Military news
By Times Staff Writer
Published June 15, 2005
Navy Chief Petty Officer Michael S. Linton, husband of Ami N. Linton and son of Dolores Taylor, both of St. Petersburg, was named the 2004 USS Ticonderoga Sailor of the Year. Linton served on the Ticonderoga from November 2000 until September 2004. He was ship's secretary and administrative department leading chief petty officer and assisted in the decommissioning of the ship. In October 2004, he reported to Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, where he is the administrative assistant and flag writer for the deputy commander. Linton enlisted in the Navy in 1990 and graduated from Yeoman "A" School at the Naval Technical Training Center in Meridian, Miss. He completed his associate's degree at the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration at St. Leo University. His decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Navy Battle "E" and the Navy Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars. He is a 1990 graduate of Northeast High School.
Air Force Lt. Col. Keith D. Schultz, son of Wilma and Frank Schultz of St. Pete Beach, recently received the 2005 Jabara Award for Airmanship from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was honored for heroism and outstanding service as a B-52 aircraft commander and mission commander in Iraq. Schultz was responsible for concept development, testing and evaluation, validation and operational deployment in Iraq of the Litening II targeting pod on the B-52, which enables the high-altitude aircraft to deliver laser-guided weapons and to better evaluate targets. He currently is serving as the deputy commander of the 917th Operations Group at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. He is a 1979 graduate of the Air Force Academy.
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