Category: Veterans Column

Mundelein native serves U.S. Navy at Assault Craft Unit Five

March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mundelein native serves U.S. Navy at Assault Craft Unit Five By Jeffery Tilghman Williams Chief Mass Communication Specialist Navy Office of Community Outreach Petty Officer 1st Class Mike Gielczyk, a native of Mundelein, Illinois, serves the U.S. Navy at Assault Craft Unit Five (ACU-5) operating out of San Diego, California. Gielczyk joined the Navy eight…

News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

American Pride Displayed at this Year’s National Wreaths Across America Day Events

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

American Pride Displayed at this Year’s National Wreaths Across America Day Events More than 2.4 million Sponsored Veterans’ Wreaths were Placed by Volunteers at 3,136 Participating Locations Across the Country National Wreaths Across America Day took place Dec. 18, 2021 at 3,136 participating locations across the country. Our nation’s heroes were remembered as each name was…

National, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Bloomington Illinois Navy Student Recognized for Excellence by Air Force

December 7, 2021December 7, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Bloomington Illinois Navy Student Recognized for Excellence by Air Force Bloomington Illinois Sailor earns Air Force 316th Training Squadron’s Student of the Month By Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Jason Sikora GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – The 316th Training Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base holds a student of the month competition with more…

Features, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Active duty sailor sends cheers to Chicago family

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Active duty sailor sends cheers to Chicago family GULF OF OMAN (Nov. 7, 2021) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Oterrius Pouncy, from Chicago, Ill., gives family a holiday shout out aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Nov. 7. Essex and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deployed to the U.S. 5th…

Chicago, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Time for one unified organization for veterans

November 24, 2021November 26, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Time for one unified organization for veterans Having two organizations to represent military veterans is wrong. The VFW and the American Legion should be combined into one group and all veterans should be allowed to join without the perception of discrimination. By Ray Hanania During my sophomore year at Northern Illinois University, I knew my…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Opinion, Veterans, Veterans Column

One of America’ oldest WWII veterans turns 102

February 10, 2021February 22, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

One of America’ oldest WWII veterans turns 102 One of America’s Oldest WWII Veterans, Sidney Walton, Turning 102, to be Honored in Miami Beach! Pit Crew to Update Sidney’s “National No Regrets Tour” Vehicle Wrap from “101” to “102.” Live! Starlite Hotel, 750 Ocean Dr, 8:00 am, Thurs, Feb 11. Invited guests include Mayor Dan Gelber of Miami Beach Sidney Walton, 101,…

Baby Boomers, Briefs, General Topics, News, Seniors, Veterans, Veterans Column

Military News: VAW-124 welcomes new commending officer in change of Command Ceremony

December 9, 2020December 9, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Military News: VAW-124 welcomes new commending officer in change of Command Ceremony By Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs The “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 124 stationed aboard Naval Station Norfolk held a change of command ceremony, Dec. 3, to mark a transition of command leadership. During the change of command…

Briefs, Federal, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Naval Aviators team with U.S. Coast Guard to safeguard Mariners

July 22, 2020July 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Naval Aviators team with U.S. Coast Guard to safeguard Mariners On Wednesday, June 24 as a five-person crew aboard VAW-124’s E-2C Hawkeye were manning the skies above Hampton Roads they heard a potential Search and Rescue (SAR) distress call announced on the Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and took action. By Jennifer Cragg Commander, Naval Air…

Briefs, General Topics, National, News, news release, Releases, Veterans, Veterans Column

Town of Cicero commemorates sacrifice of veteran who died at Pearl Harbor

December 9, 2019December 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Town of Cicero commemorates sacrifice of veteran who died at Pearl Harbor The Town of Cicero placed a Wreath at the Memorial Stone set up to honor the service of Cicero resident Joseph Philip Steffan, 32, who died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 while serving on the U.S.S. Arizona,…

Features, Government, National, News, Obituary, Veterans, Veterans Column

NAS Whiting Field Milestone: 35,000th Helicopter Pilot winged

November 28, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

NAS Whiting Field Milestone: 35,000th Helicopter Pilot winged Northlake Naval Aviator Lt. Robert Woods among recipients of Gold Wings at Whiting Unit and will be reassigned to fly the MH-60R with the Airwolves of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Forty, Jacksonville, Fla. By Lt. Kaila Millis Naval Air Station Whiting Field Training Air Wing (TRAWING) 5 celebrated a…

News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Illinois Joining Forces to Host Veteran’s Resource Fair as Part of Chicago Warrior Week

September 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Joining Forces to Host Veteran’s Resource Fair as Part of Chicago Warrior Week From September 14-21, Illinois Joining Forces (IJF), will join other state-wide and regional Veteran Service Organizations for the first annual Chicago Warrior Week, a week-long series of events designed for veterans that will highlight the programs and resources available to help…

Government, Illinois Legislature, Veterans, Veterans Column

Underwood Works to Improve Access to Quality Health Care for Veterans

September 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Underwood Works to Improve Access to Quality Health Care for Veterans Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced The ACE Veterans Act which expands veterans’ access to contraceptives, includes an option for full-year supply. The Post-9/11 Veteran Suicide Prevention Counseling Act would improve suicide prevention for post-9/11 veterans Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced the ACE Veterans Act and…

Government, Health, National, Veterans, Veterans Column

Chicago Native Takes Marines to the Fight aboard U.S. Navy Warship

September 5, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Native Takes Marines to the Fight aboard U.S. Navy Warship By William Lovelady Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist, Navy Office of Community Outreach Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejandra Gueta, a native of Chicago, always wanted to join the military. Now, seven years later, Gueta serves aboard one of the Navy’s amphibious ships at Naval…

Chicago, Editors Pick, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Berwyn native participates in Navy Joint-Service training mission

August 22, 2019August 24, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Berwyn native participates in Navy Joint-Service training mission By Joint Hometown News Service Cmdr. Tracy Joy, a 1986 Immaculate Heart Of Mary High School graduate in Westchester and native of Berwyn, Illinois, is a nurse corps officer in the Naval Reserve. She is with the Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Great Lakes One, Illinois, that participated…

News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Orland Park native exemplifies “We Build, We Fight” legacy of Navy Seabees

August 22, 2019August 22, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park native exemplifies “We Build, We Fight” legacy of Navy Seabees By Alvin Plexico Navy Office of Community Outreach “We Build, We Fight” has been the motto of the U. S. Navy’s Construction Force, known as the “Seabees,” for more than 75 years. Commander Michael Meno, a 1991 Carl Sandburg High School graduate and…

News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Oak Lawn Navy Recruit helps honors WWII Merchant Marine in San Antonio

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Oak Lawn Navy Recruit helps honors WWII Merchant Marine in San Antonio By Burrell Parmer Navy Recruiting District San Antonio Lt. j.g. Kathleen Spyrnal of Oak Lawn, Ill., an Officer Programs operations officer assigned to Navy Recruiting District San Antonio (NRD), had the honor of meeting WWII Merchant Marine Ray Denison during an Alamo Honor…

Features, General Topics, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter

August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter By Jerry Jimenez Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class, Navy Office of Community Outreach Sailors are some of the most highly-trained people on the planet, according to Navy officials, and this training requires highly-dedicated instructors. At Naval Education and Training command, instructors at advanced technical schools…

Chicago, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

West Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

West Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter By Rick Burke Navy Office of Community Outreach Sailors are some of the most highly-trained people on the planet, according to Navy officials, and this training requires highly-dedicated instructors. At Naval Education and Training command, instructors at advanced technical schools teach sailors to be…

General Topics, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column