honoring viola - the red 7 · interest rate reduction refinanceloan (va irrrl). this va streamline...

F r i d a y , N o v e m b e r 2 9 , 2 0 1 3 T H E R E D 7 . N E T

Page 3

Army Rangers show off their pets

to students at Meigs

INSIDe

Briefs ...............4

Philpott ...........6

Medal of Honor recipient drops in on Bob Gates

Page 5

We will work hard to make you happy!

CALL (850) 682-2708 CLICK leebuickgmc.com VISIT 4300 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview, FL6517870

(Active or Retired)On All New & Used Vehicles

(Active or Retired)On All Parts & ServiceOn All Makes & Models

10%

Honoring Viola | 2

| THE RED 7 | Friday, November 29, 2013

Year No. 3 edition No. 46

The Red 7 is published by the Northwest Florida Daily News, a pri-vate firm in no way connected with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) or the U.S. Army.

This publication’s content is not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. govern-ment, the Department of Defense, the Depart-ment of the Army or 7th Special Forc-es Group (Airborne). The official news source for 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is http://www.soc.mil/.

The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. govern-ment, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) or the Northwest Florida Daily News for products or services advertised. Ev-erything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national ori-gin, age, marital status, physical handi-cap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the North-west Florida Daily News.

Mail2 Eglin Parkway NE,

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

News(850) 315-4450

Fax: (850) 863-7834e-mail:

[email protected]

advertising863-1111 Ext. 1322

CoNTACTUsTracey Steele

Editor315-4472

[email protected]

Susan FabozziNews Assistant

[email protected]

By LAUREN SAGE REINLIE

Northwest Florida Daily News

DESTIN — Last Sunday, Iron-clad Crossfit gym had one of its busiest days yet. A challenge of three tough workouts in a row had drawn a crowd.

Shortly after everyone finished, the participants were hanging around, chatting and joking, bask-ing in the day’s success.

Then a call came in. Something had happened in

Afghanistan.Quickly everyone was cleared

out except for two people: the girlfriend and the roommate of Army Staff Sgt. Alex Viola, a coach at the gym.

The boisterous celebration was over. All was quiet, the news couldn’t be good.

A chaplain arrived to break the silence.

Viola had been killed on Nov. 17 in an improvised bomb explosion at the age of 29.

“It was devastating,” said Brett Simmon, 31, Viola’s roommate, a coach at the gym and a fellow soldier with the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base.

The sarcastic friend, encourag-ing coach and devoted soldier who had done everything he could to get to the Middle East, where he wanted to make a difference, was not coming home.

He had left for the first deploy-ment of his career just last month.

One week after his death was announced, an even larger crowd again packed the gym, this time for a memorial workout in Viola’s name. The workout was held at the same time his teammates in Af-

ghanistan and hundreds of people at more than 20 other gyms na-tionwide — from his home state of Texas to New Jersey — completed the same routine.

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. in Des-tin, Simmon addressed the crowd, trying not to cry. Viola’s girlfriend, Hope Traylor, stood next to him.

The about 100 people gathered in silence for a few moments.

Then the clock went off and those closest to Viola began, some with their faces crumpled in sad-ness. Several rubbed at tears in their eyes as they struggled to hoist their bodies into the air and onto a line of boxes on the gym floor.

They wouldn’t quit, though. That’s not what Viola would have wanted.

In life, both at work and per-sonally, he had a commitment to whatever he set his mind to, his

friends said. “He had no off button, he would just go and go and go until it was done,” said Simmon, who is 31.

The two met during Special Forces qualification in 2010. Viola had given up a commission in the Navy to enlist with the Army and try to become a Green Beret, Sim-mon said.

“He wanted to be an operator, a team guy on the ground,” Simmon said. “That’s what he worked for. All he wanted to do was deploy and get to Afghanistan.”

Simmon credits Viola with get-ting him through the tough qualifi-cation course.

Once, Simmon said, he had wanted to give up — it had been raining for days and they were facing a tough objective — but Viola wouldn’t let him.He had a way of using creative, if sometimes explicit, language to encourage

people. He goaded Simmon a little, told him he was being weak, that they were almost there, and they pushed through.

Shortly after that moment the skies cleared and the rain let up.

“If it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t have made it,” Simmon said.

“He got me through a lot.”Viola’s friends said he was

funny, too, constantly ready with a sarcastic quip.

