MILITARY NEWS
Army National Guard Sgt.
Chad Barnhart has returned to the United States after being deployed to an overseas forward-operating location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.Barnhart, an infantry team leader with eight years of military service, is assigned to the 112th Infantry Company, Butler.He is the son of Nancy and stepson of Jerry Sepich of Saxonburg.The sergeant is a 1998 graduate of Knoch High School.——
Sara Pelusi, daughter of Steven and Diane Pelusi of Butler, entered the delayed entry program of the Air Force on Jan. 31.Pelusi, a 2004 graduate of Butler High School, shipped to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on May 23.——
Christopher Verzella, son of Gerald and Nancy Verzella of Portersville, entered the Air Force's delayed entry program on Aug. 29, 2005.Verzella, a 2005 graduate of Portersville Christian School, shipped to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on May 23.——Army Pvt.
Michael Cain has graduated from basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.Cain, son of Donna Walters of Butler, is a 1999 graduate of Butler High School.——Army Pvt.
Andrew Leonard has graduated from basic training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.Leonard is the son of Jodie Leonard of Harmony.He is a 2005 graduate of Seneca Valley High School.——
An area couple recently completed their tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has returned to Butler.Sgt. <B>Nathan Fernandez </B>and his wife, Staff Sgt. <B>Danielle Martinez</B>, deployed with the 143rd Transportation Command last July and after several weeks of mobilization training, reported to Kuwait for duty at different camps for the majority of their tour. Fernandez, who worked from the port at the Kuwait Naval Base, maintained accountability of all the 143rd and Naval Coastal Warfare weapons stored at the port. Martinez was a human resource specialist at Camp Arifjan, where she processed awards and maintained personnel accountability for more than 4,000 servicemembers assigned to the command.While the couple was separated by only about 15 miles, the mission only allowed brief reunions.——
