A salute for a job well done
March 28, 2012 1:08PM
Jean Edwards, Over There columnist for The Herald-News
Updated: July 12, 2012 12:44PM
Most of you who have served in the armed forces and have gone through boot camp know that this is the most critical time of your career. It determines whether you will enter the armed forces.
While in boot camp your days are long and tiresome, and sometimes you awaken wishing you were back home, but something within keeps you there. It’s your pride, loyalty and determination.
And when people have successfully completed boot camp, they can smile and be proud of themselves because they have completed a great accomplishment that has prepared them well to defend their country. And they’ve done it all by themselves and not with the help of their parents.
The Herald-News salutes the troops for a job well done!
They include the following:
Navy Seaman Apprentice Chase Breinholt, the son of Susan Neese of Plainfield, completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes.
Air Force Airman James M. Gosnell, the son of Marina Tobias of Plainfield, completed basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Army Reserve Pfc. Joseph R. Wendhausen, the son of Julie Wendhausen of Plainfield, graduated from One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo. The training included basic military training and advanced individual training.
Course completed
Marine Corps 2nd Lt. William D. Shanahan, a 2006 graduate of Minooka Community High School, recently completed the Marine Corps Basic Enlisted Supply Course. During the course with Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools Training Command in Camp Lejeune, N.C., Shanahan learned to use supply publications and catalogs, general accounting and the basics of naval correspondence.
Shanahan joined the Marine Corps in May 2009.
Other military news
Health screenings, legal advice and credit counseling are among the services that will be available to veterans during a Community Veterans Outreach program sponsored by Illinois Department of Employment Security.
The outreach program will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Illinois Army National Guard building at 2900 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet.
Veterans should bring their DD214 papers. The DD214, which is needed to receive any veteran services, can be filed with the county recorder’s office. The Will County recorder’s office also will attend.
This event is free to all veterans as part of Illinois Department of Employment Security’s mission to serve veterans.
Also Thursday, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Squad will holding military honors for veterans at 2:30 p.m.
They will be honoring Cpl. Charles A. Jaques, a U.S. Army Korean conflict veteran; S2 Clair Jones, a U.S. Navy World War II vet; and Pfc. William Lloyd, a U.S. Army vet who served during peacetime.
One flag will be folded, with the possibility of a second flag folding if there is family to accept the flag. Contact anyone who you believe would be interested in honoring these veterans.
Jean Edwards seeks veterans to write about in this column, which runs every Thursday. Call 815-773-7172 or email jedwards@stmedianetwork.com.
