military


2 Lt. Eric R. Schwartz, graduated on Feb. 14, 2003, from Ranger School, Ft. Benning, GA. He is the son of Wayne and Lanita Schwartz of Aura. Schwartz served as a cadet in the National Guard A Co. 107 Engr. Bn in Baraga for three years. He successfully completed training in: AIT-Airborne-IOBC-Engineer Basic Training. Schwartz is currently stationed at Fort Drum, NY, as a platoon leader of a rifle platoon in the 1st Battalion 87 Infantry Regiment 10th Mountain Div. He awaits overseas assignment .	Marinich finishes ‘tech skills’ Airman Brandon Marinich is spending a couple weeks home in L’Anse as he is between Air Force assignments. The son of Cheryl Marinich and Tom Marinich of L’Anse, Brandon has just finished tech skill training as a civil engineer working with pavement maintenance and construction equipment operation. He has been stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He expects to report to his permanent base, Pope AFB, at Fayetteville, NC, shortly. Marinich is 22 years old and a 1999 L’Anse High School graduate.	Kruse in Kuwait Army PFC Mitch Kruse of Watton has been stationed at Babenhausen, Germany, since February, 2002. On March 7 he was deployed to Kuwait. Kruse is the son of Tom Kruse and Kristine Duhame. His grandparents are Frank and Signe Kruse of L’Anse and Sadie Hutula and the late William Hutula of Watton. Kruse serves with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 27th Field Artillery. He is a crew member on a multiple missile launch system. “Mitch asked for our prayers and for mail,” Duhame said. “He said he heard mail is the highlight out in the desert. So please write and pray.”

Velmer with the 101st Pvt. Lucas Velmer is in the 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault 326 Eng. Battalion. He was stationed in Kuwait as of Monday, March 24, and believed to be heading for Iraq. Velmer is the son of Mark Velmer of Pelkie and Lori Sauvola of Dollar Bay. He is a 2000 graduate of Houghton High School. Velmer joined the Army on July 9, 2000. He completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and advanced individual training as a heavy equipment operator. He attended the Joint Readiness Training Center, Ft. Polk, LA, and Air Assault School and has Expert Rifle and Grenade Qualifications.	LONG WAY FROM HOME–Military personnel from this area are stationed around the globe, with some heading into the Iraqi conflict. Airmen Nathan Davis, left, and Michael Collins, right, from Aura and L’Anse, are stationed at Barksdale AFB, Shreveport, LA. The call to war could come at any time.	Tembreull at North Pole Air Force Staff Sgt. David Tembreull has been in the USAF since March, 1999. He is the son of David and Carol Tembreull. The staff sergeant is stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. His apartment is located in North Pole, AK. Tembreull completed his basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. He went through tech school at Shephard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX, and has been stationed at Canon AFB, NM. He has been in Alaska at Eielson since January, 2001.

BROTHERS--Sgt. Tim Soli, left, and Senior Airman Scott Soli, right, are, or will soon be, involved with Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tim has seven years in the Army behind him, and Scott has been an airman for three years. They are the sons of James and Nancy Soli of Skanee.	QUICK VISIT–Senior Airman Kari McIntyre was visiting friends and family in L’Anse this week before starting an NCO school at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota shortly. Her son, Joshua, nearly three years old, will stay with her parents, Nancy and Tim McIntyre during the six-week school. Mom and son were separated nearly nine months while she was stationed in Saudi Arabia.	Lt. Col. Ed Robillard remains in Iraq as the U.S. military effort there continues. The son of Nelda Bishop and Joseph Robillard, both of L’Anse, Lt. Col. Robillard has been meeting with some very high ranking visitors. Robillard is a 1981 graduate of L’Anse High School, ‘85 NMU grad and career military man. As U.S. forces advanced north through Iraq Robillard has been heavily involved in the details as the Army Chief of Plans and Operations. Robillard has recently attended briefings in Iraq with the commander of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Gen. Tommy Franks. Robillard also met and discussions operations with Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, who was sent to the country to help Iraq rebuild and establish a democratic government. Robillard also met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rums-feld. Robillard has a wife, Dawn, three sons and a daughter. His wife and three of the children live in New-man, GA. Robillard’s home base is Ft. McPhersen, GA. Robillard celebrated his 40th birthday in one of Saddam’s palaces in Baghdad on April 21, 2003. “He told me, ‘I never thought I’d be spending my 40th birthday in a palace!’” Bishop said.

