Send-off ceremony

HERMON – A send-off ceremony for the Maine National Guard Detachment 1, 169th Military Police Company, was held July 5 at the Morgan Hill Event Center.

Approximately 37 soldiers of the 169th Military Police Company left for Fort Dix, N.J., on July 6 to begin a 12-month tour of duty in Iraq.

The evening included a social hour, a dinner buffet and remarks given by Maj. Gen. John W. “Bill” Libby and State Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory R. Small.

The unit was alerted for the upcoming deployment in May and completed its final in-state, pre-deployment training on June 30.

While at Fort Dix, the unit will conduct final training, administration and equipment preparations before deploying overseas.

Basic training

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. – Pfc. Christopher S. Wilcox Jr. of Glenburn graduated from United States Marine Corps basic training on June 15 at Parris Island, with 14 members of his family from Maine in attendance.

A 2006 graduate of Bangor High School, he is the son of Christopher S. Wilcox Sr. of Glenburn and Vicki Wilcox of Milo.

Wilcox is receiving advanced training at the School of Infantry – East, Infantry Training Battalion, at Camp Geiger, N.C.