Army Sgt. Maj. Richard Vangenewitt Jr., son of Richard T. Vangenewitt of Butler, recently graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas.

Vangenewitt, a 1979 graduate of North Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, received an associate degree in 1996 from Troy State University through the military extension program in Columbus, Ga.

His wife, Lynnann, is the daughter of Bernice Haig of Stephens City, Va.

Two area Marines, Lance Cpl. William Anspach and Cpl.Kevin Boyd,and more than 2,100 marines and sailors assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, recently conducted operations in Najaf, Iraq, while stationed at Forward Operating Base Hotel, Iraq.Members of the 11th MEU battled against radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his militia in the opening days of fighting in a huge cemetery, considered sacred to Shiite Muslims.Anspach, son of Deborah Anspach of Harrisville and David Anspach Jr. of Blandon, Berks Co., is a 2002 graduate of Fleetwood High School in Berks County and joined the Marine Corps in June 2002.Boyd, son of Phillip Boyd of Gibsonia, is a 2001 graduate of Hampton High School in Allison Park and joined the Marine Corps in June 2001.