NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

Mervin Eugene (Babe) Long

Mervin Eugene (Babe) Long was born May 16, 1923, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma to Miles and Dessie Jewel (Galyean) Long. Babe was raised and attended school in Wildhorse, OK. After graduating from Wildhorse High School, Babe worked a short stint in a cement powder plant in Choteau, Oklahoma. He then headed to Vallejo, CA, where he worked as a welder in a shipyard. Babe was barely 19 when he was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group of the 8th Army Air Corp., the war’s largest offensive bombing force of World War II. Based at Thorpe Abbot airbase near Norwich, East Anglia, England, this unit became known as the “Bloody Hundredth.”

Babe married Marjorie Alene Baker on May 28, 1943, in St. Louis, MO., and they had a son, Merle Eugene Long.

Returning home from the war he worked in the oilfield across New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma ultimately owning several businesses.

Mervin Eugene ‘Babe’ Long, 96, of Hominy, OK passed away on December 30, 2019, in Owasso, Oklahoma.

Earl Dean Bach

Earl Dean Bach was born May 4th, 1933, to parents Earl and Inez Bach and grew up in the Shamrock, OK area. He was a veteran of the Korean War. Upon his return from war, he worked in the oil industry across Oklahoma and settled in Hominy, OK. During his time in Hominy, Dean served on the city council and was the civil defense director. He was instrumental in setting up the tornado sirens in Hominy. Dean was a great mechanic and had a profound interest in trains, steam engines, and tractors. He enjoyed hunting and was an excellent marksman. He loved taking pictures, reading anything by author Zane Gray, and spending time with his family. Dean was a successful entrepreneur in the oil, farming, and cattle businesses throughout his life. Dean was a longtime member of the American Legion, Post 142 in Hominy, Oklahoma as well as the Post Commander from 1964 to 1966. Dean was an avid attendee at the Monday morning breakfasts at the Hut. Dean passed on April 9th, 2020.

Our regular Legion meetings have changed back to the first and third Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, March 17^th at 7:00 PM. The Monday morning Koffee Klatch will continue at 8:00 AM, weather permitting. If you are a veteran, active, inactive, or retired, come by the Hominy Post 142 Hut at 118 S Wood Avenue for our monthly meeting, and/or the Monday morning Koffee Klatch meeting. Several of the Post 142 members meet every Wednesday at Daylight Donuts on OK-99 around 8:00 AM in Hominy for coffee and maybe a breakfast treat. 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 Post 142 or Hominy Post Legion on Facebook.