Gunnery Sgt. Robert Eberhardt,

a 1983 graduate of Mars High School, retired from the Marine Corp at the end of March after 20 years of service.

During his career, he served overseas and was on board the USS America during the Gulf War. He has also served in several other units.

Eberhardt, who will make his home in Hubert N.C., spent the last year as a recruiter.

---

Air Force Airman 1st Class

Steven McCandless

has graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

McCandless is the son of Mary Stewart of Evans City and David McCandless of Hilliards.

He graduated from Seneca Valley High School in 2003.

---

Army Pvt. Scott Gostkowski

has graduated from basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Gostkowski is the son of Paul Gostkowski of Saxonburg and Christine O'Brien of Grove City.

He is a 2001 graduate of Hampton High School.

---

Air Force Airman 1st Class

Joseph Yartz

has completed the aircraft structural maintenance apprentice course at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida.

The student received training in the repair, replacement, and modification of aircraft and missile airframe structures.

Yartz is the son of Braden Yartz and the grandson of Viola Yartz, both of Butler.

He is a 2001 graduate of Butler High School.

---

Navy Fireman Eric Zmijowski,

son of R. Alexander Temple of Butler, assigned to the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, recently returned to his forward deployed operating base, Yokosuka, Japan, after seven weeks at sea.

While at sea, Zmijowski's ship conducted military-to-military exercises with several countries in the region while visiting ports in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Okinawa.

Zmijowski, a 1999 graduate of Hudson High School of Lufkin, Texas, joined the Navy in January 2002.