Achievers

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy announced that Christopher James Wall of Flint has been recognized for superior academic achievement and leadership potential.

Wall, who attended Bishop T.K. Gorman High School in Tyler, accepted an appointment to attend the Coast Guard Academy and was sworn in on June 30.

He is the son of Denise and James Wall and grandson of Ivan and Pat Edwards of Ringgold, La., and the late James I. and Mae Wall of Russell, Kan.

Located in New London, Conn., the Academy is an accredited college educating future Coast Guard officers. Admission is highly competitive and less than 400 appointments are offered annually from more than 3,000 applicants.

Graduates receive a bachelor’s of science degree and are guaranteed a position of leadership as a commissioned officer of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jimmy A. Marmaduke has retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service.

Prior to retiring, Sgt. Marmaduke served as a C-130H airlift/transport aircraft crew chief assigned to the 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene.

He is the son of Evert Marmaduke of Las Brisas, Mission and Marilyn McDaniel of Center Point.

His wife, Diane, is the daughter of Mary and Kenneth Treadwell of Flint.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan G. Cox and Navy Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Crosson, recently began a seven-month deployment to Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan while assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 homeported at Naval Construction Battalion Center in Mississippi.

Their unit deployed to relieve NMCB 5. NMCB 133’s main body will be providing construction support in order to improve military facility readiness in Okinawa. Cox is the son of Julie A. and Gene R. Cox of Tyler.

Crosson is a graduate of Pittsburg High School.

Air Force Master Sgt. David A. Banker won the military National Powerlifting Championship in the 198-pound weight class.

Banker is a dental craftsman assigned to the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. The master sergeant has served in the military for 22 years.

He is the son of Mary Banker of Anadarko.

Air Force Airman Laura E. Goodgamehas graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio.

She is the granddaughter of Margie Tuck of Flint.

She is a graduate of Bullard High School.

Army Pvt. Kevin M. Lawson has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individual Training.

Lawson is the son of Sabrina Chambers of Malakoff and graduate of Malakoff High School.

Army Pvt. Bryant Blackburn has graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

Blackburn is the son of Michele Hansen of, Huntsville, Texas, and grandson of Wanda Hall of Mineola.

In 2007, the private graduated from Dobie High School, Houston.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Amanda P. Callahan was decorated with the Iraq Campaign Medal authorized by the president of the United States.

Callahan, a public affairs supervisor with 11 years of military service, is assigned to the 319th Air Refueling Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.

She is the daughter of Rick and Claudia Allen of Van and granddaughter of Penny Allen of Grand Saline. The sergeant is a 1997 graduate of Van High School.

Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class Leslie N. Clark has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio.

She is the daughter of Helena Clark and granddaughter of Virgle Samples, both of Edgewood.

Clark is a 2007 graduate of Edgewood High School.