Military digest 11/28/05

Two in Navy promoted at end of basic training

Navy Seaman Adam M. Sippel, son of Cheryl A. Layton of Perryville, Mo., and Navy Fireman Apprentice Justin T. Balsman, son of Barbara A. and Terry R. Balsman of Perryville, were recently promoted upon graduation from recruit training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Sippel and Balsman received the early promotion for outstanding performance during training. Both are 2005 graduates of St. Vincent High School in Perryville.

Lieutenant deployed to Japan aboard carrier

Navy Lt. Matthew J. Brickhaus, son of Lolamae Brickhaus of Sedgewickville, Mo., and his fellow shipmates returned to sea with the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk after two months in port. The Kitty Hawk was deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. Brickhaus is a 1989 graduate of Duschesne High School of St. Charles, Mo., and joined the Navy in December 1992. He is a graduate of University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor's degree.

Shop chief serving at South Korea base

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Calvin W. Wiseman is serving at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. He is an air installation squadron shop chief with 15 years of military service, assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing. Wiseman, a 1990 graduate of Chaffee Senior High School, is the son of Kennith Wiseman of Dexter, Mo., and Glenda Tuttleton of Chaffee, Mo.

Jackson grad finishes Leonard Wood training

Spc. David Presnell recently graduated from basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He is stationed at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Va. Presnell, son of Mark and Ann Presnell, is a 2005 Jackson High School graduate.

Airman led strikes on bomb factory in Iraq

Navy Airman Melissa L. Bull, daughter of Sandy K. and Kevin M. Schemel of Perryville, conducted strikes on a known improvised explosive device production facility northeast of Baghdad while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Since its arrival, Roosevelt-based aircraft have provided close air support to coalition troops near Al Hillah, Al Mansuriyah, Baquba, Basrah, Kirkuk, Madain, Mosul and Tall Afar. Bull's unit is operating in the Persian Gulf in support of maritime security operations. She joined the Navy in July 2003.

-- From staff reports