Marine Corps

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Gregory G. Clark, son of Huntington Beach resident Bertha Hammond, was recently called to active duty. He is part of the largest ground combat element in the Marine Corps ... Navy officer Jason A. Ready, a 1996 graduate of Edison High School in Huntington Beach, recently departed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf ... Katelyn E. Puishys of Huntington Beach has made the honor roll at the...

Huntington Beach Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s older brother, Kim, died this morning of complications from cancer at Fountain Valley General Hospital, the congressman’s office said. Kim Rohrabacher, the congressman’s only sibling, was 62. He served eight years in the Marine Corps and later worked as a transportation specialist, mainly for Northrop Aircraft. Rep. Rohrabacher flew in from Washington, D.C., Wednesday night to be with his brother, whom he said was known for his “generosity and charitable spirit.

Jonathan Bass, a 2002 Newport Harbor High School graduate, was recently promoted to the rank of corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also received a three-year Good Conduct Medal. Bass, who joined the Marines in August 2001 and graduated from boot camp in October 2002, works in aviation electronics in Beaufort, S.C., where he is stationed. Bass is the son of Jeff and Jeanine Bass of Costa Mesa. Raelyn Drury of Newport Beach is one of 78 Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation recipients from California for the 2005-06 academic year.

Gregory M. Cloney, a 1982 graduate of Edison High School, was recently promoted to chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy. While serving in the ranks of petty officer first class, Cloney became a candidate for promotion to chief petty officer by passing a written exam. A selection committee, comprised of other high-ranking chief petty officers and commissioned officers, then selected Cloney from among other top candidates based upon his leadership and professional abilities.

Mehrdad Moarefian, son of Huntington Beach residents Zahra and Mohsen Moarefian, has completed basic training for the U.S. Marine Corps in San Diego Adam E. Nickel, son of Huntington Beach resident Tina Nickel, has completed basic training for the U.S. Marine Corps in San Diego. ... Randall L. Horner, brother of Huntington Beach resident Derek J. Horner, is on a six-month deployment, assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. ... Marine Cpl. Conrad B. Griego III, son of Angela K. Clitherow of Huntington Beach, completed a monthlong operation in Kosovo while assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea Area.

The following students were winners in the Huntington Beach City School District Spelling Bee held Jan. 18: Jade Quail, fourth grade, and Jacob Jaffe, fifth grade, Peterson Elementary School; Michael Thompson, sixth grade, and Cassie Wallace, eighth grade, Dwyer Middle School; and Nancy Woo, seventh grade, Sowers Middle School . . . Jeremy Vidales of Huntington Beach earned a 3.5 grade-point average for the fall semester ...

Marines land successfully Imagine 1,200 Marine Corps men and women dressed in their formal dress blue uniforms attending a traditional Marine Corps event called a "Dining In." About 50 members of the community and I were on hand April 22 to welcome the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines from Camp Pendleton at a special reception and dinner in their honor. The "Thundering Third," as the 3/1 is commonly called, were adopted by the Huntington Beach City Council by a resolution and chose the city of Huntington Beach to host their annual festivities at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Resort.

“Don’t include me in the picture. This isn’t about me — it’s about them.” Though I insist and she finally relents and poses in front of the mirror, she is uncomfortable being the object of attention. “Not me,” she reiterates. “Them,” she says, pointing toward the mirror. That tells you what you need to know about Denise Burelli, who, with her husband, Anthony, runs the Beauty Supply Zone & Salon near the intersection of Bolsa Chica Street and Heil Avenue — because “them” would be the dozens of images of men and women serving in the United State military that are taped to the mirror in the salon, creating a makeshift shrine honoring those who serve this nation.

SOUL FOOD When I was growing up, my family's Fourth of July celebrations were different from year to year depending on where we lived. We mostly lived on Marine Corps bases wherever my father was stationed but when he was away for a tour of duty we lived in Mobile, Ala., my mother's hometown and my birthplace, where we were close to a large extended family. On the military bases there were always big fireworks displays to celebrate Independence Day and, often, the revelry of a Marine Corps band playing military and patriotic anthems.

