veteran Archives

Burbank native joins multinational exercise in Baltic Sea region

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Burbank native joins multinational exercise in Baltic Sea region By Theodore Quintana Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class , Navy Office of Community Outreach Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Anderson, a native of Burbank, Illinois, is participating in the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise with 18 other nations. “During BALTOPS, I am going to be doing a…

News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

I don’t need a day to remember my father

June 18, 2019July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

I don’t need a day to remember my father George John Hanania was a great guy and a phenomenal father, for the 16 years that I knew him. My dad fled the Holy Land in 1926 to get away from the hatred that consumed both Arabs and Jews. An older brother Joseph drowned in the…

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Chicago native serves aboard versatile U.S. Warship half-a-world away

May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago native serves aboard versatile U.S. Warship half-a-world away By Robert Zahn Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class, Navy Office of Community Outreach Seaman Clarkensy Smith, a native of Chicago, joined the Navy to travel and see the world. Now, one year later and half a world away, Smith serves aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam, patrolling…

News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Lockport enlistee serving in Pacific Naval Partnership

May 22, 2019May 22, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lockport enlistee serving in Pacific Naval Partnership Steelworker Constructionman Joseph Synowiec, a Lockport, Ill. native, is participating in Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific region. As a member of the Pacific Partnership 2019 (PP19) team, Synowiec is one of more than 500 U.S. service members,…

Features, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Chicago Sailor Serves Aboard a Floating Airport at Sea

May 8, 2019May 8, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Sailor Serves Aboard a Floating Airport at Sea By Kayla Turnbow Navy Office of Community Outreach A Chicago native and 2016 Marine Leadership Academy graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. Petty Officer 2nd Class Adoni Hughes is an aviation ordnanceman aboard the carrier stationed in Newport…

Chicago, Government, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Oak Lawn native protects U.S. Navy Forces in Middle East

May 6, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Oak Lawn native protects U.S. Navy Forces in Middle East By Erica R. Gardner Chief Mass Communication Specialist, Navy Office of Community Outreach Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Brown Lt. Cmdr. Erich Grawunder, an Oak Lawn, Illinois, native, joined the Navy to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. “My…

National, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Oswego Navy Recruit works on guided missile destroyer

March 7, 2019March 7, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Oswego Navy Recruit works on guided missile destroyer U.S. Navy Seaman Melissa Van Barriger, from Oswego, Illinois, uses a controller to operate a sliding pad eye onboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) during a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) in the South China Sea, March 3, 2019. The John…

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Veterans Profile, Photo: U.S. Navy Fireman Leo Mendez

February 21, 2019February 21, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Veterans Profile, Photo: U.S. Navy Fireman Leo Mendez U.S. Navy Fireman Leo Mendez, from Chicago, lifts a saltwater pump in the steam and heat shop aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 20, 2019. The John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of…

Photos, Veterans, Veterans Column

Photo, Military Profile: Chicagoan aboard the USS Sergipo Gonzalez

February 15, 2019February 15, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Photo, Military Profile: Chicagoan aboard the USS Sergipo Gonzalez Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Sergio Medina, from Chicago, Ill., sends signals to the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66). Gonzalez is underway conducting composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) with Carrier Strike…

Chicago, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Orland Park native supports “Silent Service” at Pearl Harbor Sub Training Center

February 13, 2019February 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park native supports “Silent Service” at Pearl Harbor Sub Training Center By Erica R. Gardner Chief Mass Communication Specialist, Navy Office of Community Outreach. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rusty Pang An Orland Park, Illinois, native and 2007 Carl Sandburg High School graduate is serving at the U.S. Naval Submarine Training Center…

Features, General Topics, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Remembering at Memorial Day

May 25, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Remembering at Memorial Day Memorial Day is an important time to remember the sacrifices of veterans in your family like your dad or your mom. But remembering requires a little work. Getting them to share their stories and documenting them in journals for later years is so important to do By Ray Hanania Like many people,…