Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Johry A. Duresky, son of Janine K. Drummond of Bradford, Ill. and Scott Duresky of Springfield, recently departed on a routine, scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean Sea while assigned to the Spruance-class destroyer USS Thorn, homeported in Norfolk, Va. Duresky is a 2000 graduate of Bradford High School of Bradford, Ill.
Army Reserve Pfc. Michael W. Bothner has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Bothner is the son of Michael Bothner of Getty Court in Springfield. Bothner graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 2003.
Army Pfc. Wei-Chih Tong has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Knox, Ky. He is the son of Chien-Yuan Tong and Hsiu-Chin Li of Cottontail Court in Springfield. Tong is a 2003 graduate of West Springfield High School.
Navy Ensign James Kotora IV, son of Kathy and Jim Kotora of Fairfax, has completed Naval Aviator training and was awarded his wings in a ceremony on Dec. 18 at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Fla. He completed training in Helicopter Training Squadron 18 of Training Air Wing 5 in the TH-57 Sea Ranger. Kotora is a 1998 graduate of James Robinson Secondary School and a 2002 graduate of Virginia Tech. Kotora was commissioned through Navy ROTC in May 2002. Following transition training to MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters, Kotora will be assigned to Agana, Guam.
Marine Corps Pvt. Brian M. Uribe, son of Maria Delgadillo of Springfield, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. Uribe is a 2003 graduate of Robert E Lee High School.
Navy Lt. Gregory R. Adams, son of Jane W. and William F. Adams of Springfield, recently reported for duty with Naval Logistics Group Western Pacific, Singapore. Adams is a 1995 graduate of Lee High School and joined the Navy in June 1999. He is a 1999 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. with a bachelor of science degree.