Heikkinen back from Saudi Airman First Class Todd Heikkinen of Pequaming is a 2001 L’Anse High School graduate and the son of Bob and Tammy Heikkinen. He is currently stationed at the Air Force base in Grand Forks, ND. He completed his basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, and has served at Wichita Falls, TX. Heikkinen spent six months in Saudi Arabia, returning to the States last November. “He is a power plant operator. He sets up generators and takes care of them,” Tammy Heikkinen explained. “Hopefully, he won’t be deployed again until next fall.”	Leaving this week Army Cpl. Robert (Robby) J. Rajala of Covington expects to be headed to Northern Kuwait and eventually to Iraq this week. Rajala, 22, is a 1999 graduate of L’Anse High School and the son of Jim and Mary Rajala of Covington. He joined the Army on Sept. 8, 1999, completing his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Rajala completed his AIT training for engineers at Ft. Leonard Wood, and has been at Ft. Lewis, WA, more recently. In January, 2002, Rajala became the 63rd soldier in the history of Ft. Lewis to be named Soldier of the Year. Rajala did not have an APO address at the time the Sentinel went to press. One will be published as soon as it is available. He was expected to fly to Ft. Hood, and then be flown to the Middle East, possibly by Wednesday, April 9. “Robby is an Engineer with the 14th Eng. Bn. He helps to build roads and bridges. He will leave for Kuwait this week possibly to go north to work on repairing runways at the Baghdad Airport. All we can do is pray,” his mother Mary said.	Marcotte in Kuwait Eight-year U.S. Army veteran A.J. Marcotte of Skanee is deployed in Northern Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The son of Albert and Mitzi Marcotte of Skanee, A.J. is a staff sergeant in the Army. “I am doing fine here and I am safe,” Marcotte wrote to his mother in an April 2, 2003 e-mail. Marcotte will be 29 years old in July. He is married to Tracy, and they have a daughter, Samantha, three years old. They live in Fredricksburg, VA. Marcotte did not want his address published in the paper.

Patterson in Guam Senior Airman William Patter-son is trained to maintain B-52 jets in the Air Force. He is the 22 year-old son of Clarence Patterson of Skanee and Barbara Augustson of Republic. Patterson is a graduate of Republic-Michigamme High School and has spent time with his father in the Skanee area.	Supanich in Middle East Chad Supanich has served in the Army for four years and recently re-enlisted for another four years. He is with Bravo 1-1 in the Middle East. Supanich, a 1999 L’Anse High School graduate, is the son of Frank and Janet Supanich of L’Anse, and Debbie and Ray Hansen of L’Anse. “He said he was going and we got a letter on March 24 saying he got to his destination,” Debbie Hansen explained. “He is a heavy wheeled vehicle mechanic and he went on the boat with all his equipment. He just re-enlisted before he left.” Supanich’s home base is Ft. Bliss, TX.	Foy in AF training Airman Dandrea Foy is a 2002 L’Anse High School graduate who joined the Air Force and left for basic training last Labor Day. She is the daughter of Bonnie Schjoth of L’Anse and Gabriel Foy of L’Anse. Foy completed basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, and has attended tech school at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS. She is now stationed at Goodfellow AFB, TX. Foy works in information management.


IN IRAQ–Tim Houle of Skanee was one of the National Guard members called to active duty and sent overseas. His parents took this picture at Ft. Campbell, KY, on March 27. Houle, Mike Roberts and Jessica Baker have since been shipped to Kuwait. Last Sunday Houle called his wife, Vanessa, and told her he expected to leave Ft. Pennsylvania 15 miles south of the Iraq border and relieve troops in Iraq.	Army Spc. Jan Voakes is the daughter of Keith Voakes and Kip Voakes. She is a 1996 L’Anse High School graduate who earned a degree from the former Suomi College in the summer of 2000. Shortly after graduation she joined the service. Voakes has been deployed to Kuwait and is presumed to be involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is a bridge builder attached to the 502nd Eng. Co/565 En. Bn. Voakes’ home base is Ft. Polk, LA. She is with the 814th Eng. Co/467th Engineer Battalion. She earned an Army Achievement Medal. Voakes completed her basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Recently Voakes had signed up for a three-year tour in Hanou, Germany. “She was there one month and got deployed to Kuwait,” her father Keith Voakes said. “Jan called us on Sunday, March 23, and said they were shipping out the next day. I tried to get some direction of where she was headed but she wouldn’t say. “She just told me, ‘we’re going to do our job, Dad, to do what we were trained for,” Voakes said.	Airman Gerald (Lee) Field is the son of Pat and Joyce Field of L’Anse, and the grandson of Otto and Franny Bennink of Baraga. He is a 2001 graduate of L’Anse High School. He will have two years in the Air Force this August. Field’s home base is in Moodey, GA. He is an Air Security Policeman stationed in the former Soviet Union north of Afghanistan. He has been stationed there since Thanksgiving. Fran Bennink noted that six personnel from Feild’s air base in Georgia have been killed in the Iraqi war. “It’s a small base and I imagine he knows them. They had the names in the paper down there and I sent it to him,” Bennink said.

