Published: Sunday, July 15, 2007
VETERANS
District 8 commander
MINERAL RIDGE — Ken Lewis of Mineral Ridge has been elected commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars District 8, which includes Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage and Summit counties. Lewis, a Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran, is also commander of VFW Post 4192 in Mineral Ridge. He is past commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 606, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 11, Marine Corps League Chapter 958, and senior vice commander of the Vietnam Veterans Motor Cycle Chapter A, all in Warren, and is state chaplain for the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle organization.
Lewis, a retired Delphi-Packard employee, and his wife, Mary, have two adult daughters, Sherri Lewis of Mineral Ridge and Julie Hopper of Niles, and one grandson.
Colonel in medical corps
BERLIN CENTER — Dr. Gerald A. Matteucci joined family and friends Saturday to celebrate his promotion to the rank of colonel in the Army Reserve Medical Corps with a pinning ceremony. The official reading of the promotion orders and pinning was conducted by retired Army Capt. Dennis Matteucci, Dr. Matteucci's brother.
Dr. Matteucci, a staff anesthesiologist at St. Elizabeth Health Center, has served in the Army Reserve Medical Corps since 1988. He currently is attached to the AMEDD Professional Management Command at Fort McPherson, Ga., and the 1207th Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Ga. His most recent active duty was September through December 2005, when he was staff anesthesiologist at Tripler Army Medical Center, Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003, he served as staff anesthesiologist at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom — Noble Eagle. Matteucci, promoted to colonel Sept. 29, 2006, has received numerous military awards.
The 56-year-old native of Brownsville, Pa., graduated from Fairmont State College, Fairmont, W.Va., in 1971 with a bachelor of science degree in biology and received his medical degree from the Universita' di Bologna, Italy, in 1984. He studied surgery for a year at McKeesport Hospital,
McKeesport, Pa., before studying internal medicine at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center in Youngstown.
In 1987, Dr. Matteucci began a three-year residency at Meridia Huron Road Hospital, Cleveland, specializing in obstetrical and cardiovascular anesthesia as well as pain management, becoming a Diplomate of The American Academy of Pain Management in 1990.
Dr. Matteucci is a staff anesthesiologist with Bel-Park Anesthesia Associates and St. Elizabeth Health Center. He is also a practicing Aviation Medical Examiner authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Dr. Matteucci, his wife, Linda, and son, Charlie, live in Berlin Center.
Air Force first lieutenant
Jussus D.R. Sanchez of Boardman has been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in the Air Force. Sanchez is stationed at Yokota Air Force Base in Japan, where he is a combat systems officer on a C-130 Hercules military aircraft. In June 2006, Sanchez, then a second lieutenant, received his navigator wings, presented to him by his father, after completing combat systems officer training at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas. He completed additional training in February at Little Rock AFB, Little Rock, Ark.
Sanchez is the son of Renaldo Sanchez and Wildemina Ocasio Sanchez of Boardman. He graduated from Boardman High School in 2000 and earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio University in 2004.
Leadership recognized
Army Sgt. 1st Class Ryan P. Cole was inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea. Cole, son of Craig and Patricia Cole of Warren, and a 1995 graduate of Howland High School, is on active duty with the U.S. Army and is stationed with the 4th Chemical Company out of Camp Hovey, South Korea. He has been on active duty for 11 years and is a combat veteran from Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been married eight years and has two sons.
The Sergeant Audie Murphy Club recognizes noncommissioned officers who exhibit leadership traits and professionalism above and beyond their peers.
Home in Girard on leave
Army Sgt. Robert Kirkpatrick is home on a two-week leave from Baghdad, Iraq, where he is a team leader on a personal security detail that provides protection for brigade command officers traveling throughout the urban Baghdad zones, as well as high-level civilians. Kirkpatrick, the son of Bob and Joyce Kirkpatrick of Girard, is slated to leave Tuesday to return to Iraq.
Air Force: Airman Matthew Szczurek (Chalker High School, Southington, '06), son of Lenett Szczurek of Southington; Airman 1st Class Kacie J. Adsit (Mercer Senior High School, Mercer, Pa., '04), daughter of Kelly Rossi and niece of Sharyn McGallis, both of Grove City, Pa.
Army: National Guard Pvt. Kurtis M. Merkel (James A. Garfield High School, Garrettsville, '05), son of Shirley Merkel of Southington, and grandson of Bill and Dorthy Lee of Streetsboro.
Items of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com.
More Stories from Wed, Jul 18, 2007
- Valley's brief rainfall Tuesday won't restore your lawn
- Narrow doorway thwarts St. E's ATM theft
- Breathe easier: Valley meets clean air standards
- Edwards called city's 2010 plan 'visionary'
- Historical ovens could draw tourists
- Trumbull considers financing out-of-county senior transport
- Community considers school building options
- For county treasurer, time has come to retire
