MILESTONES
ANOTHER PORT OF CALL FOR WHARF RATS
Lieutenant Commander William M. Ranney and Rear Admiral Richard B. Wren, Commander of Task Force 75, stand with the Wharf Rat flag aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), based in Japan. As the Navy's last oil-fired aircraft carrier, the ship is scheduled for decommissioning in the summer of 2008, to be replaced in its forward duty station by the USS George Washington (CV 73).

A product of the Nantucket schools, from Wee Whalers through Nantucket High, Commander Ranney entered The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., joined the Navy ROTC, and was commissioned as an Ensign upon graduation in 1996. He became an explosive ordnance disposal specialist and a navy diver, assigned to a seagoing rescue ship, the USS Safeguard, and then to a mobile unit based in Guam. He spent six months in Iraq in 2004-2005, leading an eight-man unit operating out of the Green Zone disposing of IEDs and excess ordnance found throughout the city of Baghdad. He has spent the last two years aboard the USS Kitty Hawk as a member of the admirals' staff in charge of security for port visits of U.S. ships in the Pacific. Promoted last year to Lieutenant Commander, Ranney has returned home for three weeks of leave and will attend executive officers' school in Newport, R.I., before reporting to San Diego. He is the son of Corky and Flint Ranney of Nantucket.

Home page for USS Kitty Hawk:www.kittyhawk.navy.mil/

BIRTHS

Tabatha Victoria Alcequiez Martinez was born at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on Feb. 26, 2008 weighing 6 pounds and 9 ounces. She is the daughter of Lenny and Elizabeth Alcequiez of Cabrera, Dominican Republic. Her grandparents are Miguel and Santiagita Alcequiez of Cabrera, Dominican Republic. Her great-grandparents are Victoria and Pedro Antonio Martinez of Cabrera, Dominican Republic.

Vivian Marilyn Murphy was born at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on March 5, 2008 weighing 8 pounds and 2 ounces. She is the daughter of Joshua Murphy and Kate Farry of Nantucket. Her grandparents are Timothy and Debra Farry of Wales, Mass., and Pat Dansareau and Thomas Murphy of Chicopee, Mass.

Alexandra Nikulin was born at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on Feb. 29, 2008 weighing 9 pounds. She is the daughter of Yury and Maryia Nikulin of Nantucket.

Juan Carlos Polanco was born at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on March 3, 2008 weighing 6 pounds and 3 ounces. He is the son of Juan Carlos Polanco and Yolanda Martinez and brother of Amye and Michaelle of the Dominican Republic. His grandparents are Victoria Gonzalez, Pedro Antonio Martinez, Susana Silverio and Fernando Polanco of the Dominican Republic. Jayden Thomas Toney was born at Nantucket Cottage Hospital on March 10, 2008 weighing 7 pounds and 6 ounces. He is the son of Lisa and Burton Toney and brother of Marcus Toney of Nantucket. His grandparents are Tom and Jeanne Jekanowski of Nantucket and Nydia Toney of Trinidad and Tobago. His great-grandparents are Joseph LaPalme of Connecticut, and Jeanette Moody

of West Barnstable, Mass. I