Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Military News

Matt Holt, son of Peggy Holt of Prescott and the late Ronald Holt, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force delayed enlistment program in May.

Holt, a graduate of Nevada High School, is sheduled to enter Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, this month.

According to Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Edwards, local Air Force recruiter, Holt will earn credits towards an associate degree in applied sciences through the community college of the Air Force upon completion of basic training and technical training school.

Army Reserve Spec. Shawn M. Marks has participated in the world's largest joint tactical air operations annual exercise, dubbed `Roving Islands.' The exercise involved more than 20,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines and over 2,500 allied air defense troops from Germany, Canada and the Netherlands.

Roving Islands was played out over a 14,000-square mile area between Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas, and Roswell, N.M., including White Sands Missile Range, N.M., and parts of northern New Mexico.

The operational objectives were to plan, establish and operate a joint integrated air defense system; plan and execute active, passive, and attack theater missile defense command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems; and exercise strategic and intratheater deployment and redepolyment while incorporating joint allied training practices, techniques and procedures.

Marks is a wheel vehcicle repairer assigned to the 271st Maintenance Company in east Camden.

He is the son of Kathy A. Marks and Bobby E. Marks, both of Prescott.

The specialist is a 1989 graduate of Presott High School.

Staff Sergeant Daniel C. Bennett and Specialist Lonnie R. Tharp, both of Prescott and Specialist Steven D. Herrington of Rosston, all members of Co A (-) 1-153rd Infantry at Prescott, Arkansas Army National Guard have been awarded the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal.

This is Bennett's fourth award. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Bennett of Fenton, Mo. He began his military career in April 1976 and has received the following awards: Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, NCO Professional Development Medal, Arkansas Service Ribbon and the Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon.

Bennett and his wife, the former Glenda Cross, live in Prescott.

Tharp is the son of Cathy Clingan of Prescott. He began his military career in April 1994 and has receved the Army Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service Ribbon.

Herrington is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Herrington of Rosston. He began his military career in April 1994, and has received the Army Service Ribbon.

Army Pvt. James J. Gober has graduated from basic military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo.

During the training, students received instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, first aid and army history and traditions.

Gober is the son of Roynelle and James H. Gober of Prescott. He is a 1995 graduate of Prescott High School.