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HomeNewsArchivesMilitary News of Virgin Islanders - June 2005

Military News of Virgin Islanders – June 2005

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 National Guard Pvt. Edward P. Schuster/St. Croix
June 1, 2005 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Army National Guard Pvt. Edward P. Schuster has graduated from the machinist advanced individual training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.
Schuster was taught machine shop fundamentals including fabricating, repairing, and modifying metallic and nonmetallic parts. He learned to operate machines such as engine lathes, utility grinders, power cutoff saws, armature, undercutters, arbor, hydraulic and drill presses, as well as associated attachments, accessories and tools.
Pvt. Schuster is the son of Marjorie F. Schneider of Peter's Rest, and Edward P.Schuster Sr. of Bonne Esperance, both of Kingshill, St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd /class Jamal A. Baxter Jr./St. Thomas
June 1, 2005 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jamal A. Baxter Jr., son of Vivian C. Raymond of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, was recently deployed to the European Central Command maritime area of responsibility in support of the global war on terrorism. He is assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan, home ported in Norfolk, Va.
Baxter and his shipmates will work with allies to detect, disrupt and deny international terrorist organizations the use of the maritime environment. They will also work to build regional security and long-term stability.
Amphibious assault ships like USS Saipan deploy 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 available.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Girard Walter Ryan/St. Croix
June 8, 2005 – HM3 Ryan is a hospital corpsman currently deployed to Iraq in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. The sailor is currently serving with 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The particular mission of this his unit is to fight for life, meaning that this unit is responsible for the medical treatment and evacuation of wounded and injured U.S. Marines and members of other services.
Girard is a graduate of Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Illinois. During the 14-week course, Girard learned a wide range of medical procedures used to provide first aid and assist Navy doctors and nurses. He also received an introductory instruction for service in a variety of medical environments, from fleet hospitals and shipboard medical departments to fleet Marine forces and medical administration offices.
Girard is 23 years of age, a 2001 graduate of Central High School of St. Croix, V. I. and joined the Navy in July 2001. He is the son of Mrs. Clara Ryan of St. Croix, V. I. and brother of Phillip Ryan, also of St. Croix, V. I.
This update was submitted by Shakeeta Ryan, wife of Hospital Corpsman Girard W. Ryan

Amoise A. Matthew Enlists in United States Navy/St. Thomas
June 14, 2005 (Fleet Hometown News Center) – Amoise A. Matthew, recently enlisted in the U.S. Navy under the Delayed Entry Program at Navy Recruiting District Miami, Sunrise, Fla.
Matthew will report for active duty to undergo basic training at the Navy's Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.
Matthew is a 2004 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School of St. Thomas, V. I. and is the son of Marilyn and John J. Matthew of St. Thomas, V.I.

Army Pvt. Rene P. Garcia Graduates from Training Course/St. Croix
June 14, 2005 (Army & Air Force Hometown News) – Army Pvt. Rene P. Garcia has graduated from the Power Generation Equipment Repairer Advanced Individual Training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.
During AIT, the soldier was trained to perform unit, direct support or general support maintenance functions on power-generation equipment. This included repair and overhauling internal combustion engines, tactical utility, precise power generation sets, and other associated equipment.
The private is the son of Rene Garcia Sr. of Quincy St., Brooklyn, N.Y., and Alma Richards of Federiksted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He is a 1999 graduate of Benjamin Banneker High School, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Pvt. Franchesca L. Battiste Graduates from Basic Training/St. Thomas
June 27, 2005 (Army& Air Force Hometown News) – Pvt. Franchesca L. Battiste 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, and physical fitness. She 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.
Battiste is the daughter of Lyle Battiste of St. Thomas, V.I., and Jean Battiste of Fayetteville, N.C. She is a 1998 graduate of Westover Senior High School, Fayetteville.

Martin Alexis Sr. Promoted in USAF/St. Croix
June 29, 2005 – Martin Alexis Sr. was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U. S. Air Force, Nov. 1, 2004. Lt. Col. Alexis is assigned to Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. as chief of the bioenvironmental engineering branch.
He is the son of Joan and Emmanuel Alexis of St. Croix, USVI. His wife, Dianne is the daughter of Ermine and Phillip Stedman, also of St. Croix. Alexis is a 1982 graduate of St. Croix Central High School and received his BS degree from Louisiana Tech in 1987 and an MS from Hampton University in 1990.

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