East Texas

In a ceremony, which was a family affair, Andrew Cardenas of Tyler received his fourth-class shoulder boards from his older brother Austin Cardenas after the acceptance parade at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The ceremony recognizes the completion of basic training and signifies acceptance into the flight wing of the Air Force.

Andrew Cardenas is a 2007 graduate of T.K. Gorman High School in Tyler and Austin Cardenas is a 2005 graduate of Gorman.

They are the sons of Pamela Henderson of Tyler and grandsons of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Robbins of Sherman.

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Army Pvt. Kevin C. Reese graduated from the Infantryman one Station Unit training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

Reese is the son of Claude Reese of Henderson.

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Army Reserve Pvt. Mandy L. Williamson and Army Reserve Pvt. Keilan R. Duncan graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Williamson is the daughter of Nick Williamson of Athens.

Duncan is the son of Tranesha Miller of Whitehouse.

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Air Force Airman Dustin Ambrose has graduated from the Communications-Comp-uter Systems Operations Apprentice Course at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Miss.

The course is designed to give students a solid foundation in microcomputer principles, including basic operation and processes relating to configuration, maintenance, and repair. Trainees received instruction in specific hardware and software configuration, use of application software, communication-systems security, network principles and management of related equipment and multi-user systems concepts and network principles and management of related equipment and multi-user systems concepts and operations.

He is the son of Cindy L. Ambrose of Tyler.

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Navy Seaman Justin W. Eckeberger, son of Gay Eckeberger of Tyler and Robert Eckeberger of Chandler, and fellow shipmates aboard USS Dubuque recently participated in a community relations project in Phuket, Thailand, while assigned to the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group.

Volunteers from the strike group, which include sailors and Marines from USS Dubuque, USS Peleliu and USS Benfold, provided the labor and supplies to paint and renovate two of the vocational classrooms at the Phuket Panyanukul School (Phuket Special School). The Phuket Special School provides education and in some cases, a home to more than 150 deaf, autistic or mentally disabled children. Volunteers also distributed toys and other items to children at the school, as well as to local relief agencies.

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Navy Seaman Recruit Brandon D. Washington, son of Chandra A. and Earnest York of Tyler, recently completed U .S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

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Army National Guard Spec. Aaron M. Holley has returned to the 236th Military Police Company, San Antonio, after being deployed to an overseas forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

Holley, son of Clint B. Holley, Tyler, is a signal support specialist with four years of military service.

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Sept. 17-21, USS Hollister Destroyer Reunion (DD-788), Branson, Mo. Contact Mrs. Nelda Rupp, 15440 SE Hartnell Ave., Portland, Ore., 97267 or call 503-656-4949 or e-mail: hnrupp@comcast.net.

Military news about East Texans is published each Sunday. Deadline is noon Thursday.

BIG DAY: Andrew Cardenas of Tyler, (right) received his fourth class shoulder boards from his older brother Austin Cardenas after the acceptance parade at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
(Courtesy Photo)