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 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.
Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ellen Marie Magras/St. Croix
My name is Ellen Marie Magras and I would like for you to publish this in your Military News Section. Thanks in advance and if you have questions, please reply. Thanks as well for keeping us informed on what is happening in our islands. Most respectfully, CW4 Magras.
March 5, 2008 – Ellen M. Magras, daughter of Dariel Ruiz of St. Croix and the late Richard "Frenchie" Magras of St. Thomas, was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 4 on March 1, at FOB Hammer, Iraq.
Magras is currently on her second combat tour with the 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. She has served 22 years of active duty military service. Special greetings go out to her daughter Somalia, all of her family and friends in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Central High School Class of 1985. Thanks for your support!
Army National Guard Pvt. Roberto Soto/St. Croix
March 7, 2008 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Army National Guard Pvt. Roberto Soto has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Ky.
During the nine-week training period, the trainee received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions and core values.
Soto is the son of Silvia Velez of Altoona Lagoon, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The private is a 2007 graduate of Central High School, Christiansted.
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Marie Kathy Cook/St. Thomas
March 10, 2008 – Chief Master Sergeant Marie Kathy Cook (Turbe) retired from the United States Air Force on March 1, with over 33 years of honorable service. Since her initial enlistment March 19, 1970, Chief Cook has had assignments in the administrative and human resources career fields at locations that include Travis AFB, Calif.; Clark AB, the Republic of the Philippines; Altus AFB Okla.; Bitburg AB, Germany; Homestead AFB Fla.; Robins AFB Ga. and Dobbins ARB Ga.
She was promoted to the highest enlisted rank of chief master sergeant on March 1, 2006, as the Enlisted Advisor for the 622d Regional Support Group Commander, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. Cook advised the commander on matters pertaining to the welfare, effective utilization, education and progress of enlisted members assigned to 16 geographically separated units (GSUs) aligned for command and control under the 622d Regional Support Group. She also served as the quality-of-life advocate for enlisted members and their families.
She is a 1968 graduate of Sts. Peter and Paul High School and the daughter of John and Valentine Turbe, longtime residents of Frenchtown, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Army Pfc. Luis E. Pena/St. Croix
March 13, 2008 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Army Pfc. Luis E. Pena 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. He trained in 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.
He is the son of Digna Prentice of Sion Farm, Christiansted, Virgin Islands.
Pena is a 2007 graduate of St. Croix Central High School, Christiansted, V.I.
Navy Fireman Recruit Shaniqua C. Morton/St. Thomas
March 18, 2008 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Navy Fireman Recruit Shaniqua C. Morton recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Morton 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.
The recruit is the niece of Beryl Prentice of Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands.
Morton is a 2007 graduate of Harry S. Truman High School of Bronx, N. Y.
Navy Seaman Recruit Dean A. Francis/St. Thomas
March 26, 2008 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Navy Seaman Recruit Dean A. Francis recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Francis 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.
He is the son of Delita F. Francis of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and Liston A. Francis of Tampa, Fla.,
Francis is a 1993 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School of St. Thomas, V. I.
Army Pfc. Jovita L. Fergus/St. Thomas
March 28, 2008 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Army Pfc. Jovita L. Fergus has graduated from the Field Services Specialist Advanced Individual course at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va.
This new Army military occupational specialty incorporates both the laundry and shower specialist and the fabric repair specialist courses into one career field. The soldier is trained to operate and perform preventive maintenance on laundry and shower units, delousing equipment, and decontamination gear. She learns to use washing formulas and materials, cleaning procedures and to inspect, mark, classify, resize and repair Army clothing. The private is trained to repair canvas and webbed equipment; sew, patch, darn and baste worn or damaged fabrics; and operate and maintain sewing, darning and button machines.
She is the niece of Ethlyn V. Tuitt-Mills of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fergus is a 2007 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas.
