for American Legion Post #142; Hominy, Oklahoma.
>>>by Gary Lanham

What a great morning session we had over breakfast Monday. Commander Jim Frazier served up biscuits and sausage gravy as well as waffles, thus pleasing Rex Mantooth (B&G) and Babe Long (waffles please!).

John Field shared something very unique.  He brought a staple most all veterans don’t think much about. During WWII he was issued (at a price) two boot brushes.  It is basically a small polished wood brush for polishing boots or shoes.  In Basic with the Navy, they had what they called “the flying 5.”  They issued you five dollars of your pay, gave you a few staples required, then took the five dollars back.  What was really unique was his boot brush had marked on the top, the two ships he served on marked on it.  Even more special was that he handed it down to his son who also served in the Navy, and it reflected the two ships he served on as well.  They might have to get a grandson in the Navy to keep that rolling, though there is not much space left on that brush.

That brought back a few memories of my early USAF days at Basic Training.  Pretty much the same thing, they issued you money and then required you to buy things needed to get through Basic at the BX (PX for you ground pounders). Even the haircut came out of my pocket.

Dick Pope bounced back from his bout with the flu, and I will share a story Charlie O’Leary shared with us next week that everyone got a kick out of.  Dick also shared with me a clip that I enjoyed reading.  When he orders a flag it comes to him in a plastic container with a note that reads “Old Glory. This flag which we honor and under which we serve is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thoughts, and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give from generation to generation. The choice is ours. It floats in majestic silence above the Hosts that execute those choices whether in peace or war. And yet, though silent, it speaks to us…speaks to us of the past, of the men and women who went before us. And of the records they wrote upon it.” President Woodrow Wilson.

While there was controversy around Wilson on women’s suffrage rights, he led in a difficult time having they heavy weight of sending those who served to the War to end all Wars.

I asked Vice Commander Eli Prater about his “Breakfast Club” article in the paper each week.  I was surprised to find out it was an alumni Hominy group that gets together.  I grew up with parents that travelled all over the country through my childhood.  Usually when rent came due, we were gone.  That made military live easy for me as a young man and eventually adulthood.  I have lived near Hominy for fourteen years, the longest in one place in my life.  I marvel at the men in this group who grew up and stayed in Hominy.  Now I understand why this town is so special.

Just a reminder our regular meetings are the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month at 1900 hours (7:00 PM) and our Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings over biscuits and gravy (or waffles) where we keep up on each other’s mischievous doings run generally from 7 am to 9 am .  We will be anticipating updates on the Mid-Winter Conference from our Post Commander.