, which includes the Caribbean Sea, Eastern Pacific and Southern Atlantic, while assigned to the destroyer USS Stump, homeported in Norfolk, Va.
During the deployment, Jones' ship participated in the seizure of $50 million worth of cocaine from a Colombian-flagged fishing vessel while conducting counterdrug operations in the Pacific Ocean.
Jones' ship is designed to provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities and can operate independently or as part of a carrier strike group.
Army Pvt. Kevin Chapman / St. Croix
Dec. 16, 2003 (Army & Air Force News) – Army Pvt. Kevin K. Chapman, a 2003 graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex, Frederiksted, has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.
During the eight weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.
Chapman's parents are David and Rona Chapman of Frederiksted.
Army Reserve Pvt. Mortley Jeremiah / St. Thomas
Dec. 16, 2003 (Army and Air Force News) – Army Reserve Pvt. Mortley A. Jeremiah has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Knox, Ky.
During the nine-week training, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and narmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions, and core values.
He is the son of Millicent Jeremiah of Levkoi Strade, St. Thomas, and the brother of Dawn Lambert of College Park, Ga.
Navy Officer Carl Christopher / St. Thomas
Dec. 16, 2003 (Fleet News) – Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Carl Christopher, son of Annie Christopher of St. Thomas, and his fellow Sailors welcomed Maj. Gen. Graham Lamb aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in the Arabian Gulf Nov. 27.
Lamb, 3rd United Kingdom Division Commander and head of coalition forces in southeast Iraq, visited Enterprise, homeported in Norfolk, Va., to discuss cooperation between U.S. and coalition forces and to get a firsthand look at carrier operations.
Lamb commended Christopher along with the 5,000 other Sailors aboard Enterprise for providing much needed support to ground troops in Iraq. Carriers like USS Enterprise are deployed throughout the world to maintain U.S. presence and provide rapid response in times of crisis. They serve as a highly visible deterrent to would-be aggressors, and are equipped with the most versatile and powerful weapons and aircraft available.
Christopher's ship provides close air support to ground units in Iraq as part of the Navy's 5th Fleet.
Christopher joined the Navy in December 2000.
Navy Officer Barry Emanuel / St. Thomas
Dec. 16, 2003 (Fleet News) – Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Barry M. Emanuel, a 2000 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, and his fellow Sailors welcomed Maj. Gen. Graham Lamb aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise
in the Arabian Gulf Nov. 27.
Lamb, 3rd United Kingdom Division Commander and head of coalition forces in southeast Iraq, commended Emanuel along with the 5,000 other Sailors aboard Enterprise for providing much needed support to ground troops in Iraq.
Emanuel's ship provides close air support to ground units in Iraq as part of the Navy's 5th Fleet.
Navy Lt. Mzcah Harley / St. Thomas
Dec. 16, 2003 (Fleet News) – Navy Lt. Mzcah B. Harley, son of Barbara Harley of New York City and Aubrey W. Harley of St. Thomas, and his fellow Sailors welcomed Maj. Gen. Graham Lamb aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in the Arabian Gulf Nov. 27.
Lamb, 3rd United Kingdom Division Commander and head of coalition forces in southeast Iraq, commended Harley along with the 5,000 other Sailors aboard Enterprise for providing much needed support to ground troops in Iraq.
Harley's ship provides close air support to ground units in Iraq as part of the Navy's 5th Fleet.
Harley joined the Navy in February 1994.
Navy Officer Terrance Ritter / St. Croix
Dec. 15, 2003 (Fleet Hometown News)–Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Terrance W. Ritter, son of Bernice and Monroe Clendenen of Christiansted, and fellow Sailors and Marines assigned to the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, recently hosted U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during his visit.
Rumsfeld commended the crew of Blue Ridge and the Seventh Fleet for their devoted service and the sacrifices they make while serving their country. Ritter's ship serves as the Seventh Fleet command ship with a crew of more than 800 Sailors.
Ritter, a 2000 graduate of St Croix Central High School, joined the Navy in July 2000.
Air Force civilian David E. Williams / St. Croix
Dec. 2003 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Here's a Christmas greeting to Mavis Williams of Christiansted, from Air Force civilian David E. Williams and family at Incirlik, Turkey:
"Hi, Mom, we love all!"
Army Pvt. Shand Theodule / St. Croix
Dec. 11, 2003 (Army & Air Force News) – Army Pvt. Shand Z. Theodule, a 2003 graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex High School, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
He is the son of Evilina Mondesir of Kingshill, St. Croix.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier 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 Officer James M. Slaughter / St. Croix, St. Thomas
Dec. 10, 2003 (Fleet Hometown News) – Navy Petty Officer 1st Class James M. Slaughter, whose wife, Cleo, is the daughter of C.O. Burke of St. Croix and Monteclair Burke of St. Thomas, and fellow Sailors recently helped make improvements to a Bahraini school during a recent port visit to Bahrain while assigned to the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg.
Sailors chipped, sanded and painted a weathered carport located on the grounds of the 750-student Ibn Al-Hytham Islamic School as part of a community relations project organized by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, 5th Fleet Chaplain's Office.
Slaughter's ship serves as a multi-mission platform capable of supporting carrier strike groups and amphibious forces. The cruiser can also operate independently and as a flagship of a surface action group.
Airman 1st Class Norma Cruz / St. Croix
Dec. 8, 2003 (Army & Air Force News) – Air Force Airman 1st Class Norma I. Cruz has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
Cruz, a 2003 graduate of St. Croix Central High School, is the daughter of Ana M. Soto of Kingshill, St. Croix.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.
In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Army National Guard Pfc. Eisenhower Belle / St. Thomas
Dec. 4, 2003 (Army & Air Force News) – Army National Guard Pfc. Eisenhower J. Belle has graduated from basic combat military training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.
Belle, a 1996 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, is the son of John B. Belle of St. Thomas and Marqurite Belle of Killeen, Texas.
During the eight weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction in drill and ceremonies, rifle marksmanship, weapons, map reading, tactics, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, Army history, core values and traditions, and special training in human relations.
Army National Guard Pfc. Michelle Nibbs / St. Thomas
Dec. 2, 2003 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) — Army National Guard Pfc. Michelle S. Nibbs has graduated from the heavy-wheeled vehicle mechanic advanced individual training course at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
Nibbs, a 1989 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, is the daughter of Lauriel A. and Marsha E. John of Annas Retreat, St. Thomas
The course is designed to train the soldier to perform unit maintenance on heavy-duty vehicles, including prime movers designated as more than five tons and associated trailers, such as crane, hoist, and winch assemblies, and material handling equipment; perform maintenance and repaired systems, chassis, and assemblies pertaining to brake, ignition, engine, electrical, axle, hydraulic, transmission, suspension, wheel, and steering.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
