Parris Island

Marine Pvt. Matthew L. Mitchell of Woodbine and Pvt. Sean J. Kenney of Mount Airy recently completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.During the training cycle, recruits are taught the basics of battlefield survival, and introduced to typical military daily routines and personal and professional standards.Private Mitchell is the son of Loren F. and Nancy L. Mitchell of Woodbine. He is a 1994 graduate of Glenelg High School, Howard County.Private Kenney is the son of Carol A. Kenney of Mount Airy.

Catonsville High School graduate Marine Corps Pfc. Armon Lee recently finished the marine aviation operations specialist course in Meridian, Miss. Tanya Dyson is his mother. Marine Corps Pvt. Khalid Austin completed 12 weeks of basic training at the recruit center in Parris Island, S. C. He is the son of Peter Austin and Sandra Thomas, both of Catonsville. Seaman Apprentice Gregory Kneib completed basic training at the recruit training depot in Great Lakes, Ill. The 2010 alumnus of Catonsville High School is the son of Thomas and Muriel Kneib, who live in Catonsville.

Marine Pvt. Keith Kelly recently completed recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. Private Kelly is a 1991 graduate of Broadneck Senior High School.Marine 1st Sgt. Alvin S. Athey was recently deployed with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines to the Western Pacific for exercises on and off the island of Okinawa, Japan.Navy Chief Petty Officer Paul U. Gallagher, currently aboard the USS Comte de Grasse, is midway through a Mediterranean deployment with the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier battle group.

Less than a year after realizing his lifelong dream of becoming a Marine, Pvt. Anthony W. Romano-Caruso was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his Fort Meade barracks room on Wednesday. Rita Romano-Caruso said two Marines arrived at her front door in Burlington, N.C., on Thursday night to tell her that her 19-year-old son had died, but they didn't know why. "I am not sure exactly what happened," she said Friday. "It is bad to sit here in limbo, to not know what's going on. It's bad. ... "Everybody is still in shock.

In Loving Memory of WILLIAM W. "BILL" REAL. August 9, 1941-July 21, 2005. Loving father of Kathryn R. Poindexter (Joe) and Kimberlee R. Heuneman (Jeremy). Constant companion of his twin brother Ronald E. Real (Dee). Proud grandfather of Abigail K., Joseph E., and Benjamin R. Poindexter and Caleb R. and Joshua B. Heuneman. Bill was outgoing, giving, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a faithful employee of Western Electric/AT&T for thirty-six years. He took great pride in his hobby as a hunter and enjoyed spending many years of good times with his friends from the "Sunrisers" hunting club.

Semper fidelis. Being ever faithful -- the Marine Corps motto -- motivates recruiters, too.Thomas N. Nyangani, 19, undecided about his future after two years of college, stopped at the Army recruiting office at Mondawmin Mall in September, but the office was closed for lunch.Nearby, the Marine Corps recruiter, Sgt. Darian G. Patterson, noticed him inspecting brochures and began talking up the Corps.Nyangani liked what he heard, passed the screening tests and enlisted. Four months later, he has become the top honor graduate among 388 Marines of C Company, 1st Battalion, at boot camp at Parris Island, S.C.'A real big deal'Nyangani, a private first class, is believed to be the first Marine from Baltimore to win the honor in many years, said Gunnery Sgt. James Ruffin, in charge of city recruiting.

Less than a year after realizing his lifelong dream of becoming a Marine, Pvt. Anthony W. Romano-Caruso was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his Fort Meade barracks room on Wednesday. Rita Romano-Caruso said two Marines arrived at her front door in Burlington, N.C., on Thursday night to tell her that her 19-year-old son had died, but they didn't know why. "I am not sure exactly what happened," she said Friday. "It is bad to sit here in limbo, to not know what's going on. It's bad. ... "Everybody is still in shock.

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The effort involved in being one of The Few shows in the sweat-sodden shirt of Adonis Daniels, 19, a Woodlawn High School graduate, as he slogs his way through Marine boot camp here.The essence of becoming one of The Proud can be seen in the taut figure of Donna Collier, 28, a University of Maryland College Park graduate, as she receives congratulations from the camp commander on being the fittest recruit in her platoon.And in the hope of joining The Brave, Sabrina Bonasera, 18, is fighting fatigue and homesickness, 500 miles away from her family in Glen Burnie.

Harry Reese John, a decorated World War II combat Marine who fought for sweeping changes in Marine Corps boot camp training after the questionable death of his son at Parris Island, S.C., collapsed and died yesterday at his home in Northeast Baltimore. He was 79.He died of complications from liver cancer, his family said.In 1971, Mr. John's son Warren -- a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Towson State University -- was hospitalized with 39 other members of his boot camp platoon at Parris Island.

Eleven Naval Academy seniors will present the results of their year of independent research as Trident Scholars at a conference on April 20.This year's Trident Scholars and their hometowns are Midshipmen David L. Blazes, Scranton, Pa.; Brian L. Davies, Newark, Del.; Jeffrey S. Dodge, La Jolla, Calif.; Robert C. Dunn, Prairie Grove, Ark.; Brian F. Hussey Jr., San Ramon, Ca.; Anthony J. Kotarski, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; William D. Kulp III, Salisbury; Paul A. Larson, Medina, Ohio; Casey J. Moton, Woodbridge, Va.; Stephen F. Murphy, Catonsville; and Daniel B. Robinson, Winchester, Va.During their junior year, the program candidates submitted their project proposals for review and recommendation by the Trident Scholar committee.

