Navy Airman Recruit Sean R. Carpentiere, son of Vickie L. and Eddie L. Carpentiere of Joshua; Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ferlissia M. Hunnicutt, whose husband, Samuel, is the son of Sandra Meredith of Burleson; and Navy Airman Kimberly K. Kenimer, a 2007 graduate of Joshua High School in Joshua, and more than 5,000 fellow sailors and Marines aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan recently returned from a five-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.
The Ronald Reagan, the Carrier Strike Group 7 flagship, the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville, the guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley and USS Howard arrived to meet family members waiting on the pier aboard Naval Station in San Diego, Calif.
This return marked the completion the Ronald Reagan’s fourth deployment since it was commissioned in 2003 as well as the groups return from Afghanistan. More than 5, 000 sailors, 20 percent of whom are women, serve aboard USS Ronald Reagan and hail from all 50 U.S. states and 40 nations.
The guided missile destroyer USS Decatur and the guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) remain deployed in the 5th Fleet to provide Maritime Security Operations and are scheduled to return next month.
The Ronald Reagan and embarked Carrier Air Wing 14 operated in the 5th Fleet AOR for more than two months, providing 30 percent of all air support to U.S. and coalition ground forces in Afghanistan and flew more than 1, 600 sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The squadrons of CVW-14 include the “Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22, the “Fist of the Fleet” of VFA-25, the “Stingers” of VFA-113, the “Eagles” of VFA-115, the “Black Eagles” of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, the “Cougars” of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 139 and the “Black Knights” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4.
A detachment from Fleet Logistics Squadron 30 provided logistics support to the carrier.
Additionally, the ships of Carrier Strike Group 7 were vital in counterpiracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the Horn of Africa, and maritime security operations to include protecting vital Iraqi infrastructure in the North Arabian Gulf.
The Ronald Reagan’s sailors participated in 50 community relations projects during port visits to Singapore, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and Phuket, Thailand.
Carpentiere is a 2003 graduate of Godley High School in Godley and joined the Navy in February 2009.
Johnson County
Local sailors returns from five-month deployment
- Johnson County
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Stage 2 drought plan still in place
Johnson County Special Utility District will keep its Stage 2 drought plan in place despite this week’s rain.
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Tuesday marks property tax payment deadline
Johnson County Tax Assessor Scott Porter said that Tuesday is the deadline to pay 2011 property taxes without penalties or interest.
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Drought no more
April showers arrived a couple of months early, bringing much needed rain to Johnson County rivers and lakes.
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Number of sex offenders increases
Now might be a good time to talk with your children about stranger danger. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released an updated list of the country’s sex offenders this week. The survey showed 747,408 registered sex offenders.
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Council approves trash truck purchases
City plans to switch trash collection from a manual to an automated system should begin in about six months, Cleburne Assistant City Manager David Esquivel said Tuesday night.
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Rain related incidents mild, Cleburne rescue workers say
Heavy rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday spurred several calls to the Cleburne police and fire departments, but resulted in no serious injuries or damage, officials said.
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Finishing touches
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Vendor delays payment for county EOC work
A sub-contractor that helped build the Emergency Operation Center awaits payment from a construction company that claims it’s having financial trouble.
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Head Start seeks help to replace stolen, damaged property
Officials with Cleburne’s Head Start school seek donations to help fund an end-of-school-year party for students.
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Carnegie announces cast for ‘The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940’
Director Dick Helmcamp, retired CHS band director, recently announced the cast for the Greater Cleburne Carnegie Players’ upcoming production of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.” The show, set in 1940 in Chappaqua, N.Y., is a who-dun-it with a twist. Think Agatha Christie on steroids.
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Stage 2 drought plan still in place
