Combat

Army Pvt. Alex C. Flores, son of Cruz Flores and Francisca Perez of Glendale, has graduated from the computer/automation systems repairer advanced individual training course at Fort Gordon, Augusta, Ga. He is a 2000 graduate of Glendale High School. Andrew W. Choe, son of Eric D. S. and Jenny H. S. Choe of La Crescenta, graduated from the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps basic Camp Challenge at Fort Knox, Ky. He is a 2001 graduate of Crescenta Valley High School.

GRAFFITI SURVEILLANCE The City Council directed the Burbank Police Department to use its own discretion in deciding to use video surveillance in areas with a large amount of graffiti. WHAT IT MEANS The council received a report from Police Capt. Janice Lowers on the use of video surveillance to combat graffiti in the city. While the department has a pole camera that could be used, there are a lot of manpower hours involved with the monitoring, Lowers said.

ON THE AGENDA o7Here are a few of the issues the council will consider Tuesday night. f7 CASTAWAY LEASE HEARING The City Council will continue a public hearing on amending a lease with the operator of the Castaway Restaurant and banquet facility. The city owns the buildings and land, and the facility is operated by Specialty Restaurants Corp. The council took the issue up at its Sept. 13 to address residents' concerns about noise and traffic associated with the facility.

Chris Ehrlich of Burbank is a newswire editor. Tom Cruise's latest blockbuster, "The Last Samurai," combines epic battle scenes, history and just enough romance and humor to present a story of samurai warriors in late-19th century Japan that's both exciting and graceful. A bearded Cruise sparingly calls on his signature smile during the film. Nevertheless, he shines as Capt. Nathan Algren, a whiskey-drink- ing veteran of the U.S. Army, who leads a life without purpose.

Good Samaritans come to officer's aid SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- Police are expressing their thanks to two people who helped an officer wrestling with a forgery suspect. Officers were called to the PC Club, 699 N. Victory Blvd., Wednesday afternoon when a 32-year-old Encino man tried to use a stolen credit card to buy computer equipment, Sgt. Bruce Speirs said. Two officers approached the man outside the store, and when they tried to handcuff him, the suspect pushed them and ran away, Speirs said.

BURBANK — In 1944, Elmer Nielsen didn’t think he would make it out of the dark, dank jungles of Burma that served as his base during World War II. A flight engineer with the 15th combat air squadron, Nielsen helped deliver goods to British soldiers in India, Burma and China from 1943 to 1945. Flying C-46 transport planes, Nielsen’s responsibilities as a crew chief included maintenance on the planes, helping load goods and the general well-being of the huge jets that rumbled from base to base in one of the more low-profile theaters of World War II. On at least one run, he feared the worst.

Midshipman Tormod Engvig, son of Olaf and Mona Engvig of Burbank, has returned to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy after visiting Japan, China and Singapore. He graduated from John Burroughs High School, and was nominated to attend the academy by former Congressman James Rogan. Army Reserve Pfc. Sacco Nazloomian, brother of Lia Lee of La Canada Flintridge, has graduated from basic military training at Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo. Army Pvt. Kevin Q. Grooms, son of Patricia Holmes of Burbank, has graduated from basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. He is a 1995 graduate of John Burroughs High School.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerry L. Turley II has graduated from the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu. He was presented the John L. Levitow Award, which is presented to the student who has demonstrated the highest degree of excellence as a class leader and scholar. Turley is a maintenance operations center supervisor assigned to the 735th Air Mobility Squadron. He is the son of Irene C. and Jerry L. Turley of Dillon, Colo. His wife, Zoila, is the daughter of Sergio and Desiree Sanchez of Burbank.