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

This week’s article is an easy task.  Our commander, Charles O’Leary published outstanding minutes from our last meeting; and it summed up the week.  Last Thursday, Jerry Sebert knocked it out of the park cooking the ribs for dinner, and a special thanks to Eli Prater and others who helped with sides.  We had 15 members present and everyone had a good time.

The Post welcomed Chris King as new member.  King was a 13B Army artilleryman [cannoneer] with 172nd Infantry Brigade in Alaska during Vietnam times.  He has a lot of experiences in wearing “Mickey Mouse Boots” and cold weather gear and maybe this winter he can give us a class on cross-country skiing or building a “snow cave” that you learn in winter survival classes.  Welcome Chris to Post 142!  Chris works for Osage County driving a county truck mostly at the present time.

Post members were reminded that we are invited to the Fairfax Veterans Day Parade on November 8th, put on by Retired Seaman Leon Hendrix and Eva Donovan [formerly married to a USMC veteran] from Fairfax.  I have missed the last two parades, but now I am a man of leisure and look forward to participating!  More details are forthcoming.

We want to recognize Mike Street from Pawhuska, who was a Korean Era 101st Airborne veteran who donated a painted buffalo skull with Native American designs from the Osage and Cherokee tribes on it to the Legion.  1st Vice Commander Steve Swinford offered $200 donation for the artistic buffalo head and was accepted by the group.  Special thanks to Mike Street for using his artistic talents to produce this item and thanks to Steve Swinford for making the donation to purchase it.

I heard Doc O’Leary did get the 82nd Airborne 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment fire-fight at Fallujah Iraq print hung on the Legion Hut wall and it looks impressive.  If you get the chance drop by on Oct 2nd at our next meeting and check it out.  O’Leary also hung a picture of a WWII Army Air Corps P-47 fighter on the wall. This painting was donated to the Legion by the late Hominy resident Charles Lohah who died last year.  Charles was a JAG Officer in the USAF and retired as LTC. He used to say “I was in the Air Force, we fought amongst ourselves!” Being a former fly boy like myself and Jerry I get that totally. Speaking of Jerry Sebert he also mentioned the possibility of another chicken-noodle dinner in the fall, when the weather is cooler.  I can’t wait, that man can cook!

In a surprise presentation, WW II Navy Veteran John Fields was ask to Post-Front-And-Center and was given a Navy Chief Petty Officer 2 pin for his cap. John was a Radar-man Second Class, during his time aboard ship during WWII.

We had another surprise presentation, Post Finance Officer Jack Cross and Post Adjutant Eli Prater, both Korean War Era vets and members of the 45th Infantry Division, Jack was a 13B Artilleryman and Eli a 13-series Artillery Officer, were give leather military-style jackets by the Post.  The jackets had the Army Eagle emblem on the back and the famed 45th Infantry Division patch on the front.  Both men were pretty surprised and got a round of applause from the Post members present for their work over the years, with Post 142 and for the service to their country.

Special thanks and round of applause was given to Dick Pope and to Jerry Sebert for doing the mowing on the Post grounds.

I hope to provide dates for your calendar over the next few weeks for the season’s activities. The Halloween Downtown Event, Veteran’s Day Events, and Christmas Parade are on the horizon. And our regular meetings are the first and third Thursdays at 7:00 PM (2nd October).  Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings for September and October are still up and running starting around 0700 till about 0900.  If you are a veteran come on by. If you have a good story it may end up in print!