“News from the Hut”
for American Legion Post #142; Hominy, Oklahoma.
>>> by Gary Lanham

Though we had our brief respite from the harsh winter attack, winter has regrouped and renewed a frontal attack.  We as well will re-banded, regrouped, and gain final victory (for at least this year) as spring approaches.  By the way, if you bump in to any of our group around town be sure to buy a raffle ticket for our drawing soon for 100 pounds of meat from Wild Country!  Wild Country continues to support patriots and veterans.  I will fall back to recount historical event of this week of consequence with a twist or two.

March 5^th 1770: A contingent of armed British soldiers fire into a crowd of protesting colonists in what will become known as the Boston Massacre.  Five colonists are killed.  The soldiers, charged with murder, will contend the protestors were threatening them with rocks and clubs.  The killings will spark public outrage, demands for the death penalty for the soldiers responsible, and draw America even closer toward revolution.  What most folks don’t know is the brilliant young lawyer that defended and had those British soldiers released back to England was John Adams.  He would become a Founding Father and the second President of the United States. Later at the end he would pass away on the 4^th of July, the same day as his good friend and former president Thomas Jefferson.

March 6^th 1836: Following a two-week siege, the Alamo, commanded by Lt. Col. William Barret Travis, falls to Mexican forces after the Texas garrison puts up one of the most heroic defenses in American military history. The garrison of nearly 200 volunteers is wiped out to a man. During the siege a band of volunteers from Gonzales arrived.  They were involved in the first skirmish with the Mexican army who had come to retrieve a swivel cannon they had left stationed there.  They had fashioned a flag that depicted a cannon with a black star with the words “Come take it” inscribed.  The leader of the volunteers was beseeched by his fifteen year old son to remain home to care for the other nine siblings.  The father relented and the son delivered the flag to the Alamo and into historical glory.

March 7^th 1942:  The first black airmen graduate from flight school at Tuskegee, Alabama. This decorated group distinguished themselves primarily flying P-51 Mustangs over Germany escorting Bomber Groups.  They incurred many losses but persevered their mission with great success demonstrating bravery and opening the eyes to a traditional military to the capabilities of all US soldiers.  Years ago I was attending a military conference in Alabama and had a Saturday afternoon free. My avid hobby in that day was skydiving (I still possess a master “D” license). I drove up to Tuskegee and toured the museum which is impressive.  I was thrilled to find they had a flying school at the facility and immediately began negotiating a skydive experience with a “Tuskegee Airman”.  After a modest donation I found myself at 8,000 ft. with my first Tuskegee pilot.  He was expert and understood precisely where I needed to exit with wind speeds and direction in mind.  The door opened, with a blast of cold wind, followed by my “Yahoo!” out the door.  I landed on my feet in front of the hanger, and have to this day the signature on the Tuskegee Airman in my logbook 10 Sep 1995 Greg “G”.

Our regular meetings are the first and third Thursdays at 7:00 PM (March 6th) if weather does not present a challenge.  Our Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings for March is up and running again as normal starting around 0700 till about 0900 if weather is above freezing and hospitable.  Eli and Jerry usually have things set up where we can catch up on each others mischief and story telling.  If you are a veteran come on by.  If you have a good story, it may end up in print!