Fort Campbell

LEXINGTON - Unlike most of his teammates on the Kentucky all-star team that will face host Tennessee tonight, linebacker Gabe Wallace did not always like football. He never played football until arriving at Fort Campbell and deciding to join the team as a freshman. "I had no desire to play before then," said Wallace. "I really didn't like football at all. I thought I was going to be a basketball player, but that didn't work out. I guess I started realizing that when I was 5-8, about 190 pounds and couldn't really shoot.

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. "

Stephen J. Townsend, son of Nicholasville's Geraldine Townsend, was frocked Nov. 8 to the rank of brigadier general during a ceremony in Infantry Hall at Fort Benning, Ga. Townsend chose to have the ceremony at Fort Benning because this is where he became a professional soldier, he said. "I feel as though the 75th Ranger Regiment is my home regiment," he said. From 1988 to 1996, Townsend served in various positions with the regiment, including rifle company commander and battalion operations officer.

Pfc. Joshua Mark Kerby, 21, of Nicholasville, graduated from Fort Benning, Ga., Army Infantry Training July 6. He is a 2004 graduate of East Jessamine High School where he played varsity baseball. Kerby is the son of Mark and Kathy Lockhart and Mark Kerby and Regina Greer, and he is a sister to Kristin Kerby, all of Nicholasville. He is the grandson of Dallas and Carolyn Kerby of Lexington, Margie Combs of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Curtis Combs of Nicholasville, and the late Mary Kerby.

Sgt. Estell Lee Turner, 43, passed away July 2 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., from injuries he suffered in Afghanistan. He was a motor transport operator with Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. Turner graduated from Buckhorn High School, Buckhorn, Ky. in 1983. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany until 1989. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2007 and attended the Warrior Transition Course at the White Sands Missile Range, White Sands, N.M., then Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. for Motor Transport Operator reclassification training.

Tiffany, Addison and Lillian Long Candice Marie Becknell Long and James William Long II of Fort Campbell announce the birth of triplets Oct. 24 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Tiffany Jean  weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 17 inches. Addison Gale weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 17 inches. Lillian Marie weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 17 inches. Maternal grandparents are Mary Annette Phillips and David Allen Becknell of Nicholasville.

U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Castro, 20, died Saturday morning in a land-mine explosion in Afghanistan. Castro was a member of the Bravo Company of the 101st Airborne Division, which is stationed at Fort Campbell and under the command of local Capt. Mark Van Horn. The Wilmore City Council and Wilmore Police Department “adopted” the company and have been seeking members of the public to adopt individual soldiers. Adopting soldiers requires that residents write letters and send cards and care packages.

As of this morning, Fort Campbell had lost 32 assigned soldiers in 2011, all serving in Afghanistan. One was 27-year-old Sgt. Jeremy R. Summers of Mount Olivet, who died July 14 - the first casualty  from Kentucky since Staff Sgt. Alan L. Snyder, whose last address was Winchester, died of injuries in Afghanistan in late June. Fort Knox has lost seven soldiers so far in 2011, according to the Department of Defense's archived news releases. This year's numbers compare to the total 103 soldiers Fort Campbell lost in 2010, 37 of whom were before August.

As Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks tries to finalize what he believes will be an even more successful recruiting class, most of the attention is focused on what key in-state recruits will do. Will Hopkinsville quarterback Curtis Pulley remain true to his early verbal commitment and sign with Kentucky? Will it hurt the Wildcats significantly that Lexington Catholic linebacker Brandon Logan and Murray offensive lineman Corey Zirbel apparently will both sign with Michigan? What impact will it have that the Cats again have had limited success recruiting in Louisville?

Dear Editor, I read in Wednesday's Advocate that "More soldiers to head to Afghanistan. " That saddens me to know that the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will deploy 3,400 soldiers as part of the U.S. buildup in Afghanistan. In a few months, there will be an estimated 17,000 soldiers from Fort Campbell heading for Afghanistan. But it angers me to read the response to the area residents of Clarksville, Tenn. I quote, "Residents look forward to fewer cars on the roads but worry about a slower economy.

