Colin Carter

The son of a West End man wasn't even born during the tension-filled days and weeks leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis during the fall of 1962. During those tense days, children drilled under their desks at school, bomb shelters were stocked for what many saw as the beginning of World War III and the Air Force's B-52 bomber was in its heyday, armed and waiting orders to protect the U.S. against total annihilation from the Soviet Union.

A generation later, the tensions caused by the Cold War rift between the U.S. and the Soviet Union are relegated to a couple of pages in our history books. Today, the U.S. is the lone global power fighting a completely different war. And more than four decades later, the B-52 is still one of the primary weapons for the global war on terror.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Colin Carter, son of Trent Carter of West End, is serving with the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

In March 2003, by dropping precession-guided bombs on the Iraqi resistance in Baghdad during the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the aging B-52 illustrated its effectiveness. Today, the massive B-52 is feared, and can make the enemy scatter by simply flying overhead. The Air Force desires to keep the B-52 in service for decades to come with high-tech upgrades, but only a new bomber will keep America ahead of future adversaries. Until then, airmen like Carter will work hard to keep this relic flying.

"Without me working on the aircraft and its components, the aircraft would not be able to fly. I'm supporting the global war on terror by providing the aircrew an aircraft that is ready to fly combat sorties," said Carter.

Like the B-52 that travels the globe, Carter's Air Force background is expanding.

"I've been the Air Force for one year, and I've also served at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla.," said Carter.

Although engineers were designing and pilots were flying the B-52 before Carter was born, this bomber lives on today through his efforts, providing the next generation with the same security Americans enjoyed four decades earlier.

Hayley D. Cummings

Army Pfc. Hayley D. Cummings has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

She is the daughter of Paul Cummings of Southern Pines. The private is a 2004 graduate of Pinecrest High School and received an associate degree in 2006 from Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst.

Liam M. Cummings

Liam M. Cummings has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty station.

The recruit qualifies for a $4,000 enlistment bonus.

Cummings, currently attending Pinecrest High School, will report to Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., for active duty on Feb. 22. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Cummings of Southern Pines.

Morgan W. Fasolak

Cadet Morgan W. Fasolak, daughter of Walter and Tina Fasolak, of Pinehurst, has completed Cadet Basic Training at the U.S. Military Academy.

Fasolak is among approximately 1,300 cadet candidates who concluded their training with a 12-mile road march from Camp Buckner to West Point on Aug. 7. New cadets were officially accepted into the Corps of Cadets during the Acceptance Parade on Aug. 12.

Fasolak graduated from Pinecrest High School in 2006. She plans to graduate from West Point in 2010 and will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

The mission of the U.S. Military Academy is to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of duty, honor, country, and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army.

Joel O. Flinchum

Joel O. Flinchum has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty station.

The recruit qualifies for a $26,000 enlistment bonus.

Flinchum, a 2004 graduate of North Moore High School, has reported to Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla., for active duty.

He is the son of Ricky and Gloria Flinchum of Carthage.

Shane A. Hawksworth

Shane A. Hawksworth has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash.

The 33 days of training provide the best possible professional training and evaluation for all cadets in the aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. Although continued military training and leadership development is included in the curriculum, the primary focus of the course is to develop and evaluate each cadet's officer potential as a leader by exercising the cadet's intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and physical stamina. The cadet command assesses each cadet's performance and progress in officer traits, qualities and professionalism while attending the course.

Cadets in their junior and senior year of college must complete the leadership development course. Upon successful completion of the course, the ROTC program, and graduation from college, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, National Guard, or Reserve.

He is the son of Jae D. and Cecilia Hawksworth of Southern Pines.

William F. Kernan

Army General William F. "Buck" Kernan (Retired) has been inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Ga. The Hall of Fame was formed to honor and preserve the spirit and contributions of America's most extraordinary Rangers making extraordinary contributions to the Ranger mission.

To be eligible for selection to the Hall of Fame, an individual must be deceased or have been separated, or retired from active military service for at least three years at the time of nomination. The person must have served in a Ranger unit in combat or be a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. Achievement or service may be considered for individuals in a position in state or national government after the Ranger has departed the Armed Forces.

