Published: December 31, 2008 11:38 am      

Military News

Wesley Manuel

ADA — Army Pvt. Wesley W. Manuel has graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., under the Split-option Enlistment Program to serve as a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve.

He is the son of Roy Manuel, and Trina Frederick, both of Ada.

The private is a student at Byng High School



Jonathon Stepp

BUFFALO VALLEY — Army Pvt. Jonathon C. Stepp has graduated from the Direct Fire Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training.

During the nine weeks of Basic Combat 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.

The Advanced Individual Training course is designed to train indirect fire infantry soldiers to employ, fire and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines; locate, neutralize and extract mines; map reading and ground navigation; operate and maintain communications equipment and radio networks; construct and camouflage mortar firing positions; operate and maintain mortars and fire control equipment for individual/crew served weapons firing positions.

Stepp is the son of Laura Stepp, Clayton, and John Stepp, Ozark, Ark.

In 2008, the private graduated from Buffalo Valley High School, Talihania.



Trevor Dunn

SULPHUR — Air Force Tech. Sgt. Trevor R. Dunn has been decorated with the Bronze Star Medal.

The medal is awarded to an individual who, while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, has performed a heroic act, meritorious acts or achievements, or distinguished service not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United States; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

In addition, Dunn has been named noncommissioned officer of the year.

Selection was based on the individual’s exemplary duty performance, job knowledge, leadership qualities, teamwork, significant self-improvement, specific achievements, notable accomplishments, and community service and support.

The sergeant, a logistics branch chief with 16 years of military service, is assigned to the 460th Space Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Denver, Colo.

He is the son of Timm Dunn, Sulphur, and Teresa Morgan, Duncan.

His grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Dunn, live in Chickasha.

Dunn is a 1992 graduate of Chickasha High School.



Amber Pocrnich

ADA — Army Maj. Amber L. Froemming Pocrnich is currently deployed in Iraq to support the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Pocrnich, a nurse researcher, is assigned to the deployed combat casualty care research team. She has 12 years of military service.

She is the daughter of Gary K. and Jeanne M. Froemming, Ada.

Her husband, Stephen, is the son of Edward A. Pocrnich and Jeannette E. Pocrnich, both of Silver Bay, Minn.

The major received a bachelor’s degree in 1996 from College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn.