Over There: Man promoted to staff sergeant
By Jean Edwards jedwards@stmedianetwork.com January 16, 2013 1:08PM
Daniel Banas
Article Extras
Updated: February 19, 2013 12:01PM
Congratulations to Daniel Banas, who was promoted in August to staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. Banas is the son of proud parents Thomas and Patricia Banas of Channahon.
Prior to serving in the Army, Banas has also served a four-year tour in the U.S. Marine Corps.
After being out of the service for several years, Banas attempted to re-enlist with the Marines, but there was no military occupation specialty available in his field of training, so he decided to join the Army, where his specialty was available.
He is currently stationed in Wahiawa, Hawaii, with the 25th Infantry Division. Banas served a one-year deployment to Iraq in 2010.
He will be coming home in May for a few weeks to visit family and friends before he goes on his second tour to Korea.
Congratulations to Banas for a job well done.
Other military news
Lance Cpl. Thomas W. Courtney of Wilmington is team leader, 2nd Platoon, Kilo Company, Battalion Landing 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He pushed out his final repetition during the bench press competition in the gym of the USS Peleliu on Dec. 29.
The challenge was the seventh competition in the Campbell Cup, a bimonthly challenge that pits teams within the 15th MEU and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group against each other. The goal is for teams of five Marines or sailors to do as many bench presses as possible per team member.
The 15th MEU is deployed as part of the Peleliu ARG as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
Veterans seminar
Robert Hart of the American Association for Wartime Veterans will present a free informational seminar, “Aid and Attendance,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Timbers of Shorewood, 1100 N. River Road.
Hart will explain the benefits that are available to qualifying veterans, widowed spouses or disabled adult children.
Once awarded aid and attendance or housebound status, veterans may obtain as much as $1,732 a month, surviving spouses $1,113 a month and existing couples $2,054 a month. In addition to income, they may qualify for free medications, medical equipment, incontinence supplies, glasses and hearing aids.
Hart will explain eligibility and how to initiate a claim. For example, the claimant’s physician must declare the veteran as housebound and in need of assistance from another individual, which may include services offered by assisted living. The veteran must also have served at least 90 days active duty with one day of the 90 during a war period.
This seminar is free and open to the public. For more information, call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669 or visit www.timbersofshorewood.com.
If you have a military story you like to share, contact Jean Edwards at 815-773-7172 or jedwards@stmedianetwork.com.