Charis Maines, 36, said every-one pronounced her name wrong at first, but Viola just ran with it. At the gym, he would without fail write the incorrect identifier — Sharese — on the board and feign ignorance.

On his own bio on the gym’s website he wrote, “Crossfit came easy to him, mostly due to his

Friends, colleagues hold workouts in memory of SSgt. Viola

LAUREN SAGE REINLIE | Daily News

About 100 people participated in a memorial workout Nov. 24 for Army Staff Sgt. Alex Viola at Ironclad Crossfit in Destin. Viola, a coach at the gym and a 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) soldier, was killed on Nov. 17 in an explosion in Afghanistan.

See vIola Page 7

STaFF SgT. aleX vIola

2095

5333

553

902

Holiday Inn ExpressNiceville - Eglin AFBFREE Breakfast

FREE Fiber Optic Internet

850-678-9131Military Rate Offered

Friday, November 29, 2013 | THE RED 7 |

2096

211

Car, Truck & SUV Accessories

Since 1988

www.AccentTops.comAccent Tops & Trailers657 BEAL PARKWAY850-862-2400

Hard & Soft Bed CoversBed Liners & MatsToolboxes-HitchesToppers & LidsWindow VisorsStep Bars-Running Boards-Seat Covers

2094

986

By KATIE TAMMEN


SHALIMAR — Hands-on education was taken to a new level Friday at Meigs Middle School.

Rather than a typical P.E. or science class, students were ushered into the gym to be greeted by three sol-diers with the Army’s 6th Ranger Training Battalion and boxes of snakes.

The excitement was pal-pable as the students waited for Sgt. 1st Class Mario Vega and Staff Sgt. Josh Sullivan to remove the first one, a black racer.

“These snakes can move about 35 mph. That’s the fastest snake in North American,” Sgt. 1st Class Brendan Kitchens said as the other two men started walking through the bleach-ers with small, non-venom-ous snakes.

The Ranger team volun-teered to visit the school at the request of the Excep-tional Student Education department, which wanted to bring its water animals lesson to life but couldn’t af-ford a field trip.

“I thought the best way for my students to learn af-ter the lesson is to let them see them and get up close with them,” teacher Debo-rah Bailey said.

Kitchens, who oversees the Ranger reptile team at Camp Rudder, explained to students how to recognize

non-venomous and venom-ous snakes.

By that time, the team had gotten to a venomous coral snake. The near-constant laughter with the non-venomous snakes was replaced by looks of mild concern.

Several students jumped as the Rangers tossed one of the venomous snakes into the audience.

Seventh-grader Brennon Nelson jumped but caught the snake as it came at him.

A beat later, a smile spread across his face when he re-alized it wasn’t real.

Beside him, 12-year-old Brayan Ruiz remained calm.

“I didn’t think they would just grab in there and throw (a real one),” the sixth-grader said later.

By the time the demon-stration was over, students either were thrilled or fasci-nated with touching so many snakes, but a little shook up.

“I’m kind of scared of them,” eighth-grader Peyton Conner said. “I like seeing them. I just don’t want to touch them.”

Army Rangers show off their pets to Meigs students

MARK KULAw | Daily News

Above, Meigs Middle School students toy with a rubber coral snake Army Rangers tossed to them Nov. 22 during a demonstration in the school’s gym. At right, Sgt. 1st Class Mario Vega lets Meigs Middle School students get a close-up view of two snakes Nov. 22 during a presentation in the school’s gym.

3033

920

Under New Ownership

New Location

10% Military Discount4311 Legendary Drive

Visit Us Today!pihsernw Owe NerdnU

!yados Tt UisiV

Destin Commons, Destin, FL | 850.460.2336


SPECIAL CLOSING COST DISCOUNT FOR VETERANS WHOWANT TO PURCHASE OR REFINANCE WITH A VA LOAN

CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN PURCHASE ORREFINANCE A HOME WITH A VA LOAN AND RECEIVE SPECIAL SAVINGS!

To honor those who currently serve or have served our homeland, PrimeLending is offering the following savingsto veterans who want to purchase or refinance a home with a VA loan:

• Closing cost discount of $270*• Can be applied to both purchase and refinance VA loans

If a veteran’s home is currently financed by a VA home loan, they can refinance with a Veterans AdministrationInterest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (VA IRRRL). This VA Streamline refinance loan offers numerous benefits,including:

• No appraisal required• Income and/or asset verification not required• No out-of-pocket expenses• Reduce your monthly mortgage payment• You may receive a refund on your existing account

*$270 savings only applies to direct originations made by PrimeLending for first mortgage refinancing transactions, and is not available on loans obtained through mortgage brokers. Only one offer per loan transaction isavailable, and savings cannot be combined with any other offer. Savings will reflect on HUD-1 at closing. Borrower must apply for loan between Nov. 11, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013.

