I want to begin with a salute to Garrett Parks with the Sons of American Legion. The young men were given a mission to study and report on our own local legend Kenneth Taylor. With the holidays in play Garrett showed up and gave a very excellent presentation on the life of Kenneth Taylor. General Taylor and another airman shot down several Japanese zeros over thart tragic December 7th at Pearl Harbor. Good job Garrett!

We lost a great Legion member this past week. “Babe” Long faded out a few years ago when health became an issue. I heard he was in an assisted living facility in Collinsville a few years ago. I dropped in and they told me he had benn moved to another facility in Owasso but I lost track at that point. I heard this week he passed. He was a WWII veteran who shared many great stories at the Hut breakfast in the day. Born in 1923 he was around 97 years old and final arrangements are being handled by our local Powell Funeral services. Salute Babe.

Charles Carey Jr. from Oklahoma, earned a Medal of Honor during WWII on this day in 1945. He was a Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, 397th Infantry, 100th Infantry Division. He earned it at Rimling, France, 8-9 January 1945. He was born in Canadian, Okla. Citation: He was in command of an antitank platoon when about 200 enemy infantrymen and 12 tanks attacked his battalion, overrunning part of its position. After losing his guns, T/Sgt. Carey, acting entirely on his own initiative, organized a patrol and rescued 2 of his squads from a threatened sector, evacuating those who had been wounded.

He organized a second patrol and advanced against an enemy-held house from which vicious fire issued, preventing the free movement of our troops. Covered by fire from his patrol, he approached the house, killed 2 snipers with his rifle, and threw a grenade in the door. He entered alone and a few minutes later emerged with 16 prisoners. Acting on information he furnished, the American forces were able to capture an additional 41 Germans in adjacent houses. He assembled another patrol, and, under covering fire, moved to within a few yards of an enemy tank and damaged it with a rocket.

As the crew attempted to leave their burning vehicle, he calmly shot them with his rifle, killing 3 and wounding a fourth. Early in the morning of 9 January, German infantry moved into the western part of the town and encircled a house in which T/Sgt. Carey had previously posted a squad. Four of the group escaped to the attic. By maneuvering an old staircase against the building, T/Sgt. Carey was able to rescue these men. Later that day, when attempting to reach an outpost, he was struck down by sniper fire. The fearless and aggressive leadership of T/Sgt. Carey, his courage in the face of heavy fire from superior enemy forces, provided an inspiring example for his comrades and materially helped his battalion to withstand the German onslaught. Salute! (thanks to “This Day in Military History”).

These are our last few months to sell tickets on the 10-Gun Raffle. The Post gets half of the proceeds. All of the Oklahoma 100th Anniversary coins have been sold out at State HQ. There are no more. We have some and they are only $5.00 for Post members and $10.00 for non-members. I’ll be buying a few for good friends and posterity!

Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings in January are still scheduled for biscuits and gravy or doughnuts and always a cup of Joe (coffee to the civilians). Just watch the weather, it is the only factor that my change that. Our next SAL meeting will be 6 February 2020 followed by our dinner and regular Legion meeting at 7:00 pm. Our 2nd Legion meeting this month is 16 January 7 pm. 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”. Happy New Year Hominy!