Vets & Soldiers

Chicago native, Seaman Ronald Smith was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal aboard USS Constitution, February 18.

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is awarded to service members who perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature.

“I am glad I was able to give back to my community and represent the Navy in a positive way,” said Smith.

Smith has served in the Navy for two years, and Constitution is his first duty station.

Smith is a 2018 graduate of Proviso East High School.

Duty aboard USS Constitution is one of the Navy’s special programs, and all prospective crewmembers must meet a high standard of sustained excellence and interview to be selected for the assignment.

USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

The active-duty sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution normally provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people each year as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history, maritime heritage, and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.

USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels.

The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. 

Full story available in all 14 Southwest Messenger Press Newspapers

U.S. Navy Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Anton Thauer, from Evergreen Park, makes pizza in the galley of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) February 12, 2021. Bunker Hill, part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 

As the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific Region. 

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandie Nuzzi. 

Full story available in the Evergreen Park Courier, Bridgeview Independent, Burbank Independent, and Scottsdale Independent

Five Illinois National Guard Soldiers who deployed in May as part of Bilateral Embedded Staff Team (BEST) A25 returned home in time for Christmas, wrapping up combat missions with the Polish military in U.S. Central Command that has lasted more than 15 years. 

“These missions were vital for our national defense as the country of Poland was part of the U.S. coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighting together as brothers and sisters in arms strengthened the Illinois National Guard’s unique State Partnership Program relationship with the Polish military,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, The Adjutant General and Commander, Illinois National Guard. 

BEST A25, whose mission it was to advise and support the Polish military contingent in Afghanistan, deployed in early May to the U.S. Central Command area in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, arriving in theater amid the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

The Soldiers are from various communities in Illinois, including Champaign, Chicago, Frankfort, Tinley Park and Collinsville. The Soldiers were selected for the mission based on their training and skills.

Full story available in all 14 Southwest Messenger Press Newspapers

Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Vincent Weston, from Chicago, (right) and Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Justina Acosta, from Whittier, Calif., attach ship’s bunting aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), in preparation of her 50th Anniversary that was on November 14. Commissioned in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on November 14, 1970, 

Blue Ridge has served as a unique platform for global command and control coordination. Blue Ridge is the oldest operational ship in the Navy and, as 7th Fleet command ship, actively works to foster relationships with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Claire Farin.