Starting March 21, the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier published information on 109 area service personnel deployed in the military. Here is Page 1 of 2.
Will Wright
Navy Airman Will Wright of Mattoon is serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk on duty in the Persian Gulf. The son of Tom and Vicky Wright of Mattoon, he is a 2002 graduate of Mattoon High School. He has a sister, Deanna Wright, who attends Franklin Elementary School.
Ryan Livingston
Army Pvt. Ryan Livingston of Toledo is serving with the 51st Chemical Company in Kuwait. The son of John and Hilda Livingston of Toledo, he is a 1999 graduate of Neoga High School. He has five brothers, including Tom Livingston of Mattoon; and sisters Ann Dillier of Greenup, Eileen Trimble of Windsor and Sharon Lacy of Neoga.
Chuck Drury
Army 2nd Lt. Chuck Drury of Charleston is a physician's assistant serving with the 1-320th FA Battalion in Kuwait. The son of Paul Drury and Charlene Drury, both of Charleston, he is a 1989 graduate of Charleston High School. He has three sisters: Karen Tenhagen, Judy Walters and Diane Ratliff.
Christopher Morrison
Army PFC Christopher Morrison of Windsor has been deployed to Camp New York in Kuwait. The son of Roger and Rosemary Morrison, he is a 2001 graduate of Windsor High School. He has two sisters: Courtney and Chelsea Morrison, both of Windsor.
Jon Easton
Marine Cpl. Jon Easton of Greenup has been deployed to Kuwait with the 1st Marine Division. The son of Joyce McMorris and Robert Easton, both of Greenup, he is a 2000 graduate of Cumberland High School. He has two brothers, Jeff and J.R. Easton, both of Toledo, and a sister, Jennifer Jackson of Toledo. He is the grandson of Betty Young and the late Herschel Young of Mattoon, and JoAnne Easton and Bill and Shirley Easton, all of Greenup.
Marshall Carlen
Marine Cpl. Marshall Carlen of Greenup has been deployed to the Middle East with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Communications Detachment. The son of Gregg and Shelley Carlen of Greenup, he is a 2000 graduate of Cumberland High School. He has one brother, Levi Carlen, and a nephew, Michael Carlen of Greenup. He is the grandson of David and Miriam Carlen of Greenup, and Keith and Violet Whitaker of Toledo.
Neil Purdy
Navy Seaman Neil Purdy of Mattoon is serving aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf. The son of Nancy Thurmond Purdy of Mattoon, he is a 2002 graduate of Mattoon High School. He has two brothers, Ryan Purdy, a senior in the ROTC program at Eastern Illinois University, and Sean Purdy, a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is the grandson of Duane and Bonnie Beals of Mattoon.
William A. McDaniel
Marine LCPL William A. McDaniel of Sullivan has been deployed to the Middle East. The son of Jerry and Sharon McDaniel of Sullivan, he is a graduate of Sullivan High School. His wife, Amanda (Duncan) McDaniel, is the daughter of Larry and Terrie Duncan of Windsor. He has one daughter, Kaitlynn. He is the grandson of Tom and Darlene Florey of Bethany.
Thomas G. Jones
Marine Pfc. Thomas G. Jones of Hume has been deployed to the Middle East with the 5th Marines. The son of Fran and John Hernandez of Hume, he is a 2001 graduate of Shiloh High School. His wife, Ashley, is the daughter of Teresa Clayton of Charleston.
Todd Rauch
Army Spc. Todd Rauch of Mattoon has been deployed to the Middle East with the 527th MP Co. The son of David and Robin Rauch of Mattoon, he is a 2001 graduate of Mattoon High School. He has a twin brother, Ryan, of Mattoon. He is the grandson of Jack and Glenda Barton of Mattoon, and Robert Rauch and the late Anne Rauch of Mattoon.
Chris Bower
Army Pfc. Chris Bower of Charleston has been deployed to the Middle East with the 101st Airborne. The son of Ken and Kathy Bower of Charleston, he is a 2000 graduate of Charleston High School. He has seven brothers, Robert, Steve, Joseph, Richard, Patrick, Kenny and David, and two sisters, Leeanne and Lisa. His and his wife, Earlene, have three children, Christopher, Sierra and Amora.
Donald G. Munro Jr.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Donald G. Munro Jr. of Mattoon has been deployed to the Middle East. An officer with the Mattoon Police Department, he and his wife, Jenny, are parents of three children, Trey, Chase and Joey.
Heather Marshall
Army Sgt. Heather Marshall of Mattoon has been deployed to the Middle East. She is the daughter of Karen and David Davis of Mattoon and Bill and Linda Barter of Charleston. She is a 1996 graduate of Mattoon High School. Her husband, Sgt. Joshua Marshall, also has been deployed to the Persian Gulf. They are the parents of a son, Joshua Jr., who is staying with grandparents in Arizona.
