Sgt. Justin P. Copley- Army National Guard Sgt. Justin P. Copley has been mobilized and activated at Fort Dix, N.J., for a deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  The soldier is a member of the 1175th Military Police Company, a national guard unit based in St. Clair.
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 peoples of Iraq.
Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq’s economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq’s sovereignty and independence as a democracy.
Copley is a military police member with four years of military service.
He is the son of Pamlette M. Copley of Plato.
The sergeant graduated in 2001 from Plato High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2006 from the College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout.

Pvt. David A. Frans- Army Pvt. David A. Frans participated in the 33rd U.S. Army Annual Culinary Arts Competition at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va.
This year’s competition featured more than 160 military chefs from around the globe battling in more than 40 culinary categories.  The competition is rated the largest culinary competition in America, which includes ice carving and showcase centerpieces.
The two-week competition involved Army soldier-chefs, both active duty and reserve components, as well as members from other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.  The competitions allows servicemembers to sharpen and broaden their cooking, baking, roasting, and pouching skills to stay on the cutting edge of culinary techniques.  Their culinary skills ultimately benefit military servicemembers eating in dining and mess hall facilities and battlefield kitchens serving soldiers in combat zones.
The goals of the competition are to continually raise the standards of culinary excellence and professionalism in the Army’s food service training to the soldier and promote growth in the culinary profession with attention to modern culinary development.  The competition also promotes camaraderie, motivation, and esprit de corps among the soldiers and other servicemembers, and provides educationalopportunities in the culinary arts.
Competitors are awarded certificates, medallions, engraved plaques, and trophies for their mastery of culinary art in their particular category.  The winners received recognition for their efforts in culinary aspects of ability, practicality, nutrition, workmanship, economy, presentation, creativity, concept, skills, style, and techniques in food preparation and management.
Frans is a 2005 graduate of Waynesville High School.

Staff Sgt. Michael J. Copley- Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Michael J. Copley has been mobilized and activated at Fort Dix, N.J., for a deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  The soldier is a member of the 1175th Military Police Company, a national guard unit based in St. Clair.
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 peoples of Iraq.
Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq’s economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq’s sovereignty and independence as a democracy.
Copley is a military police member with eight years of military service.
He is the brother of Jason C. Copley of Forsyth.
His wife, Amanda, is the daughter of Bobby Joe Spitler, and Peggy P. Spitler, both of Newburg.
The staff sergeant is a 1999 graduate of Plato High School.