Army

Pvt. Dillon Taulbee, 19, has joined the Army. He left Monday morning for Fort Benning, Ga. He is the son of Melissa Garrett and Steven Taulbee of Winchester. He graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in 2010.

Joshua M. Adkins graduated from U.S. Army basic training Aug. 11. He completed his training in Fort Jackson, S.C. Adkins will finish his senior year at East Jessamine High School before going to Fort Leonard-Wood, Mo., to complete his training to be a nuclear-biological-chemical technician.

On Nov. 2, Dana Bowie was promoted to sergeant major at a ceremony presided over by Brig. Gen. Dennis Via, commander, 5th Signal Command. Bowie graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in 1982 and is married to the former Kimberly Clark, daughter of James and Mattie Clark of Winchester. He is the son of Judy Parker of Lexington, an employee of Daniel Boone National Forest Service. Bowie entered the Army in February 1983 and received basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and advance individual training at Fort Jackson, S.C., before being assigned to Fort Hood, Texas.

The Army will close its recruiting station in Danville by Jan. 1, but plans are for an even greater presence in the community. The move is the first part of a restructuring initiative that the Army is calling the Pinnacle program. It is intended to streamline the recruiting process by shifting the administrative work that is now done by soldiers to a civilian support staff and equipping soldiers with mobile recruiting tools. The Radcliff company, which oversees the Danville recruiting station, will be the first in the entire Army to transition to the Pinnacle program.

Unless U.S. Army officials act quickly, Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi and 2nd Lt. Capt. Tejdeep Singh Rattan will soon be compelled to choose between obedience to God and service to country. The two officers wore turbans and beards throughout their U.S. Army training, having been assured by recruiters that those articles of faith wouldn't be a problem. But now that they have finished medical and dental school, respectively, the Army wants them to take off their turbans and cut their hair before reporting for active duty this month.

The Interior Journal is proud to announce the creation of a new Web site designed to capture the beauty, the personality, and the personalities of the area. It's called yourkyphotos.com yourkyphotos.com. It is a joint venture between this paper and our sister papers in Danville, Nicholasville and Winchester. We created an alliance of dozens of photographers who all have one simple goal: to take numerous pictures in the bluegrass. "We want a site that visually captures what Kentucky is all about," says John Preston, digital media manager for Schurz Communications Inc. "It's an entertaining site that's full of pictures that just make you feel good.

Kenneth B. McReynolds was born July 16, 1947, at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Wash, and passed on to eternal life May 8, 2012, at Franciscan Hospice House, University Place, Wash. Ken grew up and spent most of his life in South Tacoma, graduating from Mt. Tahoma High School in 1965. After graduation, he was drafted into the Army, where he spent a year in Vietnam. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, he worked at various jobs that included spending several years in Orange County, Calif., as well as Lexington.

The Veterans Wall of Honor in Danville has added 21 new names. They are: Robert E. Gordon, Army, World War II; Christopher A. Gordon, Army, 1995-2002; Victor C. Boyd, Navy, 1978-1988; James C. Stephenson, Army, WWII; Owen Todd Woodrum, Army, 1990-2001; Mary T. Smith, Navy, 1960-1964; Donald “Duck” Pass, Navy, Vietnam’ Richard Douglas, Army, 1946-1947; Ansel V. Douglas, Army, 1943-1946; Stephen M. Campbell, Air Force, 1978-1986; Kenneth...

One marriage license was recorded in the office of County Clerk George O. "Sonny" Spoonamore IV in the Lincoln County Courthouse this past week. Heather Tower Andries, 32, Lexington, U.S. Army, to Joshua Michael Bastin, 29, Stanford, U.S. Army.