Brian RobinsonLoan Officer

[email protected]

36164 Emerald Coast PkwyDestin, FL 32541

NMLS: 327715

3033

917

To honor those who currently serve or have served our homeland, PrimeLending is offering the followingsavings to veterans who want to purchase or refinance a home with a VA loan:

*$270 savings only applies to direct organizations made by PrimeLending for first mortgage refinancing transactions, and is not available on loans obtained through mortgagebrokers. Only one offer per loan transaction is available, and savings cannot be combined with any other offer. Savings will reflect on HUD-1 at closing. Borrower must applyfor loan between Nov. 11, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013.

If a veteran's home is currently financed by a VA home loan, they can refinance with a VeteransAdministration Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (VA IRRRL). This VA Streamline refinance loan offersnumerous benefits, including:

• Closing cost discount of $270*• Can be applied to both purchase and refinance VA loans

• No appraisal required• Income and/or asset verification not required• No out-of-pocket expenses• Reduce your monthly mortgage payment• You may receive a refund on your existing account 20

94487

From staff reports

ID card office closure

The DEERS/ID card of-fice will be closed on Dec. 17 for a squadron function. The Hurlburt ID card office will be open for business that day.

For any questions, call TSgt Moore at 882-6120.

give a Child a Christmas

Every year the Eglin Company Grade Officer Council reaches out to the Eglin community to help spread a bit of Christmas cheer to the under-privi-leged children of our sur-rounding area and we need your help. We have placed Christmas trees at the Base Exchange, Eglin Hospital, Building 350 and Building 104. Visit one of those loca-

tions, select an ornament and purchase the gift the child has requested. Once the gift is purchased, place it back under a tree by Dec. 6. We will then host chil-dren, ages 4-11, on Dec. 14 for the 33rd Annual Give a Child a Christmas where the kids will be led around by volunteers to purchase essential items from the Base Exchange as well as participate in several other activities. They will then get to meet Santa Claus and receive the gift you helped provide. We need both gifts and volunteers for the event. For informa-tion, contact [email protected].

Terrorism CourseAttention military and

U.S. Government civil-ians. The next Dynamics of International Terrorism (DIT) course will be Dec. 9-13 at the USAF Special Operations School, 357

Tully St., Bldg 90503, Hurl-burt Field. DIT is a basic course designed to provide students with an awareness and appreciation of the or-ganization, motivation, op-erational capabilities, and threat posed by terrorists on an international, nation-al, and regional basis.

Seating is limited so sign-up now through your unit training manager. For information, visit the DIT website www.afsoc.af.mil/usafsos/dit.asp.

angel TreesChapel sponsored Angel

Trees are at the West Gate Chapel, Chapel Center, 53rd, and the Eglin Credit Union for all who would like to participate. Select an an-gel and/or a dove and follow directions. Gifts will go to families of our base com-munity and are to be placed under the trees by Dec. 1. If you have any questions, call Susan Huberty at 882-7320.

Coats for KidsIn conjunction with the

United Way, the Eglin Cha-pel is collecting coats again this year for needy children in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Please bring new or slightly worn coats for all sizes and deposit them in the boxes provided at each chapel location. Coats will be collected through Dec. 15. Thank you for your gen-erosity. For questions, call Sherry Flater at 882-7303.

Hurlburt Field Technology expo The Hurlburt Field Tech-

nology Expo will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at The Commando Hangar. All military, civilian, and con-tractor personnel are invited to attend for free. Join us and discover solutions for every mission. More than 20 ex-hibitors will demonstrate the latest in portable machines,

video networks, protection solutions, tablets, high reso-lution cameras, cloud soft-ware, command consoles, data storage, mobility solu-tions and many more.

For information contact Jennifer Mason at 443-561-2392 or [email protected].

To pre-register, visit www.FederalEvents.com, click on the “Hurlburt Field” link and select the Pre-Register button.

Tree lighting Ceremony

The Tree Lighting Cer-emony will be at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Hurlburt Field Air Park. Before the Christ-mas tree is illuminated, any child with a deployed parent is invited to place a yellow bow on the tree.

