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 visource@gmail.com. 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 Seaman Apprentice David B. Gumbs/St. Thomas
Sept. 7, 2012 (Fleet Hometown News Center)–Navy Seaman Apprentice David B. Gumbs, son of Hazra and Louis Gumbs of St. Thomas, V. I., who is assigned with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, Det Musa Qal’ah, recently completed construction of a 3,100-square-foot medical facility at a combat outpost in the Musa Qal’ah region of southern Afghanistan.lang9.
The medical facility, which houses a trauma ward, two operating rooms, a laboratory, and a post-anesthesia recovery room will provide medical evacuation support and trauma care for operating forces at numerous outposts and forward operating bases in the Musa Qal’ah region.
lang9 U.S. Navy Seabees have a unique expertise in expeditionary construction. Their ability to build a quality product in a contingency environment during a time of war is reflected in their motto "We build, we fight." Enduring extreme heat, high winds and frequent dust storms, Detachment Musa Qal’ah took pride in overcoming the challenges of living and working in austere conditions.lang9
Homeported in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB-11 is deployed to Afghanistan to conduct general, mobility, survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army partnering and detachment of units in combined/joint operations area – Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.
Gumbs is a 2006 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School of St. Thomas, V. I., and joined the Navy in April 2011.
Army Pvt. Jemel J. Morris/St. Croix
Sept. 16, 2012 (Joint Hometown News Service) — Army Pvt. Jemel J. Morris 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.
Morris is the daughter of Carol and Mel Morris of Christiansted.
Army Pfc. Leticia G. Eddy/St. Thomas
Sept. 19, 2012 (Joint Hometown News Service) — Army Pfc. Leticia G. Eddy 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.
Eddy is the daughter of Bernadette Eddy of St. Thomas.
She is a 2011 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas.
Army Pvt. Patrick R. Hector/St. Thomas
Sept. 20, 2012 (Joint Hometown News Service) — Army Pvt. Patrick R. Hector 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.
Hector is a 2009 graduate of All Saints Cathedral School, St. Thomas.
Navy Seaman Apprentice Raynard A. Malone/St. Thomas
Sept. 20, 2012 (Fleet Hometown News Center) — Navy Seaman Apprentice Raynard A. Malone, son of Eucil B. Worrell of St. John, V. I., recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Malone 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.
Malone is a 2010 graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School of St. Thomas, V. I.
Army National Guard Pvt. Makeya S. Bruce/St. Croix
Sept. 27, 2012 (Joint Hometown News Service) – Army National Guard Pvt. Makeya S. Bruce 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.
Bruce is the daughter of Diane Prosper of Grove Place, Frederiksted, St. Croix.
She is a 2011 graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex High School, Kingshill.
