Navy Gold Star Coordinator Support

A Lewes, Delaware native, Joseph also held an Associate in Applied Science - Turf Management Degree from Delaware Technical and Community College. Prior to joining the Navy, Joseph used his education with work on golf courses and in pest control. But he had the most fun spending many summers in the concession stand at a local waterpark.? He was a talented athlete who enjoyed analyzing and watching sports as much as playing them. He loved the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies, and Wawa, but hated that he couldn’t get a good hoagie or a Yuengling in Southern California. When he wasn’t on duty, Joseph enjoyed playing golf and finding new ways to experiment in the kitchen.

Born: Winchester, MA Hometown: Wilmington, MA. Ken completed boot camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, IL in November 1995. Following boot camp, he com-pleted Seaman “ATD” School in Great Lakes, IL December, 1995. His first duty assignment was onboard the USS Os-prey MHC-51 in Ingleside, TX, where he completed three deployments, and advanced to Petty Officer Third Class. After a successful tour onboard the USS Osprey, he trans-ferred to Navy Cargo Handling and Port Group in Williamsburg, VA. During this tour, he attended Instructor train-ing School and facilitated the Command and Control and Cargo Handling Supervisors courses. In 2003, he trans-ferred to Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic Fleet for staff duty, where he served as the Admiral's Barge Coxswain. After a successful three year tour, he was assigned to Inshore Boat Unit 24 in Fort Dix, NJ. While in IBU-24 MESRON2 Boat Det B he deployed numerous times in support of OIF/OEF. There, he earned his Expeditionary Warfare Specialist device. Once his tour with MESRON 2 ended, he was happy to transfer to Navy Operational Support Center Manchester in Londonderry, NH where he could cheer on his beloved New England Patriots, as the Leading Petty Officer and Training Officer, and selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer. After taking over as the Command Leading Chief Petty Officer, he took orders to Coastal Riverine Squadron Eight as the Sen-ior Enlisted Leader of HVU Detachment in Groton, CT and selected to Senior Chief. At the completion of that tour, he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader at Navy Operational Support Center New London in Groton, CT, and selected to Master Chief during his tenure there. Master Chief MacDonald’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal two awards, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal nine awards, Meritorious Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Antarctic Service Medal.

Spouse: Meaghan MacDonald Children: Lorelai MacDonald and Jason MacDonald Siblings: Amy MacDonald, Crys-tal Sullivan and Gail Belcher.

John A. Reiners was born in Haines City, FL on 12/23/1985. His first duty station was at the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division (Light fighters) at Fort Drum, NY. During his time at Fort Drum, he was able to serve two different tours, honorably, as a United States army Infantryman, in Iraq once during the “Surge” in 2005 and then again in 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His second duty station took him 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division (Ivy Division) at Fort Carson, CO.  He was afforded the chance to become squad leader and lead Soldiers into Combat action in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. On February 13, 2010, Staff Sergeant Reiners was killed in action, as a hero, in Zhari Province. His wounds were sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with improvised explosives devices (IED).