Complimentary pictures with Santa and a reception with refreshments immedi-ately follows the event at the Youth Center.

Meet Commando Santa

Visit with Santa and cre-ate a Make it and Take it Photo Ornament from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Hurlburt Field Library. 884-6266

Shelter blanket driveIt is that time of year

again. Our shelter animals are in need of blankets to keep them warm and comfy through the winter season. Drop off your blanket dona-tions at Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, 752 Lovejoy Road, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 32548. Thank you in ad-vance for your thoughtful contribution.

To submit an item for the briefs, e-mail to [email protected]. Deadline for Friday’s edition is noon Monday.

RED 7 BRiEfs


CCCCCC

te

llegia

o

te

llegia

o

te

llegia

o

te

llegia

o

te

llegia

o

te

llegia

o HIGH SCHOOL

HIGH SCHOOL

Aproven choice for academ

ic

excellence &acceleration within a

unique high school experience.

atNorth

west

Florida

StateCollegeThe Collegiate High

School InformationSessions are held forparents and students inpreparation for the upcomingFall 2014 admissions process.Interested parents and students willhear from current staff, parents andstudents and will have a chance to askquestions, and pick up an application.

INFORMATION SESSIONS• Niceville Campus – Student Services Center, Room 132/133

Tuesday, December 3 & Thursday, December 12 • 5:30 p.m.

• Crestview Public Library – Monday, December 9 • 5:30 p.m.

www.nwfcollegiatehigh.org • (850) 729-4949

2094

236

Magnolia Grillmagnoliagrillfwb.com

Tom & Peggy Rice • Proprietors850-302-0266

157 Brooks St. SE, Fort Walton Beach, FLSteaks - Seafood - Italian

2095831

3033717

Now Enrollingfor Fall ClassesMassage Therapy & Skin Care

Accepting Post 911,Montgomery GI Bill & MyCAA

Soothing Arts HealingTherapies School of Massage

& Skincare

Visit SoothingArts.com formore information.

2095512

2077822

GunShow

February23rd & 24th

Ft. Walton BeachFairgrounds

FREEPARKING

ConcealedWeapons ClassSat/Sun 11am or 2pm Floridagunshows.com Sat 9-5 Sun 10-4

December7th & 8th

Ft. Walton BeachFairgrounds

By TOM McLAUGHLIN


FORT wALTON BEACH — One hero visited anoth-er Friday afternoon, Nov. 22, when Medal of Honor recipient Bob Patterson dropped in on 94-year-old retired Col. Robert Gates.

Patterson, a Vietnam veteran who lives in Pace, arrived at Fort Walton Rehabilitation Center at the invitation of his daughter Cheryl Stauffer, who works there. He pre-sented Gates a Medal of Honor coin and a copy of the book “Ordinary He-roes,” which includes a photo of Gates.

“I’m just coming out to see a gentleman who used to escort Bob Hope,” Patterson said.

Gates is a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. But he gained the most fame for flying comedian Bob Hope on his many goodwill trips to combat zones.

He recalled for visi-tors his first flight with Hope in September 1942 and remembered the last time he’d seen the man he described as “my best friend.”

“I was holding his hand when he died,” Gates said.

Gates, a former com-mander of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurl-burt Field, was instru-mental with Hope in getting Bob Hope Vil-lage built in Okaloosa County.

Accompanied by his wife Linda, Patterson ex-

changed small talk with Gates in a room full of cards that had arrived on Veterans Day.

Patterson was an Army a private in Vietnam on a day in 1968 when his reconnaissance unit ran up against a force that in-cluded Vietnamese Army regulars.

“They tell me I

grabbed M-16s and gre-nades and took out a ma-chine gun bunker and an RPG bunker,” he said.

Patterson was respon-sible for killing seven ene-

my soldiers and capturing eight more.

“I don’t remember anything from noon that day until about 5 p.m.,” he said.

Medal of Honor recipient Bob Patterson drops in on Bob Gates

NICK TOMECEK | Daily News

Above, Medal of Honor recipient Robert Patterson signed a copy of “Ordinary Heroes” for Col. Bob Gates. At left, Medal of Honor recipient Bob Patterson visits Bob Gates in his room at the Fort Walton Rehabilitation Center on Nov. 22. Cunningham gave Gates a copy of the book “Ordinary Heroes” and a Medal of Honor coin.