The Boyle County Public Library will host a program and book signing with Eric “Rick” Lee for his book, “Tribute To Valor and Courage.” The event is set for 2:30 p.m. April 28 in the Community Room at the library. “Tribute To Valor and Courage” is a non-fiction book that chronicles the lives of several veterans of World War II who served in Africa, Europe and the Pacific. It also relates the story of the former last-known-living American veteran from World War I, who was captured as a civilian in World War II. Lee is a native of Chicago.

Friday's Scores The Associated Press Ashland Blazer 47, Russell 7 Bath Co. 28, East Carter 7 Belfry 53, Prestonsburg 6 Bowling Green 21, Henderson Co. 7 Breathitt Co. 36, Jackson Co. 14 Butler Co. 42, McLean Co. 6 Christian Co. 42, Lone Oak 41 Cin. Hills Christian Academy, Ohio 21, Lex. Christian 7 Cooper 27, Campbell Co. 16 Danville 28, Corbin 21 Dayton 38, Bishop Brossart 14 Dixie Heights 33, Conner 31 ...

Tiffany, Addison and Lillian Long Candice Marie Becknell Long and James William Long II of Fort Campbell announce the birth of triplets Oct. 24 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Tiffany Jean  weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 17 inches. Addison Gale weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 17 inches. Lillian Marie weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 17 inches. Maternal grandparents are Mary Annette Phillips and David Allen Becknell of Nicholasville.

As of this morning, Fort Campbell had lost 32 assigned soldiers in 2011, all serving in Afghanistan. One was 27-year-old Sgt. Jeremy R. Summers of Mount Olivet, who died July 14 - the first casualty  from Kentucky since Staff Sgt. Alan L. Snyder, whose last address was Winchester, died of injuries in Afghanistan in late June. Fort Knox has lost seven soldiers so far in 2011, according to the Department of Defense's archived news releases. This year's numbers compare to the total 103 soldiers Fort Campbell lost in 2010, 37 of whom were before August.

U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Castro, 20, died Saturday morning in a land-mine explosion in Afghanistan. Castro was a member of the Bravo Company of the 101st Airborne Division, which is stationed at Fort Campbell and under the command of local Capt. Mark Van Horn. The Wilmore City Council and Wilmore Police Department “adopted” the company and have been seeking members of the public to adopt individual soldiers. Adopting soldiers requires that residents write letters and send cards and care packages.

Refuge to hold block party The Refuge Medical Clinic in Jessamine County has announced it will hold its first block party for the community Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 2 p.m. at Rock Fence Park. The event is a “thank you” to Jessamine County and will feature giveaways, door prizes, food, music and games. Refuge offers primary medical and dental care by appointment only. All of its services are provided by volunteers at no cost to patients. It is open at the Jessamine County Health Department from 5:30-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Dear Editor, I read in Wednesday's Advocate that "More soldiers to head to Afghanistan. " That saddens me to know that the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will deploy 3,400 soldiers as part of the U.S. buildup in Afghanistan. In a few months, there will be an estimated 17,000 soldiers from Fort Campbell heading for Afghanistan. But it angers me to read the response to the area residents of Clarksville, Tenn. I quote, "Residents look forward to fewer cars on the roads but worry about a slower economy.

U.S. Army Chaplain Daniel L. Claypoole was awarded a Bronze Star medal for his exceptionally meritorious service in the performance of his duties while serving as the counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar, second battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment chaplain, in support of OIF 07-09, from Aug. 12, 2008, to April 18. Claypoole's spiritual leadership and selfless devotion to duty contributed to the C-Ram and battalion's success and mission accomplishment....

For Army 1st Sgt. Cedric Reid from Fort Campbell, Tuesday's motorcycle ride through Winchester was about giving America's soldiers their "just due. " "It feels great," he said. "It's an honor for me to come out here and be able to participate in this. " Reid, a member of the Clarksville Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers motorcycle club, was one of about 350 riders who escorted the remains of three soldiers across Kentucky on Tuesday en route to their final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery.

Stephen J. Townsend, son of Nicholasville's Geraldine Townsend, was frocked Nov. 8 to the rank of brigadier general during a ceremony in Infantry Hall at Fort Benning, Ga. Townsend chose to have the ceremony at Fort Benning because this is where he became a professional soldier, he said. "I feel as though the 75th Ranger Regiment is my home regiment," he said. From 1988 to 1996, Townsend served in various positions with the regiment, including rifle company commander and battalion operations officer.