Pvt Mitchell A Ridenour

 was born January 8th 1989. While growing up he was very active and athletic and played baseball,basketball, and football. Football being his favorite and the one he excelled the most in. Mitchell graduated from Brownsburg High School December 2007.He left for bootcamp January 14, 2008 and received his Eagle , Globe and Anchor on April 11, 2008. Mitchell has made his dad, mom ,and sister proud of his accomplishments so far and goals for the future.

 
Seth A. Handy
DOB 12/14/88
Graduated from Western High School in 2007. While in school Seth was a swimmer for 4 years and team captain his last year. Also he played soccer for 3 years being the captain the last year. Seth talked about joining the Navy for many years. Then he was all set to go to IUPUI and join their swim team. In the spring of 2007 after 2 of his friends had done the DEP for the Marines he said he did not wish to continue school but to go into the service instead. His mom told him to check out all the branches, but he only went to the Marines. He left for boot camp at the end of July and received his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on Oct 26, 2007. His PDS is Camp Lejune NC. He is in artillery.
 
Jeff D. Handy
DOB a long time ago
I graduated from Western High School in 1980. I was in band for 4 years. I think I always wanted to be a Marine. It was something I knew I was going to do after school. I had joined the DEP in the summer of my Junior year. 11 days after High school I was standing on THE YELLOW FOOTPRINTS wondering what I got myself into. I made it though and became a Marine in Aug of 80. Then off to Courthouse Bay for Combat Engineer school. (I joined to be a heavy equipment operator. The heaviest piece of equipment I operated was a shovel.) I graduated 1st in the class and got to go to Main side Camp Lejune NC to join the FMF. I did 2 Med floats, and got to see places like Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. The second float was a trip to Denmark the right to Beirut Lebanon. Had fun when I was there but later would lose almost a whole platoon there in the 1983 bombing of the barracks where I had lived when I was there. Now I am the commandant of the local Marine Corps League, and on the board of Directors for the Howard Count Veterans Memorial.
 
Lcpl Ross Dillon King

 

Ross  graduated from Noblesville High School in December 2006. Went to MCRD  January 2007.  He is station at Camp Lejeune.   He is currently in Afghanistan  with the Weapons Company 3rd Platoon 1st Section, 1-6.
SSgt. Kevin Andrew Werline, son of Jerry and Grace Werline, brother of Kimberly and brother-in-law of Patrick Burke, uncle of nephews Thomas and Joseph, nieces, Maria and Lucy
Kevin graduated from Wendall L. Willie High School in 1988, then attended Vincennes University.

As a child Kevin always had his friends over to play war games, making maps and marching all over our back yard, From the Civil War to Star Wars he was always making plans to save the world. So, it shouldn't have surprised us that he would someday be a Marine except that his father is an Army veteran who served in Vietnam.
Actually, we thought that he would become a history teacher, but after the first year at Vincennes he came home to let us know that he wanted to be a Marine. And a Marine he is!

Stationed at Camp Lejeune North Carolina with 1/9 weapons company. "The Walking Dead". Kevin is in his second deployment in Iraq. When he has time off he enjoys playing ice hockey and kiaking in the sound at Topsail Island in North Carolina.

We are very proud of our son and respect and support his choice to be among the finest.., the few.., the brave.., as we are of all who serve this great country.

God's blessings to all of our troops...........
Bud Albright 1956

 

 

 52 years later and still a handsome young man!

Commandant Bud Albright Hiram I. Bearss Detachment #089

 

LCpl Ora Miles Etchison

 LCpl Etchison is the only son of Terry and Anna Etchison.  In June, 2006 he graduated from Eastern High School in Greentown, Indiana where he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and recipient of The Mitchell Award. 

He left for MCRD in San Diego in August, 2006 and became a United States Marine in October, 2006.  He is currently stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina with the 1/9 (affectionately known as “the walking dead”). 

Ora is scheduled for his first deployment overseas in February, 2008.

