Bataan crew member named specialist of year

Petty Officer 3rd Class Zachary W. Reeves of the amphibious assault ship Bataan was named the Air Traffic Control Association's Airway Transportation System's Specialist of the Year. He was honored in Washington on Nov. 5, according to a news release.

Reeves, a native of Scottsboro, Ala., is Bataan's only technician qualified on three air traffic control radars, which assist the crew and aircraft in marshalling aircraft and making precision approaches.

Coast Guard cutter returns

The Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane, led by Cmdr. J.W. McKinley, returned to Portsmouth on Tuesday from a 31-day patrol in the Bahamas. During the patrol, the crew intercepted two vessels with migrants and four smuggling suspects, according to the Coast Guard. The crew also volunteered at an orphanage.

Donations sought for wreath laying

Donations are being accepted for a wreath-laying ceremony at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.

Veterans cemeteries across the nation will conduct identical ceremonies, dubbed Wreaths Across America. Several veterans groups will gather at noon Dec. 13 for the event, which is open to the public.

An account, The Wreath Society, has been established at SunTrust Bank, 123 Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434. Information: (757) 539-6311.

2nd fleet deputy commander promoted

Capt. Bob Wright, deputy commander of the Navy's 2nd Fleet, was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) in a ceremony last month in Washington.

Wright spent four tours flying Navy fighter aircraft, according to a news release. He left active service in March 1990 to pursue the Navy Space Program, ultimately serving as director of the space and network warfare program with oversight of 28 commands. In May, he reported to the 2nd Fleet as the deputy to Vice Adm. Mel Williams Jr.

New VAW 120 leader

Cmdr. Donald A. Basden assumed command of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 120, the Greyhawks, at Norfolk Naval Station on Wednesday.

He relieved Capt. Jeffrey L. Trent, whose next assignment is deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 1 at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach.

Basden comes from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

EVENTS

Pearl Harbor remembrance Sponsored by Hampton Roads Commandery, Naval Order of the United States. 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 7, Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, 7001 Hampton Blvd. $40. (757) 496-2473.

Iwo Jima remembrance World War II veteran Bill Hudson speaks to the Central Business District Association. 7:45 a.m. Dec. 10, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4453 Bonney Road, Virginia Beach. $12.50. Reservations required: (757) 490-7812 or cbda@cbda.net.Flu clinic Portsmouth Naval Medical Center and its clinics have added afternoon and Saturday hours for flu shots. Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Oceana and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Portsmouth. (757) 953-3045 or www-nmcp.med.navy.mil.

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