CAMP KINSER, Okinawa — The commander of a Camp Kinser-based unit was one of 11 Marine colonels tapped to pin on their first star, according to a Department of Defense news release Wednesday.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates’ announcement of President Bush’s nominations for appointment to brigadier general included Col. Robert R. Ruark, commander of Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group.

Ruark, commissioned in 1981, served in Operation Desert Storm, as well as in Operation Provide Promise in the Adriatic Sea, Operation Guardian Assistance in Rwanda and Operation Stabilize in East Timor, according to a Combat Logistics Regiment 35 biography.

He was promoted to colonel in 2003.

AAFES: Suspects no longer employedSEOUL — None of the four South Korean employees investigated for black-marketing beer from Camp Long still work for AAFES, a spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Kim Jong-hyuk, a manager at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service store, resigned, according to Master Sgt. Donovan Potter. The Seoul District Court sentenced Kim late last week to one year in prison for violating South Korean customs laws.

Cheong Bong-jung, a worker at the same store, was “separated for cause,” according to Potter. Cheong received a 10-month prison sentence that was suspended for two years.

Two employees who were not charged in the case also resigned, Potter said.

Kim and Cheong were charged with moving about 21,000 cases of beer from the store to the black market.