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

Well, Saturday must have been a precursor of things to come…sunshine and the Oklahoma wind. Perfect! Make sure you make plans to join us for lunch at our Post Fundraiser coming up next month. Chef Jerry will be whipping up a Chicken and Noodle feed for the public and we need your support. At our FUNDRAISER Saturday, May 9th (1100 till 1300 hours). You cannot beat the price, $6 for adults (above age 12) $3 12 and below. Age 6 and below are free. Sides include tea, green beans and corn. Come out and support those who supported you in service to our country.

I have told you we meet the first and third Thursday evenings of each month. In May, that would be the 7th and 21st. Of course, the Monday morning breakfast is always an event. I attended last Monday, and it was quite a crowd. Rex Mantooth brought a picture of himself from the WWII days. I heard the comment that he carried it to remember who he is (all-in-jest, of course). I have gotten to the place where I can sing lyrics to songs from the 50’s and 60’s, but can’t remember why I walked into the next room.

This week, I wanted to share some history of gent who I, at one point, wondered why we got along so well. Jerry Jackson was born in June of 1943. He served in the USAF from September 1960 till September 1964, as an AIRMAN 2nd Class. After Basic Training, he attended technical training at Biloxi, MS; at Keesler AFB. His training was in one of my old career fields Heavy Ground Radar Air Force Specialty ‘303X0’, if my memory serves me right. He finished serving at Cottonwood Air Force Station in Idaho.

The training in that field is pretty extensive, and requires a very good aptitude in mathematics and basic electronics. Those heavy radar systems, went the way of the Dew Line AC&W systems. Now days, everything is mobile, digital, and much satellite driven. One interesting note was that Cottonwood Air Force Station, was a former USAF General Surveillance Radar station. The radar site was located at the summit of Cottonwood Butte, 5.7 miles (9.2 km) west-northwest of Cottonwood in Idaho. It was closed in 1965, and transferred to the state of Idaho in 1974; when it was converted to its present use as a minimum-security correctional facility.

Cottonwood Peak Air Force Station was initially part of Phase II, of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. The Air Force approved this expansion of the Mobile Radar program on October 23, 1952.
Watch out for a sea of flags soon. Babo continues his stand up effort once again to make sure through the Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day flags honoring our Veterans and those who now served are remembered. I will give you updates as many of you participate in this event. Right now, it looks like flags begin to go up May 15th, and come down May 27th. Target areas would cover Main Street and the Cemetery.

Here is a new update! I just received a call from our own Senator Eddie Fields. This Friday, May the 1st, he and House Representative (and home town boy) Sean Roberts will be presenting an award to Rex Mantooth at the Osage County Inter local Cooperative facility on Main Street. Our Commander and the Coop Director will also be there for the presentation. Come out if you can at 2:00 PM (1400).

As I mentioned earlier our regular meetings continue the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:00 PM. Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings in April are still planned (if weather permits) and running starting around 0700 till about 0900. As usual much thanks to the crew for providing biscuits and gravy and maybe a waffle or two and always a cup of Joe (coffee to the civilians). If you are a veteran come on by. If you have a good story it may end up in print. Also keep up with us at website “americanlegion142.org”.