Army Staff Sgt. Colleen Chesnes, daughter of Sally Chesnes of St. Petersburg, recently was promoted to her current rank and has signed up for another six years as a reservist. She has been serving in Kuwait since March with the 32nd Transportation Group.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Annette Lawson, mother of Emily, Hannah and Carl Lawson, all of Seminole, returned in July from a nine-month deployment in the Middle East with Naval Security Force Bahrain. She served as a postal clerk for the security mail room and also performed security and law enforcement duties.
Army Pfc. Ryan Cobin, grandson of Joan Cobin of Seminole and son of Elizabeth Cobin of Clearwater, is serving as a medic in Iraq with the 1st Battalion, 508th Airborne Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade, stationed in Vicenza, Italy. He has earned his airborne wings and the combat medical badge for service as a medic under hostile action. He is a 2000 graduate of Boca Ciega High School and attended St. Petersburg College and the University of South Florida until he was called to serve in Iraq.
Navy Seaman Apprentice Charles A. Simonds, son of Tatja and Robert Simonds of Pinellas Park, has graduated from the Basic Enlisted Submarine Course at the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Conn. He is a 2003 graduate of Dixie Hollins High School.
Marine Cpl. Christopher A. Lujan, son of Franc P. Lujan of St. Petersburg, was recently promoted to his current rank while serving with Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 38, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego. He joined the Marines in 2000.
- Send Military News to Catherine Cushing, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731 or cushing@sptimes.com Please include a photo if available and your return address and phone number.