Pv2 Ralph Bemis lived with his parents in Baraga before moving to Gwinn, according to information provided by his mother, Debra Lindner. Bemis has been deployed to Kuwait. He is with a support unit for the 4th Infantry Division. Bemis has been stationed at Fort Hood, TX.	U.S. Army SEC Nicholas Lehto has been with troops in Baghdad, after first being sent overseas to Kuwait. Lehto is the son of Patsy Haanpaa of Herman. He graduated from Marquette High School and joined the Army in 2000. He served three years and recently re-enlisted for two additional years. Lehto is an infantryman with a signal company. He had previously been stationed at Ft. Carlson in Colorado. “I heard from him when he was in Kuwait, but I haven’t heard again in quite a while,” Haanpaa said.	Pv2 Joseph Jacker is the son of John and Carol Jacker of Baraga. He is a 2001 graduate of Rapid River High School. Jacker entered the Army in August of that year and completed boot camp at Ft. Benning, GA, in December. He has been stationed in Georgia until he was deployed to South Korea in February, 2003. He is expected to serve a year in South Korea. Jacker is married to Beth, who is currently staying with her parents in Rapid River. “That’s the thing he doesn’t like–apparently family members can’t go with them to South Korea,” John Jacker explained. “He said the weather there is pretty much like this. There’s not as much snow but it’s cold. It’s like a third world country.”
Thomas Archambeau is an EM1-SS in the U.S. Navy. The 1989 graduate of Gladstone High School is stationed at the Trident Refit Facility in King’s Bay, GA.	Brother and sister Thomas Archambeau and Jean Archambeau of Gladstone are serving in different branches of the military. They are the children of Russ and Donna Archambeau of Gladstone, formerly of L’Anse. Grandparents are Donald and May Kemppainen of L’Anse, and Margaret and the late Leo Archambeau of Escanaba and formerly of Baraga.	Jean Archambeau is an Airman 1st Class in the U.S. Air Force. She is stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. She is a 2000 graduate of Gladstone High School. Volunteering for duty as a VIP was scheduled to visit Wright-Patterson earned Jean Archam-beau a rare opportunity. President George Bush recently visited the air base and Archambeau had the chance to great the Commander in Chief and shake his hand. “She was impressed with how much concern President Bush has shown toward members of the Armed Services,” Russ Archam-beau said. “It was a day she said she’ll never forget.” Russ and Donna Archambeau have lived in Gladstone for about 30 years, but fondly remember their L’Anse roots. They were happy to share information about their children with their friends in this area.

Casey VanAlstine (left) leaves on June 8, 2003, for Fort Jackson, SC. Colette VanAlstine (right) leaves on July 14, 2003, for Fort Leonard Wood, MO. The VanAlstine’s will be 2003 Baraga graduates. They are the daughters of Rick and Mary VanAlstine of Pelkie. The VanAlstine’s are members of Michigan Army National Guard Unit 1077th.		En2 Jason Lundy How often does a Naval Engine-man receive a U.S. Army Achievement Medal? En2 Jason Lundy of L’Anse was honored with the Army medal in a ceremony at his Sioux Falls, SD, Reserve Base on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, 2003. “He wasn’t sure he was going to get it so this was a nice surprise for him,” Lundy’s mother Cindy said. Lundy is the son of Jerel and Cindy Lundy of L’Anse, and the grandson of Elsie and the late John Lundy, also of L’Anse. He is a 1997 L’Anse High School graduate, and has been in the Navy since February, 1998. He re-enlisted for three more years in February, 2002.
Patterson served in war Jennifer Patterson, a 1999 graduate of Baraga Area Schools, is a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corp. Patterson was with the first detachment that went to Kuwait, She is a ammunition technician. They supplied all the ammunition to ground troops in Iraq. Patterson returned to the states on July 7, 2003, after a six-month tour of duty. She is currently serving at Camp Pendelton in California.