John D. Kline, U.S. Army, was promoted to Lt. Col. at a ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell. Lt. Col. Kline pilots UH-60 Black Hawks and serves as executive officer of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. Kline's mother, Christine, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in Wilmore. Fully supportive of her son, she said, "There is an army, the Lord's army, in which we can all participate, confronting any extremism and wickedness within ourselves and leaving the world a better place than we found it. "

 The Great American Brass Band Festival has been informed that due to the budgetary effects of the recent sequestration process taken by the federal government, the Under Secretary of Defense has directed that military bands and other ceremonial units stop all travel for the spring and summer of 2013.  Therefore, the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus, scheduled to be featured at this year's festival, has been forced to cancel all...

When Danville native Max Gideon enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from Boyle County High School in 2004, he never anticipated he would one day hold the second least awarded badge in the army, following only after the astronaut badge. On Friday, he will become the 613th recipient of the Tomb Guard Badge, given to those who have passed the qualifications to become Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns, or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It's an honor he said he feels privileged to earn.

Army National Guard Pfc. Brandon T. Plotts has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, Plotts studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field...

The Salvation Army in Danville ended its 2012 fundraising season just $4,600 short of its $100,000 goal. At the close of business on Dec. 24, the total raised was $95,400. With its seasonal fundraising drive over, The Salvation Army in Danville has a long list of people it wants to thank, including volunteers, donors and businesses. The volunteers collectively donated hundreds of hours in service. Lt. Jason Burns, commander of the local Army, said, “We would like to thank our donors for both Angel Tree as well as the Red Kettle effort who have given generously.

With the finish line in sight The Salvation Army reports getting closer to its goal “inch by inch.” The goal for the 2012 bell-ringing season is $100,000. With six days left, ringers had raised $71,500. “We want to thank all those who have given of their time to help us this season,” said Lt. Jason Burns. “We know that it is going to take everyone being involved for us to reach our goal.” There are many opportunities still left to volunteer to “Ring a Bell.” Please call (859)

With just a few days left till Christmas, The Salvation Army has 65 Christmas Angels left. “This has been a tremendous effort, and our community has rallied to make Christmas possible for needy children in our communities.  About 800 children and 400 families will have a memorable Christmas, thanks to you,” Lt. Jason Burns, commander of the Danville Army, said. The fundraising goal this year for the Army's Red Kettle Campaign is $100,000. As of Dec. 13, $59,400 had been raised.  First Southern National Bank was a kettle sponsor this weekend, and Symbiotix will be the sponsor Dec. 21-22.

There are hundreds of children in Jessamine County that need an “Angel” this holiday season, children who otherwise may not enjoy a wholesome meal or even receive a single gift on Christmas morning. “Last year there were 660 children in Jessamine that were a part of the Angel Tree program,” Salvation Army Maj. Debra Ashcraft said, “children in families that may not be able to afford a meal or to get them a gift, and many of them weren't adopted last year. We're still tallying how many will be eligible for 'adoption' this year; it may be even more.” Fortunately for the children who were not “adopted” or donated to last year, The Salvation Army of Kentucky stepped up using funds from the Red Kettle Campaign, more than $2,000 spent in Jessamine County alone, to ensure that each of those children received something on Christmas morning, but the toll weighed heavy on the nonprofit organization.

Lawrence Hogue of Danville is among the military veterans in the Danville who have had the opportunity  recently to visit the war memorials in Washington, D.C. The 87-year-old World War II veteran is one of three brothers who earned Purple Heart Medals over 66 years ago for their service during World War II and the Korean War. Hogue's oldest brother, Henry, was wounded during his time in the European Theatre in France and his youngest brother,...

Members of the 100th Army Band's brass quintet “Gold Reserve” presented an educational program as part of Jessamine County School's arts academies Wednesday, Oct. 24, at West Jessamine Middle School for students from both East Jessamine and West Jessamine middle schools. As members of the United States Army, the soldiers travel and perform all over the United States, supporting both military and community events. The band is headquartered at Fort Knox. “Students not only got a chance to hear professional musicians; they also got to learn about careers in both the military and as a musician,” said Matt LaBarbara, West Middle band director.

Army Reserve Pvt. Michael R. Moore has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions. Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.