ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060048
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Melissa Atkins is one of 5,000 sailors and officers on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. The crew kept a watch on activities in the Western Pacific. The carrier is sent from the Arabian Gulf to monitor the recent Chinese military exercises conducted in the Taiwan Strait.
Atkins is a hospital corpsman who assists Navy doctors in the operating room and tends to the health care of the ship's crew. During the past four months, Atkins has had several port visit opportunities to Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
A three-year Navy veteran, Atkins graduated from Shawsville High School in 1992. She is the daughter of Richard and Maria Atkins Jr. of Elliston.
Navy Lt. Shannon Wohlford recently left for six-month overseas deployment on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Wohlford is a radar intercept officer. The squadron left San Diego in May. Prior to leaving, Wohlford trained off the coast of Southern California.
Wohlford is a 1988 graduate of Radford High School. He is the son of W. Guy and Connie Wohlford and the son-in-law of Harry and Linda McConnell, all of Radford. His wife is Terry McConnell.
Pvt. 1st Class Tazwell S. Phoenix has completed the U.S. Army's basic and advanced individual training at Fort McClellan, Ala. He now is a military police officer and a member of the Old Guard at Ft. Myer. Phoenix graduated from Shawsville High School in 1995. He is the son of CSM Michael S. Phoenix and Vicki Jo Duncan, both of Christiansburg.
Two area residents graduated from basic military training this spring. They are:
Marine Pvt. Jon J. Bassett completed basic training with Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. A 1995 graduate of Pulaski County High School, he is the son of Lonnie and Martha Bassett of Pulaski.
Air Force Airman Brandon P. Spradlin graduated from Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. A 1995 graduate of Christiansburg High School, he is the son of Harold Spradlin of Christiansburg and Debbie E. Ward of Salem.
Marine Lance Cpl. Robert S. Carter has graduated from Marine Security Guard School at Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Base, Quantico. Carter joined the Marine Corps in Dec. 1993. He is a 1993 graduate of Blacksburg High School.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer J. Mills was selected as Sailor of the Month in May. She is serving at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk. She is the daughter of Navy Lt. and Mrs. Samuel R. Shockley of Radford. She joined the Navy in Nov. 1992.
Marine Staff Sgt. Frank J. Lindsay of Dublin returned to his home base in Camp Pendleton, Calif., after completing a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. He was with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Lindsay graduated from Pulaski County High School in 1981 and joined the Marine Corps that June. He is the son of William S. and Ann W. Lindsay of Dublin.
Air Force Senior Airman George E. Armes Jr. graduated from the airman leadership school at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Armes is a medical laboratory technician. He is the son of George Armes and Angelina Armes, both of Pulaski. He graduated from Pulaski County High School.
Marine Pfc. Roy L. Calloway graduated from the Unit Diary Clerk's Course at Personnel Administration School, Marine Corps Support Service School, Camp Lejuene, N.C. Calloway graduated from Radford High School in 1993 and joined the Marine Corps in Aug. 1995. He is the son of Roy E. Calloway and Deborah J. Calloway, both of Radford.
Army Pvt. Christopher E. Wolfe graduated from the armor crewman course at Fort Knox, Ky. the course teaches crewmen to serve as members of an armor unit in defensive and offensive combat operations. Wolfe graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1995. He is the son of Donald E. Wolfe and Deborah Carter, both of Christiansburg.
Marine Cpl. John M. Morefield graduated from the Marine Corps Corporal's Course. He served with the Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C. Morefield graduated from Pulaski County High School in 1992 and joined the Marine Corps in Dec. 1992. He is the son of Wanda M. Smith of Hiwassee.
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Atkins, Wohlford, Phoenix.by CNB