Marion Tabbert
Navy Petty Officer First Class Marion Tabbert of Stewardson is serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf. He is the son of Mary and Doug Tabbert of Stewardson. He is a 1987 graduate of Stewardson-Strasburg High School. His wife, Lillian, and children Breanne and Jordan are in Japan. He has two sisters, Mrs. Tynia Kessler of Stewardson and Mrs. Penny Hill of Neoga. His grandmothers are Doris Jean Cameron and Leonore Tabbert, both of Neoga.
Nathan Hershberger
Navy Seaman Nathan Hershberger of Arcola is serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf. He is the son of Polly Hershberger and the late Andy Hershberger of Arcola. He is a graduate of Arcola High School.
Curtis Strader
Marine Corps Maj. Curtis Strader is in Iraq with the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. He is the son of Dan and Linda Strader. He is a 1980 graduate of Oakland High School. He has one sister, Trisha, and two brothers, Todd and Chad. His wife, Sharolyn, is the daughter of Tom and Jane Everett of Charleston. The Straders have two children, Clayton and Conner.
Michael Easton
Army Staff Sgt. Michael Easton of Mattoon is in the Persian Gulf with the 101st Airborne. He is the son of Rick Easton of Mattoon and Darletta Drury of Charleston. He is a 1991 graduate of Mattoon High School. He has one sister, Mrs. Terry (Valerie) Housman, and one brother, Steve Easton. He is the grandson of Fred and Marjorie Easton of Windsor.
Geoffrey Clarkson
Army National Guard Spc. Geoffrey Clarkson of Mattoon is in the Persian Gulf with the 233rd MP Company. He is the son of Barbara Clarkson of Mattoon and the late Peter Clarkson. He is a 1993 graduate of Mattoon High School. He has one sister, Darcy Ruef of Neoga, and two brothers, Jon and Matthew Clarkson of Mattoon.
Wes Parker
Marine Corps Cpl. Wes Parker of Westfield is in Iraq with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Echo Co. Bullrush Camp. He is the son of Terry and Sue Parker of Kansas. He is a 1992 graduate of Casey-Westfield High School. He has one sister, Wendy Fuller of Mooresville, Ind., and two brothers, Rodney Parker of Greenup and Doug Parker of Kansas. He is the grandson of Charles and Cinda Parker of Kansas. His wife, Delana, is the daughter of Tom and Gail Hildebrand and Elmer and Twila Black of Charleston.
Shane Duzan
Air Force Reserves Senior Airman Shane Duzan of Oakland is with the 183rd Security Police Unit at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. He is the son of David and Frances Duzan of Oakland. He is a 2000 graduate of Oakland High School. He has two brothers, Jerry and Cody Duzan. He is the grandson of Dale Duzan of Hindsboro and Harriet Parker of Oakland.
Levi Miller
Army Pfc. Levi Miller of Gays is with B Company 1-502 Infantry in the Persian Gulf. He is the son of Dave and Valerie Miller. He is a 2002 graduate of Windsor High School. He has one brother, Jeremy Miller of Gays.
Matthew Hamm
Navy Petty officer 1st Class Matthew Hamm of Mattoon is serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf. He is the son of Gary and Alice Hamm of Mattoon and Elizabeth Fisher of Sullivan. He is a graduate of Mattoon High School.
Samuel Irving
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Samuel Irving is with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Iraq. He is the son of Bill and Rebecca Irving of Windsor. He is a 1998 graduate of Windsor High School. He is the brother of Ben, Luke, Jess, Anna and Isaac Irving. He is the grandson of Rooney Irving.
Joseph Holly
Marine Corps Pfc. Joseph Wilson Holly of Mattoon is in the infantry special combat unit. He is the son of Brenda Holly of Mattoon. He has a brother, Nick Holly of Texas. His sister and brother-in-law, Robin and Steve Tomer, live in Mattoon. He is the grandson of Vennie Tumbleson of Mattoon, and the late Wilson and Fontaine Holly of Mattoon.
Charlie Crist
Army Sgt. Charlie G. Crist of Arcola is with Alpha Company 82nd Airborne Division. He is the son of Harold and Marilyn Good of Arcola. He has a sister, Tracie Enlow of Mattoon, and a brother, Michael Crist of Arcola.
Mark Fleming
Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Mark Fleming of Charleston is with the 7th Marine Engineer Support Battalion in the Persian Gulf. He is the son of Millie Fleming of Charleston and the late Bill Fleming. He is a 1996 graduate of Charleston High School and 2001 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He has a sister, Jill Fleming.
Tim Morgan
Navy IFCA Tim Morgan of Westfield is serving with the USS Oscar Austin in the Persian Gulf. He is the son of Jeff and Lisa Morgan. He is a 2001 graduate of Casey-Westfield High School. He has a brother, Philip Morgan. He is the grandson of Walter and Ruth White and Roger and Peggy Morgan, and great-grandson of Vesta Morgan.