Honorary induction may be conferred on individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Ranger units, the Ranger Foundation, or the Ranger community in general, but who do not meet standard selection criteria of combat service with a Ranger unit or graduation from the U.S. Army Ranger School.

As part of his 35 years of service to the country, Kernan was the first 75th Ranger Regimental Commander since its activation in 1984 to lead Rangers into battle as a Regiment during Operation Just Cause in Panama. His success across the Special Operations Community, Conventional, Joint and with coalition forces, contributed immeasurably to the sustained reputation of the American Ranger as a true combat multiplier, soldier, and officer. He lives and embodies the Ranger Creed and Abram's Charter, and has inspired and mentored countless Rangers and soldiers to push themselves 100 percent and then some toward accomplishing the Ranger mission.

During his military career, the general served in various command positions throughout his career. He has been decorated with numerous awards to include two awards of the Defense Distinguished Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star with "V" device, and the Purple Heart Medal.

Kernan is the son of Florence W. Kernan of San Antonio, Texas, and husband of Marianne Kernan of Pinehurst.

In 1964, he graduated from St. John's High School, Washington, D.C., and received a bachelor's degree in 1973 from The Lakes University, San Antonio. He earned a master's degree in 1979 from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant.

Lillian R. McCrimmon

Lillian R. McCrimmon attended the Air Force Junior ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Aerospace and Technology Honors Camp at the University of Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. The Air Force has nine other approved Aerospace and Technology Honors Camp sites for the high school cadets attending in 2006. Cadets attending the camps are in the top one percent of 110,000 Junior ROTC cadets worldwide; only 500 cadets were selected and actually attended the honors camps.

Selection of students/cadets to attend the honors camp is very competitive. They must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, be rising sophomores, juniors or seniors enrolled in college-prep mathematics and science courses, have leadership ability, demonstrated an interest in pursuing technical and aerospace-related careers, and be U.S. citizens.

The Air Force Junior ROTC Honors Camp program has two primary goals: expose high achieving cadets to aerospace and high technology opportunities and careers, and to leverage junior ROTC demographics to reach college-bound minorities at a younger age.

The honors camps' five-day hands-on curricula allow cadets to visit college campuses, air and space operational bases and sites, research labs, historical sites, museums, aerospace industries, hear lectures from pilots and astronauts, and participate in flight simulator training and airplane rides with licensed pilots.

McCrimmon is the daughter of Robert A. and Susan B. McCrimmon of Pinehurst.

Thomas Mikkelson

Army National Guard Sgt. Thomas E. Mikkelson has arrived at Camp Taji, Iraq, to support the mission of the 4th Sustainment Brigade during 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.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

Mikkelson, a petroleum supply specialist with 10 years of military service, is the son of Maria L. and stepson of Clifford R. Schick of Carthage. His wife, Katharine, is the daughter of Janet Chandler of Madisonville, Ky.

Ahmad L. Powell

Air Force Staff Sgt. Ahmad L. Powell has arrived for duty at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.

Powell, a force management operations craftsman, has served in the military for eight years. He is the son of Robert L. and Velma Powell of Southern Pines. His wife, Natina, is the daughter of Mary Harrington of Aberdeen.

The sergeant is a 1998 graduate of Pinecrest High School.

Benjamin Sutherland

Benjamin L. Sutherland has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty station.

The recruit qualifies for a $6,000 enlistment bonus.

Sutherland, currently attending Union Pines High School, will report to Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., for active duty on June 21.

He is the son of Louis L. and Becky L. Sutherland of Vass.

Treasure C. Swain

Army Pvt. Treasure C. Swain has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

She is the daughter of Wanda Swain of Aberdeen, and niece of Stevie Goodwin of Southport.

Swain is a 2004 graduate of Pinecrest High School.

Hillard F. Ward III

Army Pvt. Hillard F. Ward III has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Ward is the brother of Valerie McIntire of Sanford, and nephew of Benny Ward of Cameron.

Lisa M. Wicker

Army National Guard Pvt. Lisa M. Wicker has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

She is the granddaughter of Linda Foster and niece of Robin Foster, both of Vass. Wicker is a 2006 graduate of Union Pines High School.

Skye N. Wortman

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Skye N. Wortman has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Wortman is the daughter of Dr. Michael and Harriet Bradley of Pinehurst.

The airman is a 1999 graduate of Moore Central High School.