Toys to go to Operation Homefront program

Operation Homefront and Dollar Tree Inc. are collecting gifts from Dollar Tree customers for military children across the country. These items will be added to other toys and gifts donated to Operation Homefront from other sources, according to a news release.

Last year, Dollar Tree customers donated an estimated $4.5 million in toys; this year's goal is $5 million. In addition, staff at Dollar Tree's corporate headquarters in Chesapeake are adopting families for the holiday season.

Gifts may be donated now at Dollar Tree stores.

Information: (757) 848-7766.

Army command change at Fort Story

Fort Story will welcome a new garrison commander in a ceremony at 11 a.m. today.

Lt. Col. Jayne Jansen will relieve Lt. Col. Sean Herron and become the first female garrison commander of Fort Story since its inception in 1918, according to a news release.

Herron took command of Fort Story in July but has been called back to Fort Eustis to become the director of the office of the chief of transportation.

Jansen comes to Fort Story from the Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Ill., where she was the chief of the plans and exercises division.

Medical center flu shots to be given Saturday

Portsmouth Naval Medical Center is offering flu shots and the nasal spray flu vaccine to Tricare-eligible beneficiaries from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Immunization Clinic on the second floor of the hospital.

Information: (757) 953-3045 or www-nmcp.med.navy.mil.

Navy assignments announced

The Navy has announced the following assignments:

Rear Adm. John W. Goodwin as assistant chief of naval operations for next generation enterprise network system program, Washington, D.C. Goodwin is currently commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk.

Rear Adm. Richard O'Hanlon as commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk. O'Hanlon is currently deputy chief of staff, operational readiness and training, N4/N7, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Mark I. Fox, who has been selected for the rank of rear admiral, as commander, Naval Strike and Warfare Center, Fallon, Nev. Fox is currently commander, Carrier Strike Group 10, Norfolk.

Rear Adm. (lower half) David A. Dunaway as commander, operational test and evaluation force, Norfolk. Dunaway is currently commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, weapon division, China Lake, Calif.

The Army announced that Maj. Gen. Abraham J. Turner, deputy chief of staff of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, has been reassigned as chief of staff, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Coast Guard reading effort under way

First Book - Hampton Roads and the Coast Guard are working together to collect, donate and read books to preschool and elementary students.

More than 50 Coast Guard members volunteered for kickoff events earlier this week in Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk, where 500 books were donated. The Coast Guard also has dedicated warehouse space and volunteers for future book donations and distributions.

Information: www.firstbook-hamptonroads.com or (757) 826-7278.

WWII, Korean War new book tells veterans' stories

Local students and the staff of Mercy Medical Airlift have collaborated to produce a book, "Sacred Glances," a collection of stories told by Hampton Roads veterans of World War II and the Korean War.

Teenagers from Norfolk Academy interviewed the veterans earlier this year. The book costs $20. Information: (757) 271-2299 or suzanne@mercymedicalairlift.org.

Military briefs run every Friday.

E-mail us at military@pilotonline.com to submit items