Military digest 06/02/03

Marine to ship out on USS Nassau group

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joe C. Hester, son of Stacia D. and Cliff C. Hester of Scott City, is preparing to reboard ships of the USS Nassau Amphibious Ready Group while assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Hester's unit had been on a routine overseas deployment since August 2002 participating in exercises and operations in Djibouti, Kosovo, Kenya, the Arabian Gulf and Iraq. Hester was preparing to return to his home base when he received orders to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in March.

Hester is a 2000 graduate of Jacksonville High School of Jacksonville, Ark. He joined the Marine Corps in July 2000.

-- From staff reports