NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

Alfred Carl Quillin

Alfred Carl Quillin was born February 19, 1922, in Wynona, Oklahoma. Carl passed from this life at the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Claremore, Oklahoma on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at the age of ninety-five. He was the son of Henry Claude and Mary Eva (Adams) Quillin. He was raised and attended school in Wynona through the eleventh grade at which time he went to work with his father who ran the Wynona Water works system and assisted him in the oilfields of Osage County. He then accepted employment with the railroad repairing wooden bridges and leveling the tracks in the area. Carl later received his high school diploma through the GED program.

Carl was inducted into the service of his country into the United States Army on October 30, 1942, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then transported by a troop train to Camp Adair in Oregon for basic training; walking nearly 35 miles a day with a full field pack and rifle to prepare him for future action. He was then transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington for cold weather training and to Barstow, California for desert training. He was then assigned to San Luis Obispo in order to prepare for bridge construction and amphibious training. As a combat engineer, Carl would be assigned to go out and pick up land mines and build bridges. Upon completion of this training, Carl was shipped to Hawaii awaiting further orders. He was assigned to the 321st Engineer Battalion, 96th Division and then was transported via ship to the Philippines and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. They cut down coconut trees and used them to construct bridges and using a dragline scooped limestone rock and used it to construct roads. After completing duty in Leyte, SGT Quillin was then transferred to Okinawa where he repaired roads under heavy fire from the Japanese. Additionally, bridges were constructed to assist in the occupation. Carl then shipped out back to Okinawa and on to the Philippines in preparation for the invasion of Japan. As he developed an eye problem, SGT Quillin was placed in the hospital shortly before the war ended and was shipped back home and honorably discharged from military service on December 24, 1945, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. For his faithful military service, Carl was awarded the following decorations and citations, Bronze Star Medal, Bronze Arrowhead Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 star and the Good Conduct Medal.

Prior to shipping out upon completion of his military training he was married to Violet Ann Thomas on May 19, 1943. Upon completion of his military service, Carl returned home to Wynona and his wife Violet where they raised their three children, Terry, Carol, and Carl. After the war, Carl built houses for a while and then managed a Skelly service station in Pawhuska and a DX station in Hominy and returned to the oilfields where he continued to work for several years. In 1966, Violet and Carl purchased the café where Violet was working and opened it under the name of Violet and Carl’s Cafe. The couple owned and operated the cafeˆ side by side for nearly ten years. After selling the cafe in 1976, Carl continued to work in the oilfields until his retirement in 1980. While residing in Wynona, Carl also served as the mayor for several years.

Carl was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Club. He was a member of the Victory Baptist Church in Pershing. Included in his accomplishments of life, Carl was proud of his association with the Boy Scouts of America. He served as troop leader in the 1960’s and 70’s. He also enjoyed fishing and gardening. He especially enjoyed working with his wife, Violet, and the wonderful staff at the café for those ten years and making friends with the many loyal customers that made the café a success.

Richard Martin “Dick” Pope

Richard “Dick” Martin Pope was born on July 24, 1927, in Hominy to Theodore Franklin and Olive Violet (Strasbaugh) Pope and grew up in the Skiatook and Hominy areas. He attended and graduated from Mound Valley School in Osage County, Oklahoma. Dick entered the U. S. Army on November 6, 1945 and served for two years in Co A 311th Signal Service Battalion as a Technician 4 (T-4). His commendations were an Army of Occupation Medal and a WWII Victory Medal. Dick worked as a computer programmer for American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 42 years. He was a continually active member of Blackwell-Frazier American Legion Post 142 in Hominy, Oklahoma as well as, a member of the Hominy Heritage Association. He was also active with the Mound Valley alumni. He helped with the Hominy town and cemetery US flags during the holidays. Dick was a supporter of the Republican Party, in fact, supported many local charities. He was an avid gardener and collaborated with seed companies to get plants and flowers on the market. He could grow almost anything. He loved nature and animals. Dick was a generous man and a patriot. Dick Pope, 89 years, and lifelong resident of Hominy, Oklahoma, passed away on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at Medicalodges Nursing Center in Dewey, Oklahoma.

If anyone has a picture of Richard “Dick” Martin Pope, please contact The Hominy News-Progress.

Just a friendly reminder: any active member of Hominy Post 142 that has not yet paid their dues for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, it is now due. Please mail your check or money order to the Hominy Post, 118 S. Wood Avenue, Hominy, OK  74035. Thank you in advance.

Until further notice, our regular Legion meeting will be the third Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, September 16^th at 7:00 PM. The Sons of the American Legion meetings have been suspended until further notice, depending on the future COVID-19 situation. We have resumed the having dinner at monthly meetings now on the third Thursday of the month although not every month. The Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings have been resumed at 8:00 AM. If you are a veteran, or currently on active duty, come by for our monthly meeting, and/or the Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings. 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.