Two local sailors part of U.S.-Japan naval exercise

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 | 8:26 a.m.

Two sailors with Las Vegas ties are crewmembers aboard the assault ship USS Tarawa, which recently completed an anti-submarine warfare exercise off the coast of Hawaii.

Seaman William Warren, son of Linda Stephens of Henderson, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald Cunanan, son of Marie Lozares of Las Vegas, are aboard the San Diego-based ship currently on a scheduled deployment in the Pacific.

The two valley sailors, their fellow crewmembers and the Marines of Expeditionary Strike Group One, conducted an anti-submarine warfare exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Tarawa serves as the flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group One. The ship supports amphibious operations using Landing Craft Air Cushions, which are specially-designed Hovercraft that travel above land and sea surfaces and deliver vehicles and equipment.

The ship also has conventional landing craft and helicopters embarked and is equipped with medical facilities staffed by Navy doctors, dentists, nurses and corpsmen.

Bonanza grad an Army recruiter

Army Sgt. Anthony Grimando Bonanza High School class of 1998, recently reported for duty in Las Vegas as an Army recruiter assigned to the Centennial Recruiting Station.

Grimando, an Army reservist, is on an active duty tour for the assignment. He has served in the military for 14 years with previous active duty tours in Germany and at Fort Lewis, Wash.

The sergeant is the son of Louis Grimando and Rosemary Arena, both of Las Vegas.

His wife, Tiffany, is the daughter of Pamela Brown of Las Vegas.

In brief