10 local graduates headed to military

Published 12:00 am Monday, June 14, 2004

[6/14/04]Bert Winschel of Vicksburg, a May graduate of St. Aloysius High School, has known for years what he wanted to do: become a U.S. Marine.

Winschel is one of 10 May high school graduates from the city and county whose next step will be the military, school officials said. Six others are slated to join from Warren Central High School and one from Vicksburg High School.

“It’s a good way to serve my country and protect my family,” Winschel said.

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Winschel said he has been “pretty definite” that he wanted to become a Marine since he was 6 or 7 years old. Since then, he has considered other career options mainly as a Plan B in case of injury.

“I had an Uncle Jack who was a Marine raider in World War II,” Winschel said. “I’ve always wanted to be the first one in.

“The Marines are said to be the best, and I completely agree.”

When the war on terrorism began with the invasion of Iraq by a U.S.-led coalition on March 19, 2003, Winschel had long considered the possibility of serving in such a conflict, he said.

“Honestly, you’ve got to think about all the possibilities,” he said. “I thought about battling terrorists a long time ago.”

The beginning of major combat in the war “sort of added to my eagerness to join,” Winschel said.

Also from St. Aloysius, Kasey Franklin and Brian Lampkin are set to join the U.S. Air Force.

Of six Warren Central graduates headed to the military, four James Armstrong, Christopher Beard, Michelle Haggan and Holly Hollifield will join the Navy. Matthew Brogdon will join the Mississippi National Guard and Christy Sylvester, the Air Force, a spokesman for the school’s ROTC program said.

Vicksburg High’s Kelly Bufkin is slated to join the military as well, a school guidance counselor said.

Though St. Aloysius, part of Vicksburg Catholic School, is about 13 times smaller than the 9,000-student local public school district, it has produced nearly one-third of this year’s graduates in the county who are set to go directly into the military.

Winschel is the son of Terry and Therese Winschel of Vicksburg. He said he enlisted in the Marines on Jan. 16 and has been preparing by traveling to Jackson once a month to drill with other recruits.

He is set to begin basic training at Parris Island, S.C., around the middle of October, but that date is subject to change, he said.

“The Marines show far more discipline than any other branch,” Winschel said. “They’re very skilled at what they do.

“One of their core values is honor, and that’s always appealed to me.”