NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

Charles S. O’Leary, or Doc as he is more affectionately referred to, has been extensively associated with the American Legion since 1976 and the Army Military branch of the United States Armed Forces since 1967. Charlie served as Post Commander from 1979 to 1980 and in 2008, under Post 142 Commander James D. Frazier, was appointed as the Post Service Officer to 2010. Charlie was re-elected as Post Commander again from 2010 to 2019. He was also the District 1B Commander for Department of Oklahoma during the 2010-2019-time frame. In 2019 Charlie stepped down as Post 142 and District 1B Commanders to pursue and secure Vice Commander East of the Department of Oklahoma. Currently, Charlie is the Senior Vice Commander of The American Legion Department of Oklahoma.

Charles O’Leary joined the US Army in 1967, taking Basic Training at Ft. Polk, LA and Infantry Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. He volunteered for Special Forces training as an SF Medic, was sent to Airborne Jump School at Ft. Benning, GA and then to SF Training at Ft. Bragg, NC, Fort Sam Houston, TX, Reynolds Army Hospital Ft. Sill, OK and back to Ft. Bragg where he graduated as a Green Beret in 1968. He was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa attaining the rank of SSG [E-6]. Upon discharge from Active Duty in 1970, he was assigned to 12th Special Forces Group in OKC assigned to a Green Beret A-Team until honorable discharge in 1973. He joined the 45th Infantry Brigade of the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1980 and was appointed at Warrant Officer-1 Physician Assistant, serving 29 years as an Army PA, mostly with Artillery and Infantry Battalion Aide Stations and was the Charlie-Med Company Commander of 700 SPT BN for four years and served as BN and BDE Surgeon. He graduated from Army Command and General Staff College. He had several medical mission overseas assignments in Honduras, Equator and Bolivia, was deployed to the Sinai as part of peacekeeping force and two assignments with OEF in Afghanistan, finally retiring in 2007 at age 60 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His military awards include: Combat Medic Badge, Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with two campaign stars, Afghanistan Service Medal with campaign star and numerous other awards and is the only medical PA to be awarded the Order of St. Barbara for Artillery and the Order of St. Maurice for Infantry. He has been a practicing Family Medicine PA in Hominy and Cleveland for 43 years and a member of Post 142 in Hominy since 1976, serving as Post Commander 1979-80 and again from 2010 to 2019. He was also the District 1B Commander for Department of Oklahoma during the 2010-2019-time frame. In 2019 Charlie stepped down as Post 142 and District 1B Commander to pursue and secure Vice Commander East of the Department of Oklahoma. Currently Charlie is the Senior Vice Commander of The American Legion Department of Oklahoma. He and his wife of 50 years, Nancy, have three married daughters and five grandchildren. He served on the Hominy School Board for 15 years, writes weekly military and Post columns for the local newspaper, is active at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and is a past Kiwanis Club Lt-Governor for NE Oklahoma. He is active in several military organizations including Special Forces Association, 82nd Airborne Association Oklahoma Chapter, Marine Corps League and VFW. Charlie O’Leary is definitely a local Hominy civic leader that has dedicated his life to the defense and protection of our country and the welfare of local Veterans and Veterans throughout the Department of Oklahoma.

Until further notice, our regular Legion meeting will be the third Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, January the 14th. at 7:00 PM. The Sons of the American Legion meetings have been suspended until further notice, depending on the future COVID-19 situation. All dinners have been cancelled until further notice. The Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings have been postponed as well for the same reason. If you are a veteran, come by for our monthly meeting, and if you have a good story, it may end up in print. Also keep up with us at the Post 142 website “americanlegion142.org” and Hominy Legion on Facebook.