The first funny piece of news my husband shared in a letter from boot camp this summer was that he had been chosen to be his platoon's scribe. He'd have to write schedules, record scores and fill out paperwork, among other duties. My first thought was: Have they seen his handwriting? I have. During 13 weeks of communicating exclusively by letter -- BlackBerrys and cell phones and laptops are as forbidden as long hair and first names at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot at Parris Island, S.C. -- what I'd long thought of as chicken scratch soon became the most comforting sight in my universe.

In Loving Memory of WILLIAM W. "BILL" REAL. August 9, 1941-July 21, 2005. Loving father of Kathryn R. Poindexter (Joe) and Kimberlee R. Heuneman (Jeremy). Constant companion of his twin brother Ronald E. Real (Dee). Proud grandfather of Abigail K., Joseph E., and Benjamin R. Poindexter and Caleb R. and Joshua B. Heuneman. Bill was outgoing, giving, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a faithful employee of Western Electric/AT&T for thirty-six years. He took great pride in his hobby as a hunter and enjoyed spending many years of good times with his friends from the "Sunrisers" hunting club.

RICHARD C. Mike Lewin was anxious in October 2000 when he joined Gov. Parris N. Glendening for a lobster lunch at Government House, the rust-brick Georgian home of the governor in Annapolis. The Nasdaq stock market had plunged more than 30 percent, from 5,049 to less than 3,500, during the previous six months. New high-tech companies such as Corvis Corp. and Aether Systems Inc., the economic fountains of youth expected to replace the shriveled smokestack employers, were showing vulnerabilities.

The Glenelg High School drama department will present three performances of the Neil Simon play Lost in Yonkers, which is about a family in turmoil in the 1940s. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16, 19 and 20. Drama teacher Sue Leader will direct a cast of seven students. Tickets are $7 at the door. Information: 410-414-5528. Library to offer programs on plants and wild West The Glenwood library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville, will offer a program with master gardener Karen Brenner on tropical foliage plants and how they clean air in the home at 7 p.m. Feb. 20. Registration is required.

The Savage branch library, 9525 Durness Lane, will sponsor a Summer Coffeehouse for those ages 11 and older from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Participants are invited to sing, share music or read their poetry. Refreshments will be provided. "Bug Juice & Chocolate-covered Spiders," a program of bug facts, stories, recipes and treats for children ages 6 and older, will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. July 27. "Be a Nature Detective," for ages 5-8, will be held from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. July 30. Registration is required.

Semper fidelis. Being ever faithful -- the Marine Corps motto -- motivates recruiters, too.Thomas N. Nyangani, 19, undecided about his future after two years of college, stopped at the Army recruiting office at Mondawmin Mall in September, but the office was closed for lunch.Nearby, the Marine Corps recruiter, Sgt. Darian G. Patterson, noticed him inspecting brochures and began talking up the Corps.Nyangani liked what he heard, passed the screening tests and enlisted. Four months later, he has become the top honor graduate among 388 Marines of C Company, 1st Battalion, at boot camp at Parris Island, S.C.'A real big deal'Nyangani, a private first class, is believed to be the first Marine from Baltimore to win the honor in many years, said Gunnery Sgt. James Ruffin, in charge of city recruiting.

Catonsville High School graduate Marine Corps Pfc. Armon Lee recently finished the marine aviation operations specialist course in Meridian, Miss. Tanya Dyson is his mother. Marine Corps Pvt. Khalid Austin completed 12 weeks of basic training at the recruit center in Parris Island, S. C. He is the son of Peter Austin and Sandra Thomas, both of Catonsville. Seaman Apprentice Gregory Kneib completed basic training at the recruit training depot in Great Lakes, Ill. The 2010 alumnus of Catonsville High School is the son of Thomas and Muriel Kneib, who live in Catonsville.

The Glenelg High School drama department will present three performances of the Neil Simon play Lost in Yonkers, which is about a family in turmoil in the 1940s. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16, 19 and 20. Drama teacher Sue Leader will direct a cast of seven students. Tickets are $7 at the door. Information: 410-414-5528. Library to offer programs on plants and wild West The Glenwood library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville, will offer a program with master gardener Karen Brenner on tropical foliage plants and how they clean air in the home at 7 p.m. Feb. 20. Registration is required.

SHORTLY AFTER NOON last Monday, six Marines came through the open doors of an old white church in Scituate, Mass., carrying the unnatural weight of a dead 18-year-old's flag-draped coffin. Beneath a spectacular sky on a warm and beautiful day, they gently placed their heavy burden in the back of the silver hearse parked at the steps a few feet off a country road in a town where nearly everyone expects only the best to occur.The young man now dead was Coby Cutler. He was killed last week in Parris Island, S.C. Struck by lightning while out on the rifle range at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The effort involved in being one of The Few shows in the sweat-sodden shirt of Adonis Daniels, 19, a Woodlawn High School graduate, as he slogs his way through Marine boot camp here.The essence of becoming one of The Proud can be seen in the taut figure of Donna Collier, 28, a University of Maryland College Park graduate, as she receives congratulations from the camp commander on being the fittest recruit in her platoon.And in the hope of joining The Brave, Sabrina Bonasera, 18, is fighting fatigue and homesickness, 500 miles away from her family in Glen Burnie.