Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Military News

Charles Williams of Emmet, a member of Co A (-) 1st 153rd Inf in Prescott Arkansas Army National Guard; Tommy K. Otwell of Gurdon, a member of Det 1 Co A 1st Bn 153rd Inf, Arkadelphia Arkansas National Guard; and Mae E. McKinnon of Prescott, a member of Co B 212th Sig Bn (CA) (MSE), Benton Arkansas National Guard have all been promoted to the rank of Private 2.

Joe W. Hubbard of Prescott, a member of Co A (-) 1st Bn 153rd Inf, Prescott Arkansas Army National Guard has been promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Florence E. Toliver, whose husband Jerry is the son of Lewis and Sarah E. Toliver of Prescott, has departed on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea with tactical electronic warfare squadron 130. He embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Toliver is one of more than 160 sailors in the squadron who departed aboard the lead ship of the USS Theodore Roosevelt battle group, which includes nine tactical aircraft squadrons, seven surface warships, two submarines and three-ship Amphibious Ready Group.

Toliver's squadron, stationed on Whidbey Island, Wash., flies the EA-6B Prowler which is capable of jamming enemy radar, providing an umbrella of protection for strike aircraft and ground troops.

Toliver and fellow crew members spent last year training for a variety of situations they might encounter during the deployment. As part of the preparation, they participated in a combined joint task force exercise involving air, naval and ground operations. The exercise also included surveillance, rescue, humanitarian assistance, maritime interdiction, embassy support and non-combatant evacuations.

The 1974 graduate of Durant High School of Durant, Miss., joined the navy in December 1978.

Army Pvt. Marc J. Emerson has graduated from One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. The training included completion of basic military training and advanced individual training (AIT).

Basic trainees received instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, first aid, and army history and traditions.

The soldiers also completed the cannon fire direction specialist advanced individual training course. The course instructed students to establish, maintain and operate radio and wire communications; operate back-up computer systems, including preparation, data entry and computation of firing charts and record fire-mission related information and maintain ammunition status; compile target lists and prepare target, situation and fire capability overlays.

Emerson is the son of Ana and Loyd Tyra and grandson of Loyd Tyra, both of Emmet. He is a 1996 graduate of Emmet High School.

Army Reserve Pvt. Aqueelah Hall has graduated from One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort McClellan, Anniston, Ala.

The training included basic military training where trainees received instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, first aid, and army history and traditions.

The soldiers completed AIT as chemical operations specialists, where they learned about operation and maintenance of smoke generating equipment; nuclear, biological and chemical and identification-detection and decontamination equipment; and perform nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaisance.

Hall is the daughter of Shelia V. and Harrell L. Hayes of Prescott. She is a 1996 graduate of Prescott High School.