2095881

604 N. Beal Pkwy Ft. Walton Beach, FL(Corner of Beal and Mary Esther Cutoff)

(850) 863-2072See our website for inventory and

specials!

Nobody Sells for Nobody Sells for Nobody Sells for Less, Less, Less, NOBODY!NOBODY!NOBODY!

EST. 1989Serving the community

for over 25 yrsSkip Walton

2005HONDACIVIC LX

PWR. WINDOWS /LOCKS, AUTO. 90K

MILES

2003CHEVYMALIBU LS

1 OWNER, ONLY 85KMILES, AUTO, POWER

WINDOWS, LOCKS

$5,995

2008 TOYOTAYARIS

AUTO, PWR. W/ LOCKS

$8,995

2006 TOYOTACOROLLA “S”

AUTO., GROUND EFFECTS,ALLOY WHEELS

$6,995$6,9952003ACURA TL

AUTO, LEATHER,SUNROOF

,STCEFF EDNUOR G,.OTUA

1997NISSANSENTRAGXE

AUTO, RUNS GREAT

$2,995

$7,995

www.fwbab.com

2008 SATURNOUTLOOK

LEATHER, HEATED SEATS

$13,995

TON BEACHAL. WFT TON BEACHAL. WFT TON BEACHAL. WFTAUTO BROKERSAUTO BROKERSAUTO BROKERSLarry Lewis

Beal Pkwy

MaryEsther

Cutoff

2001BMW330i5 SPEED MANUAL,

LEATHER

$5,995

$7,995

2002 TOYOTAMR2SPYDERCONVERTIBLE

4 CYL., 5 SPEED

$6,995

2005 ACURAMDX

LEATHER, SUNROOF,PWR. W/ LOCKS

Tasked by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to find ways to preserve force readiness amid sharply falling budgets, his comptroller and the Joint Staff have asked the De-fense Commissary Agency (DeCA) for a plan to close all stateside base grocery stores, say military resale community sources.

Time will tell if this is just the loudest warning shot yet fired by a depart-ment desperate for budget relief, or if stateside com-missaries, still enormously popular with military families and retirees, are viewed by military leaders as a costly relic burden-ing a financially stressed force.

Under Secretary of Defense Robert Hale, the department’s top financial

adviser, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Mark F. Ramsay, director of force structure, resources and assess-ment for the Joint

Staff, reportedly requested the plan in a meeting with military personnel policy and commissary officials.

It was to be briefed soon to Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Adm. James Win-nefeld, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Another high hurdle if the plan is to be included in the Obama administra-tion’s fiscal 2015 defense budget request would be

sign-off by the Office of Management and Budget and the White House. The military resale industry already has reminded Hagel in a letter that, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Aug. 7, President Obama told Marines that closing commissaries is “not how a great nation should be treating its military and military families.”

Also, First Lady Mi-chelle Obama and Jill Biden, the vice president’s wife, have for several years led a nationwide initiative in support of military families, called Joining Forces. It is hard to imagine them staying silent as action is taken to end prized discounted gro-cery shopping on base.

Commissaries rely on taxpayer subsidies of $1.4

billion a year to operate 247 stores worldwide. They now face their grav-est threat in decades because of the budget sequestration tool formula in the 2011 Budget Control Act, and Congress’ failure to replace it with a bal-anced debt-reduction deal.

Military leaders have testified often this year that they can’t roll back weapon programs or shrink the force fast enough to absorb in a balanced way $50 billion a year in cuts demanded from sequestration. So op-erations, maintenance and modernization dollars are decimated to achieve near-term savings. Training and readiness are plum-meting, say the service chiefs.

In that environment,

commissaries have be-come “ground zero” for deeper cuts, an industry official said. Those dollars are coveted to support other needs such as fly-ing hours, ship streaming days and troop unit rota-tions to combat training centers. Closing almost 180 stateside stores could free up $800 million to $900 million annually, by some estimates.

Asked to confirm if Hale requested a plan to close stateside commis-saries, Navy Cmdr. Bill Ur-ban, a DOD press officer, said Hagel “has made it clear on numerous occa-sions that all cost-cutting efforts need to be on the table for (DOD) to meet the spending caps associ-ated with the 2011 Budget Control Act. At this time,

no final decisions have been made on the … fiscal 2015 budget submission. Therefore, it would be in-appropriate to discuss any specific budget decisions.”

