THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020548
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
TOP VIETNAM VET: A Virginia Beach man was named national member of the year at the Vietnam Veterans of America conference in Denver last week. Charles Montgomery, 45, president of the group's Tidewater chapter, was honored for his volunteer work in the local community and for his help within the 45,000-member national organization. Among the people helped locally by the Tidewater chapter's projects are patients at the Hampton Veterans Affairs hospital, homeless veterans, the families of troops missing in action from Vietnam, and handicapped and abused children. The group recently sponsored The Haunted Forest at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Montgomery, who works with the city of Norfolk's fleet maintenance department, served with the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam in 1969-70. He spends much of his free time on veterans projects. ``I know they need the help, and we're here to help,'' he said.
BROTHERS IN ARMS: The Air Force careers of two brothers crossed at the beginning 24 years ago, took separate paths, then crossed again briefly in Norfolk this week when both men were promoted to the rank of colonel. Sheldon and Virgil Starkes were pinned with their new ranking in ceremonies Oct. 31 at the Armed Forces Staff College, where Sheldon Starkes is assigned. Virgil Starkes flew in from Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The two brothers served together as enlisted men for nine months in 1970 at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. They were commissioned together as second lieutenants in 1972. From there, Sheldon Starkes took a career path that has included counseling work, intelligence and a stint at the Pentagon. Virgil Starkes is a career personnel officer.
VETERANS DAY PARADE: Veterans groups or others who want to march in the annual Veterans Day parade can contact the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations. The number is 587-8346. The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at at 16th Street and Atlantic Avenues and ends at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial on 19th Street behind the Pavilion.
- Staff and wire report
COMINGS & GOINGS
COMMISSIONING:
The mine countermeasures ship Chief, named for the Navy's top enlisted members, will be commissioned 10 a.m. Saturday at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. The 225-foot ship is the last of 14 ships in the Avenger class. Graphic K. NEWMAN/Staff BY THE NUMBERS DRAWDOWN, THEN AND NOW Today's drawdown comes 50 years after Americans began adjusting to military cuts in the wake of WWII SOURCE: Department of Commerce [For complete graphic, please see microfilm] by CNB