ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 3, 1996 TAG: 9604030043
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
The politicians say U.S. troops are in Bosnia to keep the peace, not fight a war.
But the soldiers on the ground are fighting common foes: boredom and homesickness, according to the father of a young officer who's been there since December.
Charles Walls says his namesake, a 28-year-old captain and company commander, reports that letters from home play a large role in keeping up morale for his 100 men.
But they aren't getting many.
The elder Walls, who retired to Montgomery County, was overwhelmed by the response from members of his church, Harvest Baptist in Blacksburg, to a request for expressions of support to his son's company - based in the Tuzla area of northern Bosnia-Herzegovina - and to other servicemen and women in Bosnia. Church members mailed off a box of letters by mid-March and they are working on a second one.
But more letters from the New River Valley wouldn't hurt. For Walls, it's his third assignment as a peacekeeper, following two tours in Somalia.
To write Walls' company, use this address: Capt. Charles Walls; HHC 7-227 Avn. Regt. 4th Bde.; Operation Joint Endeavor; APO-AE 09789.
A Blacksburg resident has been selected as Virginia's noncommissioned officer of the year for training year 1995. Staff Sergeant Ronald Ferguson is a member of Company B 1st Battalion 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division Virginia Army National Guard in Christiansburg and Radford. He also was selected as the noncommissioned officer of the year for the company, battalion and brigade.
Ferguson attended school in Franklin County and attended Patrick Henry Community College. He enlisted in the active duty Army and served three years at Fort Hood, Texas. He then joined the Virginia Army National Guard and attended Virginia Tech, where he graduated in 1995 with a degree in health education. He works at Food Lion in Blacksburg.
Ferguson has received the Virginia National Guard perfect attendance ribbon, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon II, National Defense Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal 2nd Award and the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal.
Adrian Pulley recently joined the U.S. Army under the Delayed Enlistment Program at the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Christiansburg. The program allows young men and women to delay enlistment into the military for up to one year before reporting to military training. Pulley reported to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic training on March 13.
She is the daughter of Adris Davis of Radford and Helen Wardick of Christiansburg.
Two area men recently departed on a six-month overseas deployment aboard the destroyer USS Arthur Radford.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class E. Dale Edwards is a 1981 graduate of Pulaski County High School and joined the Navy in June 1981. He is the son of Emmett Edwards and the husband of Carol Edwards, both of Draper.
Navy Seaman Marc Hutchins graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1993 and joined the Navy in November 1993. He is the son of David and Marilyn Hutchins of Blacksburg.
Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Ratcliffe recently completed the Marine Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Ratcliffe is a 1993 graduate of Giles High School. He joined the Marine Corps in 1994. He is the son of Marcie Bishop of Blacksburg and Bentley Ratcliffe of Pearisburg.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Brockman recently returned to Norfolk after completing a six-month overseas deployment to the Adriatic Sea near Bosnia and the Persian Gulf. He was aboard the attack submarine USS Oklahoma City.
Brockman is a 1993 graduate of Christiansburg High School and joined the Navy August 1995. He is the son of Elaine Reese of Christiansburg. His wife, Sahron, is the daughter of Wayne and Erma Cox of Riner.
Army Pvt. Jeffery LaVere Jr. recently entered basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He will be in training for eight weeks. LaVere is the son of Maiken Mathis of Christiansburg.
Navy Seaman Jeremiah Snapp recently completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. He also was named Honor Recruit in his recruit training company. Snapp is the son of Ann Snapp of Shawsville.
Army Pvt. Scott White recently entered basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. White is a 1995 graduate of Shawsville High School. He is the son of Ronnie and Wanda White of Elliston.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Joseph, a 1972 graduate of Radford High School, recently returned to Port Hueneme, Calif., after a five-month Antarctic deployment with Naval Support Force Antarctica. Joseph has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech and a master's degree from Radford University.
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: headshots of Walls, Ferguson, Edwards, Hutchinsby CNB