At a hearing Nov. 20 of the House armed services subcommittee on military personnel, its chairman, Rep. Joe Wilson R-S.C., asked DeCA Director Joseph H. Jeu about a directive the agency got from defense leaders last February ordering an independent study to cut commissary costs up to 28 percent. Wilson, who promises to defend the benefit, asked when Con-gress could see the study.

“Due to sequestration,” Jeu said, “the department is reviewing all of its pro-

Pentagon requests plan to close stateside commissaries

Tom Philpott

See PeNTagoN Page 7


PeNTagoN FroM Page 6grams and nothing, includ-ing commissaries, is off the table.”

Jeu declined to discuss the directive or study fur-ther. But another witness did — Thomas T. Gordy, president of the Armed Forces Marketing Council, which represents brokers doing business with mili-tary stores.

Gordy testified his group was encouraged over the summer to hear that the department was considering cuts for DeCA lower than 28 percent.

“However,” he said, “in recent weeks we un-derstand the Joint Staff has asked DeCA to look at cutting its budget 33 to 66 percent.”

Gordy revealed three ideas DeCA weighed in recent months that would lower patron savings but preserve stateside stores. One would double the patron surcharge, from 5 percent to 10 percent of the cost of goods sold. A second would increase commissary prices world-wide by 2 to 3 percent, enough to cover agency costs for shipping goods to overseas stores.

A third is an “enhanced commissary” model that

would allow stores to sell wine, beer and health and beauty products at a profit to offset the cost of store operations. Critics worry that could endanger base exchanges or department stores, which operate for profit. Some exchange profits fund morale, wel-fare and recreational fa-cilities on bases.

With support from the industry, commissaries have been shaped into a model of efficiency for the entire department, argued Patrick Nixon, president of the American Logistics Association, which repre-sents manufacturers and vendors of products sold in base stores.

Although commissaries have shared in the pain of sequestration, includ-ing furloughs and hiring freezes, Nixon said, “that may not be enough to feed the budget beast. Some defense planners want far more. They seek to reduce the commissary budget far beyond that being asked for any other defense program.”

Commissaries save patrons more than 30 percent off supermarkets prices, Jeu testified, with average annual savings for

a family of four of almost $4,500.

Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., asked Jeu to react to the cost-saving ideas Gordy described and criticized. Each would lower patron savings, Jeu said.

But Heck noted that doubling the surcharge, for example, would lower savings for a family of four by only $225 a year to $4,225, to help preserve the benefit. Given fiscal challenges, hard decisions are needed, Heck said.

“We have got to look at the cost-benefit of each one of these, and I would encourage you to take that kind of perspective,” he told Jeu.

To comment, write Military Up-date, P.O. Box 231111, Centrev-ille, VA, or email [email protected] or twitter: Tom Philpott @Military_Update

SERVING THEEmerald CoastAS YOUR

1News& information

SOURCE.

#

www.thedestinlog.com

www.srpressgazette.com

2094214

strong genetics and rugged good looks ... Legend has he was once spotted one-arm power-snatching a car off of a pregnant woman, using the other hand to actually deliver the baby.”

Viola came from a large family, which he loved, rooted in his hometown of Keller, Texas, said Army Staff Sgt. Bret Gratson, 31, who lives in Salt Lake City but traveled to Destin as soon as he heard the news of Viola’s death.

He was especially proud of his sister’s son, regularly donning a shirt that read “Most Awesome Uncle,” Gratson said.

When Viola’s body was returned to Do-ver last week, dozens of family members arrived for the ceremony.

The Air Force personnel there told Simmon they had never seen such a large turnout.

Simmon was similarly impressed with

the turnout for the workout Sunday, both at home and across the country.

“He just touched everybody’s heart in some way or another,” said Capt. For-rest Davis, 30, a 7th Special Forces soldier who had been close with Viola since they attended dive school together. “There’s al-ways somebody who knows somebody who knows Alex.”

Toward the end of one heat, a woman was struggling to hoist a barbell.

More than a dozen people started gath-ering around her, cheering and shouting and encouraging her to keep going.

“Everybody’s going to go up there and make sure she finishes,” Maines said. “That’s what Alex would have done. He never left anybody behind.

“If my sons turn out half that good and that willing to fight for our country, I’ll know I’ll have done a good job.”

vIola FroM Page 2


BELOW

BLACKFRIDAYBLACKFRIDAYBLACKFRIDAYPricing!Pricing!

