Published: April 21, 2008 10:18 am         

Former resident awarded Air Force medal

Maj. Pete Ortiz Jr. was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for action on the night of March 6, 2006, in Afghanistan.

The medal was presented during ceremonies on Jan. 25 by his squadron commander Todd Worms.

Maj. Qrtiz was a member of the 55th Combat Rescue Squadron at Moutain Air Force Base Tucson, Ariz., at the time. He’s presently assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M., as assistant to the Director of Operations and as an evaluator pilot.

He’s a 1993 graduate of Texas A&M University at College Station. He attended grade school in Mineral Wells and has extended family in the Mineral Wells, Weatherford and Millsap areas. He moved to Carrollton, Texas, in 1980 where he graduated from R.L. Turner High School in 1988.

He lives in Albuquerque, N.M., with wife, Collyn, and two sons, Pete and Troy. He’s the son of Pete and Mary Qrtiz of Carrollton.

Seaman Cagle

reports for duty

Navy Seaman Recruit Justin R. Cagle, son of Elizabeth A. Cagle of Mineral Wells and Jerry L. Cagle of Webster, Texas, recently reported for duty aboard the pre-commissioning unit George H. W. Bush, based at Newport News, Va.

Cagle is a 2007 graduate of Mineral Wells High School.

Marine recruit

Olivares home

Alfonso Olivares, a 2005 Mineral Wells High School graduate, is home visiting family. Olivares is a U.S. Marines recruit with 2nd Battalion, Echo Company Platoon stationed in San Diego, Calif.