Each year, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program collects toys and distributes them as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. To help them with their efforts, Arthur Snyder, a former U.S. Marine and co-owner of Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, has designated his restaurant as an official drop-off location. The restaurant will continue collecting new, unwrapped toys through Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Those interested in donating toys may do so at Don the Beachcomber, 16278 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92649.

FOR THE RECORD. . The ?In the Pipeline? column Oct. 15, ?Event gives soldiers a cut of the profits,? should have said the cut-a-thon will take place at the Beauty Supply Zone & Salon on Oct. 25.. . ?Don?t include me in the picture. This isn?t about me ? it?s about them.? Though I insist and she finally relents and poses in front of the mirror, she is uncomfortable being the object of attention. ?Not me,? she reiterates. ?Them,? she says, pointing toward the mirror. That tells you what you need to know about Denise Burelli, who, with her husband, Anthony, runs the Beauty Supply Zone & Salon near the intersection of Bolsa Chica Street and Heil Avenue ?

A siren wailed as the police car rolled down the pavement to respond to a purse snatching. It wasn’t an actual crime — recruits at Golden West College’s police academy were working on their responses to real-world calls for help. Out on the “grinder,” the strip of pavement where they work on everything from physical fitness to the proper use of force, the 32 recruits split up into teams of cops and civilians to practice handling whatever their instructors threw at them.

The man in a space suit embarrassed himself on video, shrugging helplessly as he seemed to have locked himself out of his own lunar lander. Next in the slide show, a woman in the space shuttle smiled as locks of her hair stood out two feet in every direction. “Astronauts are people too,” Lt. Col. Randall Bresnik told a packed auditorium of laughing middle schoolers. “Talk about bad hair days.” That was part of the message Bresnik brought to Mesa View Middle School last week, as he encouraged youths to study math and science and consider working for the space program.

Huntington Beach Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s older brother, Kim, died this morning of complications from cancer at Fountain Valley General Hospital, the congressman’s office said. Kim Rohrabacher, the congressman’s only sibling, was 62. He served eight years in the Marine Corps and later worked as a transportation specialist, mainly for Northrop Aircraft. Rep. Rohrabacher flew in from Washington, D.C., Wednesday night to be with his brother, whom he said was known for his “generosity and charitable spirit.

The city of Huntington Beach's relationship with the Thundering Third Marine unit will not change in the midst of a criminal investigation looking into the November deaths of Iraqi civilians, officials said last week. Last year, the city voted unanimously to support the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and the troops' families with local fundraising. The battalion, which returned to Camp Pendleton from their third deployment after six months, is being investigated for the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians, including women and children.

Jonathan Bass, a 2002 Newport Harbor High School graduate, was recently promoted to the rank of corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also received a three-year Good Conduct Medal. Bass, who joined the Marines in August 2001 and graduated from boot camp in October 2002, works in aviation electronics in Beaufort, S.C., where he is stationed. Bass is the son of Jeff and Jeanine Bass of Costa Mesa. Raelyn Drury of Newport Beach is one of 78 Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation recipients from California for the 2005-06 academic year.

Deep in the heart of the military base dotted with artillery ranges and helicopter landing pads, an unlikely scene unfolded Saturday. Young parents lounged and looked on as men in camouflage served cotton candy and cups of flavored ice to their children. A magician performed on a nearby stage. Somebody carried off a bicycle won in a raffle. It was a festive scene made possible by a group of former Marines from Newport Beach. In fact, the city in December 2003 "adopted" the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, and a committee of local military veterans -- including City Manager Homer Bludau, former Mayor Steve Bromberg and Arches restaurateur Dan Marcheano -- has held several events and raised thousands of dollars to help the Marines and their families.

Marines land successfully Imagine 1,200 Marine Corps men and women dressed in their formal dress blue uniforms attending a traditional Marine Corps event called a "Dining In." About 50 members of the community and I were on hand April 22 to welcome the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines from Camp Pendleton at a special reception and dinner in their honor. The "Thundering Third," as the 3/1 is commonly called, were adopted by the Huntington Beach City Council by a resolution and chose the city of Huntington Beach to host their annual festivities at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Resort.