Military digest 9/19/02

Allen decorated with commendation medal

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Army Sgt. Jimmy D. Allen has been decorated with the Army Commendation Medal.

This medal is awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, have distinguished themselves by acts of heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.

Allen is a squad leader assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii.

He is the son of Thomas and Roxann Allen of Perryville, Mo. His wife, Jennifer, is the daughter of Stan and Martha Koeller of Jackson, Mo. The sergeant is a 1995 graduate of Perryville High School.

Dannenmueller promoted to technical sergeant

ORAN, Mo. -- Michael J. Dannenmueller has been promoted to the rank of technical sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Dannenmueller is a logistics plans journeyman assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea.

He is the son of Larry and Mary Jane Dannenmueller of Oran, Mo. The technical sergeant is a 1979 graduate of Oran High School.

Blattner graduates from training course

JACKSON, Mo. -- Army Pvt. Donald C. Blattner has graduated from the power-generation equipment repairer advanced individual training (AIT) course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.

During AIT, Blattner was trained to perform unit, direct support or general support maintenance functions on power-generation equipment. This included repairing and overhauling internal combustion engines, tactical utility, precise power generation sets, and other associated equipment.

Blattner is the son of Donald and Karen Blattner of Jackson, Mo., and a 2001 graduate of Jackson High School.

Hankins completes six-month deployment

ANNA, Ill. -- Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John B. Hankins, son of Jean and Charles M. Hankins of Anna, Ill., recently completed a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Hankins was one of more than 10,000 Atlantic Fleet sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS John F. Kennedy Carrier Battle Group and USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group. During the deployment, Hankins' unit participated in Exercise Infinite Anvil and visited Souda Bay, Crete, and Petra, Jordan, where they had the opportunity to shop, sight-see and enjoy the local culture and cuisine.

Hankins is a 1980 graduate of Galatia High School in Galatia, Ill. He joined the Marine Corps in May 1987.