Military News
On June 30,
Michael Robert DiBiccaro retired from the U.S. Navy after 22 years.A 1983 graduate of Butler High, he joined the Navy in February 1984 and rose to the highest enlisted rank, command master chief (E-9).During his career, he served on five ships and made more than six deployments to the Persian Gulf, including Operation Iraqi Freedom.His most recent tour was in Recruiting District Atlanta.He is the son of Patricia DiBiccaro of Renfrew and the late Michael DiBiccaro.DiBiccaro now resides in Crossville, Tenn., with his wife, Denise, and hopes to pursue a career in public education.——-
Chief Warrant Officer <B>Chris Hinkle</B>, formerly of Portersville, trained members of the Iraqi Air Force recently on his second tour in Iraq.The training focused on mission planning and lasted several days, Hinkle said in a statement. He said the language barrier was difficult."Even though there was an interpreter, I had to speak slow and repeat myself often. The Iraqis are also taking English lessons, so they wanted to speak English as much as possible," he said.Hinkle, a Slippery Rock High School graduate, is a Blackhawk helicopter pilot with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division.His parents are Bob and Betty Hinkle of Portersville. His wife, Angelina and their two sons are living Fort Campbell, Ky.
