Tag: SERVICE

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Sad news to report the passing of retired Lt Col Thomas L. Cope commander of the…

Sad news to report the passing of retired Lt Col Thomas L. Cope commander of the 193rd Special Operations Group from 1984-1985.

He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, flying KC-135’s and receiving several medals and commendations. Cope retired as Lieutenant Colonel after twenty seven years with the 193rd Special Operations Group of the PA Air National Guard, where he flew C-130’s and accumulated over 10,000 flying hours without a single accident, he received the Meritorious Service Medal and the PA Commendation Medal


Thomas L. "Tom" Cope
www.buchfuneral.com
June 4, 1939 – August 9, 2014 Thomas L. “Tom” Cope, 75, of Bethel, PA and formerly of Manheim, passed away unexpectedly at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Saturday, August 9, 2014 after enjoying one final, wonderful family vacation to Bethany Beach, DE. Born in Ephrata, he was the son of the…

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Sad news to report the passing of retired Lt Col Thomas L. Cope commander of the…

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Shawn Michael Kovach

It is with great sadness that we post this obituary. Our best to Mike Kovach and his family.

MSgt Shawn Michael Kovach, 34, died Wednesday, February 3 at his home in Harrisburg after an illness. Kovach served in the U.S. Air Force from 1993 – 1999 and has been a member of the Air National Guard 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown, PA, from 1999 to-date. Most recently, he served as a Loadmaster Instructor. Kovach was a decorated veteran, having been deployed in Haiti, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, England, and elsewhere worldwide.
A 1993 graduate of Central Dauphin East High School and a 2003 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Kovach’s military achievements included: Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Aerial Achievement Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor device with three oak leaf clusters; the Combat Readiness Medal; Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with one service star; Kosovo Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal with one service star; Humanitarian Service Medal with two service stars; Air Force Longevity Service with one oak leaf cluster; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one “M” device; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one service star; Air Force Training Ribbon; and NATO Medal.
He is survived by his wife, Lori Rissmiller Kovach; his father and his wife, SMSgt Michael S. and Kristie L. Kovach of Grantville; his mother, Sandra K. Witmer of Harrisburg; his paternal grandparents, Edward and Rose Kovach of Harrisburg; maternal grandparents Donald and Arlene Witmer of Harrisburg; brothers Michael S. Kovach, Jr. and Kurtis B. Kovach; sisters Stephanie Bilonick and her husband Timothy; Michelle French, Kaitlynn Kovach; his father-in-law and his wife, Barry and Carla Rissmiller of Elizabethtown; his mother-in-law, Teresa Rissmiller of Elizabethtown; his sister-in-law, Jami Zimmerman and husband, Mark; and his grandparents through marriage, Ralph and Virginia Rissmiller of Elizabethtown, and Robert and Kathryn Bowers, deceased; many aunts, uncles, and cousins who dearly loved, respected, and adored him. Most important to Shawn were his wife and family, duty and country.
Kovach will be buried with full military honors at the National Cemetery at Fort Indiantown Gap on Monday, February 8. Services will be held at the Gap’s Building 880 and will include: viewing/visitation from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; service from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.; and interment at 2:00 p.m.
Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Kovach’s honor to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, P.O. Box 13483, Tampa, FL 33681-3483, or at www.specialops.org.
Online condolences may be shared at www.trefzandbowser.com

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STOP-LOSS TROOPS TO RECEIVE EXTRA PAY FOR SERVICE TIME

October 23, 2009

STOP-LOSS TROOPS TO RECEIVE EXTRA PAY FOR SERVICE TIME

Troops who were not allowed to leave the military under the program known as stop-loss will begin receiving retroactive payments, the Defense Department said this week.

About 185,000 troops are eligible for the payments. They were those who, after events of 9/11 and the U.S. response, were not allowed to retire or be discharged on time, but were, instead, involuntarily extended in the active service to ensure the military had enough officers, skilled personnel and combat enlisted men for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new policy requires DoD to give each eligible service member or veteran $500 for every month served under stop-loss, according to a report in the New York Times. Families of troops who died while on stop-loss are also eligible for the same amount of compensation. There are now 5,200 troops still serving under stop-loss, the newspaper said, and they are already receiving the $500 per month in extra pay.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he will end stop-loss in early 2011 when all troops serving in that capacity come home. Those seeking claims have until Oct. 20, 2010 to do so. The services have developed online application processes and Web sites defining criteria, as well as their systems for seeking out eligible people who may have lost contact with their service branch.

Here’s where to get information for the Army and the Air Force:

http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss

or e-mail RetroStopLossPay@conus.army.mil

Documentation must be provided to prove the person was affected by stop-loss. This can be a certificate of discharge, separation orders, retirement orders, memoranda from previous commanders or other documentation. People who do not have all the documentation are encouraged to go ahead and file because the service may have the necessary paperwork for the claim to be allowed.