 

LCpl Chad Aaron Feaster

DOB 6/8/87

Graduated from Brownsburg High School

Graduated from MCRD San Diego on Friday, April 13, 2007

Job: Bulk Fuel Specialist

Currently based at Camp Lejeune, NC

Chad has one older brother who is in the Army Reserve at Ft. Knox, KY and two older sisters (one was in the Army and served in Korea).  He has four nieces and three nephews.  Chad recently married his high school sweetheart, Brittany on April 17, 2007. They currently live just off base in Jacksonville, NC

 

SPC Richard Young, MP

Richard was born in Kokomo, IN. He has one brother in California. Always a very athletic personality we were not surprised when he chose the Army for his career. Being physical it only made sense he would chose a physical career. He went through Basic/AIT in MO and is currently stationed in South Korea. He loves music, was a drummer in his high school marching band for 2 years. Hard to completely get to know but loves people (most of the time).
 

 
Cpl. Will Miller
William (Will) was born November 5, 1983, graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High School, and spent a year at IUPUI.  He made the decision to join the Marine Corps, quietly without anyone knowing, and left for MCRD the Monday after Thanksgiving, 2005.  He graduated on February 24, 2006.  One of the proudest moments of our lives - not just the fact that our son made this commitment, worked hard, and was graduating, but as we watched each and every man in boot camp get their Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, we realized that this great country has the finest young men in the world. To see so many men make this commitment and reach this achievement, knowing we were only witnessing one gradation out of so many, was the most awesome feeling we could have as Americans. We always admired and were proud of our son for his accomplishments and decisions, and on this day, we witnessed him as a man with a little added discipline, honor, courage, respect, and faith.

After combat training at Camp Pendleton, CA, Will went on to Pensacola, FL for school in the Aviation Electronics field. He is now stationed at Cherry Point, NC, assigned to the 2nd Air Wing, MAG14.

Will came home for Christmas, 2006, and was married on the 26th. He and his wife, Sabrina, have a beautiful baby born on October 9, 2007 - Jailyn Michael Wayne Miller.  Jailyn lights up with smiles when his daddy is near. 
 
Will volunteered for deployment and will be leaving the first week of February, 2008, assigned to the 252 to Iraq.  Our hearts go with him.   

We are also so blessed to be a part of USMC Families (United States Military Combined).  We went from feeling lost and alone after he joined The Corps, not knowing what to expect - not knowing that we were actually part of The Corps also - to feeling like we are a part of a family; a part of a group that cares; people we have things in common with; and people we can partner with to get involved in supporting military and families. Our children have made a commitment and we can show them we are committed and supportive to them by making our purpose and mission to show support and thanks any way we can.

THANK YOU to all the military service men and women for protecting us and our freedom. What an awesome group of people! We pray for you all each day!

 

Cpl. Zachary M.K. Widing

Zachary graduated from high school in three years at Indiana Academy in June, 2003 as President of his class and valedictorian with a 3.98 GPA. Zachary followed high school by attending Southern Adventist University in Tennessee and Purdue University through Anderson Extension. USMC Gunnery Sergeant Robbins recruited Zachary in August, 2005 and he was sworn into the U.S. Marines in October, 2005. Zachary graduated from MCRD San Diego for Boot Camp in January, 2006. Zachary followed boot camp with combat training at Camp Pendleton where he carried the designation of squad leader during training and was promoted to Private First Class. Zachary was then assigned to Twenty Nine Palms California for his Military Occupational Specialty training for computer networks. Zachary graduated June 5th, 2006 at the top of his class with the designation of Tactical Systems Specialist. He graduated with the highest score in his class for class work and physical fitness training. His fellow classmates, sergeants, and platoon captain choose him to have the honor of Top Warrior of his class and he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal. Zachary has been assigned to Cherry Point, North Carolina, with the 2nd Marine Air Wing.

Zachary’s dad is Michael Widing, Building & Planning Director for the City of Anderson, and his mother is Vickie Widing, dental hygienist for Dr. Miller of Pendleton and Dr. Engstrom of Muncie. Zachary’s parents, family and friends wish him Godspeed as he commits himself to the defense of our nation.

