Published: May 16, 2008 10:27 pm            

Celebrating Hometown Heroes ...

Army Spec. Thomas W. Hope is currently deployed as a member of Task Force Marne, one of more than 20,000 soldiers from the Fort Stewart, Ga.-based 3rd Infantry Division and elements of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky. The soldier is serving a 15-month tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Hope is the son of Ronna A. Granger of Orange. The specialist is a 2001 graduate of West Orange Stark High School.

With more than 53 patrol bases within their area of operation, the task force has made significant strides in enhancing security in the region. Since the arrival of the task force more than a year ago, violence in the region has been reduced by more than 75 percent.

The decrease in violence has allowed the task force to focus on rebuilding efforts, including local governance and economic development, along with medical treatment missions, providing fresh drinking water and working with local security forces and volunteers to provide a broad blanket of stability to the region.

Hope is a machine gunner with Headquarters, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart.



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Army Reserve Pvt. Cornell D. Shelton recently graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

Shelton is the son of Johnny and Ida Keys of Vinton, La.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

        

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