Justin Armstrong
Army Sgt. Justin Armstrong of Charleston has been deployed, along with his wife, Army Sgt. Maggie Armstrong of Pennsylvania, to Iraq with the 4th Armored Division out of Fort Hood, Texas. He is the son of Roger and Betty Armstrong and Dawn and Brad O'Brien, all of Charleston. He is a graduate of Charleston High School. His brothers and sisters are Ashley Armstrong of Danville, Keith and Jill Thomason of Webster City, Iowa, and Chris Thomason and Tonya Thomason, both of Charleston. He is the grandson of Raymond and Marian Armstrong of Charleston, Glenn and Sue Elliott of Loxa, Bill Herman of Mattoon and the late Madeleine Herman and Zalla (Bobbie) O'Brien of Charleston.
Todd Miller
Navy E-5 Todd E. Miller of Mattoon is with the Naval Mobile Construction Battallion in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is the son of Wayne and Linda Miller of Arcola. He is a 1986 graduate of Mattoon High School. His wife, Rebecca Sanders Miller, daughter, Baylee Lynn (4), and son, Brendon (2), live in Mattoon. He has three sisters, Cindy, Penny and Christy. He is the son-in-law of Bob and Joan Sanders of Mattoon. He is the grandson of Robert and Dorothy Duncan of Mattoon.
Kenneth Ross
Marine Corps Sgt. Kenneth Ross is serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Marine Wing Support Squadron-271. He is a heavy equipment operator. His wife, Kimberly (Morgan) Ross, is a 1995 graduate of Charleston High School and the daughter of Bradley and Brenda Morgan of Charleston. They have two children, Gabrielle, 4, and Colin, 6 months. He is from Syracuse, N.Y.
John Booker
Army National Guard Spc. John Booker of Sullivan has been deployed to Kuwait. He serves with F Company 106 Aviation National Guard in Peoria. He is the son of Joe and Marsha Thompson of Sullivan, and Tim Booker of Grapevine, Texas. He is a 1996 graduate of Sullivan High School. He is the grandson of John and Reba Shain and Bill and Peggy Booker, all of Sullivan. His wife, Laurrie, and daughter, Taylor, will remain in Sullivan.
Josh BlairArmy Spc. Josh Blair of Ashmore is serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 4th Infantry Division. He is the son of Charlie and Peg Blair of Ashmore. He is a 2000 graduate of Charleston High School. He is the grandson of Mary Shoot of Ashmore and the great-grandson of Lila Runnels of Kansas. He has one brother, Jeff, of Ashmore.
Brandon Reeves
Army Capt. Brandon Reeves of Mattoon is deployed in Iraq. He is a battery commander. He is the son of Mona and Emil Reeves of Toledo. He is a 1991 graduate of Mattoon High School. His wife, Tracie, and 9-month-old son Cooper reside in North Carolina. He has one sister, Shannon Mathis, and one brother, Roy Reeves.
Chad Louden
Army Spc. Chad Louden of Arthur is currently serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a pathfinder with the 101st Airborne Assault Division. He is the son of John and Barb Louden of rural Arthur. He is a 1998 graduate of Atwood-Hammond High School. He is the brother of Charidy Walker of rural Humboldt. He is the grandson of Eugene Bishop of Lovington and the late Justine Bishop, and Betty Louden of Alba, Mo., and the late Eugene Louden.
Matthew Cavanah
Army Reserves Pfc. 3 Matthew Cavanah of Charleston is currently serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is with the 323rd Chemical Company. He is the son of Jerry and Patty Shupe of Charleston and the late Joseph Cavanah. He is a 2002 graduate of Charleston High School and the assistant manager at Pizza Hut of Charleston. He is the brother of Amy Cavanah of Charleston and John E. Cavanah of Madisonville, Ky.
Linda Smith
Navy AM1 Linda Smith of Mattoon is serving on the USS Harry Truman with a helicopter detachment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith of Mattoon. She is a 1992 graduate of Mattoon High School.
Ben Everett
Marines 1st Lt. Ben Everett of Charleston is serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He is the son of Rick and Carole Everett of Charleston. He is a 1996 graduate of Charleston High School and a 2000 graduate of Eastern Illinois University. He has one brother, Matt, of Charleston. His wife, Anne, lives on base at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Elliott Stanberry
Marines Cpl. Elliott Stanberry of Greenup is serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 1st Reconnaisance Battalion, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He is the son of James and Sally Stanberry and brother of Elizabeth Stanberry. He is a 2000 graduate of Cumberland High School. He is the grandson of Freda Stanberry of Greenup and the late Fredrick Stanberry. He also is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Rex Syndergaard of Charleston.
This is Page 1 of 2 in our Hometown Heroes profiles. Click here for Page 2.