Cpl Chad M. Foster
age : 19
Graduated Boot camp from MCRD SAN DIEGO
Job : Information systems specialist.
Graduated top of his class from MOS training - 29 palms.
Currently Stationed in Okinawa for the next 2 years. Arrive Okinawa 3/06
Recently participated in Cobra Gold in Tailand
Chad has wanted to be a United States Marine since he was 7 years old.
His favorite movie is: Monty Phython and the Holy Grail.
His favorite book is: The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordon
He was asked once before if he could live anywhere in the world were would it be
" Japan, I'm fascinated by Asian Culture"
His hobbies are doing car models and drawing fictional characters. He tells everyone his mother is his inspiration.
Chad has 1 brother, 2 step brothers and 1 step sister.
I remember when he brought the recruiter home and I said don't you want to talk about this, he said we did mom when I was 7 and nothing has changed! So then I asked why a Marine, he responded, not everyone can be a United States Marine.
 

 

Cpl. James Oltman

James graduated from High School, Midway Christian Academy, in Columbus,In. He worked for the next five years for Meshberger Allied Aggrogate, Hope,In as a truck driver and maintenance laborer until he decided to join the Marine Corps in Febuary2005. "I'm getting to the age, if I don't do it now, I'll be too old." After bootcamp at MRCD, San Diego, he went to School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, CA. and graduated with meritorious promotion to LCpl. He is currently assigned to the 1-7 at Twentynine Palms, CA. as an Assaltman, 0351

LCpl. Matthew Mason Woody
DOB: 11/21/86
Graduated Boot camp from MCRD SAN DIEGO 10/14/05
Job: Mortarman.
Married to Brianna and have a daughter, Isabella Grace, who just turned 1 on 7-7-07
Currently Stationed Camp Lejeune, NC
Hobbies are play guitar and art
Matt has an older brother and a younger sister
 

Cpl. Bradley Scriff

Brad graduated from Lawrence North High School in January, 2005. He became a Marine in July, 2005 when he graduated from MCRD in San Diego, CA. He enjoys reading, and watching professional wrestling and horror movies.

Brad was promoted to Lance Corporal on June 1, 2006. His mother had the honor of pinning his new rank on him at the Promotion Ceremony held at Cherry Point, NC. His unit, the VMAQ-3 Moondogs, deployed to Al Asad, Iraq in July, 2006 for a 6 month tour.  Upon returning to the states, they will head to Alaska and later go on to Okinawa, Japan. This young Marine is really logging a considerable amount of frequent flyer miles!

While overseas, Brad completed two college courses with Park University...well on his way to a degree in Criminal Justice.  His hard work and physical training also paid off as on January 1, 2007, on the sands of Iraq, Brad was promoted to the rank of Corporal at the age of 19.  Quite an accomplishment and how proud his family is of him! 

We live in Fishers, Indiana and Brad has one brother—Adam—who is a sophomore at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

I am not sure how that boy of mine decided to become a Marine.
Were the clues there......

Maybe it was the camping. Something he loved dearly. I remember one day we took him and a bunch of other teenagers to Yosemite to do some climbing. The others were bored but not Scott he was climbing up rocks and checking out the scenery. Didn't mind getting dirty one bit.

 

Cpl. Scott Huse


Or I do remember the time a bully pushed his brother down the slide and hurt him. He followed that boy down the slide pushed him down raised his fist two inches from this boys face and said if you ever hurt my brother again I am going to punch you in the face.
 

Maybe it was the way he played soccer. His coach wanted him to play forward, but he always wanted to be defense. When Scott was on the field the other team knew it was going to be tough to make the goal. He always seemed to get paired with the largest guy on the team, but that never deterred him. There weren't too many times the ball made it to the goal when Scott stood defense no matter how big the opponent.
Or Maybe I should have known from the patriotism that he showed that awful day the towers fell. The next day he sketched a beautiful picture of the Towers with the words "Never Shaken." inscribed at the top of the picture.

Or maybe the time he noticed that his little brother was bored and instead of heading out on a Friday night to hang with friends. Stuck back at home and played army men with him. Or the time his friends told him don't bring your brother over we don't want him joining our group and Scott just said fine then I don't come over either.

Maybe all of these things are what made my boy become a Marine. The boy who loves the outdoors, the defender against bullies, the courage to defend what is yours no matter how big the opponent. Maybe the loyalty and kindness he showed to those he loves, or the pride in a country and a vow that she will not be shaken.


But I do remember one day asking him why did you join and why the Marines. He just gave me his usual Scott smile and said "Cause I was called Mom."