Pvt. Christopher Halla, 18, of Morgan Hill, graduated from
United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
San Diego, Oct. 30, 2009 with close family and friends in
attendance.
HONORS
Christopher Halla
Pvt. Christopher Halla, 18, of Morgan Hill, graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Oct. 30, 2009 with close family and friends in attendance.
Halla completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training from MCRD San Diego with 425 other recruits in the 3rd Battalion, Mike Company. While in basic training, Halla earned the designation of “expert” on the firing range. Following 10 days home on leave, he reports to Camp Pendleton for one month at Military Combat Training, then Military Occupation Specialty school where he will be training in the field of avionics.
Alexandra Cervantes
Air Force Airman Alexandra C. Cervantes graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
She completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Those who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
She is the daughter of Yolanda Valencia of Morgan Hill and a 2008 graduate of San Benito High School.
Chris Koch
Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris A. Koch has deployed overseas in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the people of Iraq.
Koch, a loadmaster with 10 years of military service, is normally assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
He is the husband of Tanya Koch and son of Sharon Saldivia of Morgan Hill and Jerry L. Koch of Aptos. He is a 1986 graduate of Lincoln High School.
Molly Howe
Sgt. Molly Howe has returned from her second deployment to Iraq. Howe is a career retention specialist for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268. In addition, she also worked with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169.
During this deployment, she was a coordinator for United Through Reading, in which Marines from her squadrons were recorded reading books to their children back home. She also continued her college studies, achieving the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Park University.
After a brief visit to Gilroy, Howe has returned to her duty station at Camp Pendleton.
She is the daughter of Jack and Ann Howe of Gilroy.
