Navy Fireman Matthew Dunlap and Navy Chief Petty Officer Gary Noblit, recently made a scheduled port visit to Pusan in South Korea while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.Dunlap, son of Mark Dunlap of Portersville and Virginia Dunlap of Virginia Beach, Va., joined the Navy in September 2003.Noblit, son of Joanne and Loyal Noblit of West Sunbury, is a 1981 graduate of Moniteau High School.---In January,

Army Pvt. 2 Adam Tack graduated from one-station unit training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla., and was promoted to his current rank. During training, he qualified as expert in weaponry.He currently undergoing training for air assault qualification and sniper training at Fort Campbell, Ky.Tack is the son of Elaine Tack and Keith Tack, both of Butler. He is a graduate of Lenape Vo-Tech, Ford City.---

Marine Corps Pvt. Michael Lex, son of Velma and Frank Lex of Valencia, recently completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.Lex is a 2004 graduate of Mars High School.---

Marine Corps Sgt. James Haunty, son of Cheryl Kirkwood of Cabot and Donald Haunty of Belton, Mo., recently received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his honest and faithful service during a three-year period.Haunty is currently assigned with Marine Air Control Squadron Two, Cherry Point, N.C.He is a 1993 graduate of Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park, Kan., and joined the Marine Corps in February 1999.---

Butler native Lt. Col. Bryan Branby, a navigator with the 746 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and fellow crewmembers recently flew their C-130 to Africa and beyond.From March 4 to 6, the delivered item ranging from helicopter rotors to medical supplies to personal mail to airmen and other service members in Djibouti and Seychelles, a string of islands in the Indian Ocean.Branby and his crewmembers from 911th Airlift Wing Reserve in Pittsburgh, have completed two previous deployments together.The lieutenant colonel is a flight crew training instructor for a commercial airliner.---

Marine Major Rod Clayton, a 1980 Karns City High School graduate, has been selected to take command of Aviation Maintenance Squadron 2 in Pensacola, Fla.; and officially became the commanding officer on March 11.He is the son of Helen Little and her husband, Jim, of Chicora; and stepson of Richard Weil and his wife, Linda, of Butler.He has been married to the former Rose Ignas of Philadelphia for 18 years; and they are the parents of two daughters.

During April, Edward Heeter St., representative of the Governor's Veterans Outreach and Assistance Center, will have office hours at the Butler Armory, 250 Kreiss Road, Room 113, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays and April 29. Dates and times are subject to change. Veterans who need assistance at times other than the scheduled visits can call the center at 800-442-6815 or 724-837-7988.Other announcments from the GVOAC include:VA benefits are available to guardsman and reservists returning from active duty in Iraq.Another decoration is available for those who served during World War II and have the Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medic Badge.For more information, contact the GVOAC, 600 Rugh Street, Greensburg, PA 15601; or call 724-837-7988.