212 Hollywood Blvd SWFort Walton Beach, FL 32548850-664-7000

www.PrestonHood.com*Sale price plus tax, title, license and dealer fee. Silverado sale price includes all factory incentives, owner loyalty and rebates, must currently own and trade a ‘99 or newer GM truck, sport utility or van. Subject to prior sale.**Lease payment based on 36 month lease, 12,000 miles per year, total due at signing includes firstmonths payment and $0 security deposit, with approved credit through Ally Bank, plus tax, license and dealer fee. ^ Financing on select vehicles for limited terms with approved credit. Excludes leases. Not compatible with some offers. See dealer for complete details. Offer expires 12/2/13. ^^ For loyalty, must be a currentowner/lessee of a 1999 model year or newer GM truck, sport utility or van. For trade assistance, must trade in a 1999 model year or newer GM vehicle. Not available with leases and some other offers. Some customers may not qualify. Tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment extra. Expires 12/2/13. +Not available

with finance or lease offers. Residency restrictions apply. #13-151439

FINANCE A NEW CHEVROLETAS LOWAS 6.9% APR^

BAD CREDIT?SLOW CREDIT?

2000 Chevrolet Impala..................................14177a.......................... $5,9952007 KIa Sedona lX...........................................13707B...........................$7,9952006 SuBaru Impreza .................................. p13132a.......................... $8,9952004 Chevrolet SuBurBan ....................... p13132a.......................... $8,9952008 GmC Canyon............................................ 14108B..........................$9,9952008 nISSan verSa .........................................t13741a..........................$9,9952006 toyota 4runner ................................. t13737a........................ $10,9952004 dodGe ram 1500................................... t14210a........................ $10,9952009 Chevrolet hhr...................................... p13189......................... $11,9952008 Chevrolet malIBu.............................. p13145a......................... $11,9952010 Chevrolet malIBu ..............................t13733a.........................$12,9952009 pontIaC G6 ............................................p13156a........................ $13,9952011 toyota Corolla le ...............................p13202........................ $13,9952010 hyundaI elantra ....................................p13153........................ $13,9952008 Ford muStanG ....................................... p13169........................ $13,9952013 Chevrolet SparK ...................................p13176.........................$14,9952012 Ford FoCuS Se........................................13598a.........................$14,9952012 nISSan Sentra .........................................p13149.........................$14,9952008 honda Cr-v lX 2Wd ............................... p13199.........................$14,9952013 Chevrolet SonIC.................................... p13177........................ $15,9952012 Chevrolet malIBu lt ...........................14293a........................ $15,9952011 Chevrolet Cruze...................................13643a........................ $15,9952011 Chevrolet malIBu .................................13700C........................ $15,9952013 KIa Forte....................................................13617a........................ $15,9952012 dodGe avenGer...................................... p13193........................ $15,9952012 mazda mazda3.......................................... p13147........................ $15,9952004 toyota taComa eX-CaB .......................13689a........................ $15,9952012 Chevrolet Cruze lt........................... p13155a........................ $16,9952011 KIa Sorento ............................................. p13188........................ $16,9952011 SuBaru Impreza .....................................p13174B........................ $16,9952009 nISSan Xterra........................................ p13159........................ $16,9952007 BmW 335I Sedan.................................... p13135a........................ $16,995

PRESTON HOOD CHEVROLET

ALL-NEW 2014 CHEVYSILVERADO DOUBLE CAB

NEW 2014 CHEVY EQUINOX

STARTINGAT

BAD CREDIT?

NEW 2014 CHEVY TRAVERSELIVE MARKET PRICE$28,974*

0%FOR 60MONTH

FINANCINgAVAILABLE^

$15,987*LIVE MARKET PRICE

ALL-NEW 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE

NEW 2014 CHEVY MALIBUYEAR/MAKE/MODEL STK PRICE

gM CERTIFIED PRE OWNED ANDQUALITY USED CARS FOR ALL BUDgETS!

0% APR foR 36 months on AllGm CeRtified Used VehiCles^

$19,996*LIVE MARKET PRICE

STARTING AT

LIVE MARKET PRICE

$199/MO.**$23,436*STARTING AT

STARTING ATLIVE MARKET PRICE $25,999*STARTING AT

2095

861

honoring viola - the red 7 · interest rate reduction refinanceloan (va irrrl). this va streamline...

Documents