Blackwell-Frazier American Legion Post #142 Hominy, Oklahoma

I anticipate an update from our Post Commander Charlie O’Leary and his wife Nancy from their attendance at the American Legion District 8 Legion-Auxillary Meeting last Saturday in Alva, OK. Meanwhile I had to miss the incredible banquet the Hut had at the last meeting on the 7th of March. Former Flyboy Jerry Jackson told me the Chef Sebert’s chicken was a superb as was the desert. I hate missin a meal although seeing me would convince you I don’t miss many LOL.

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I was relieved when I found out our Post Commander Charlie O’Leary and his wife Nancy survived the treacherous travel weather on their annual trip to Arizona. They were involved in a horrific vehicle accident but pulled through dinged up up a bit but now home and back in the saddle! This past week my wife and I said bye to a dear young lady and her children who moved from Barttlesville back to their home roots in Texas. We love Texas 364 days a year. Except for the Red River Rivalry Saturday, Texas is always near and dear to our hearts. I lived in San Antonio for six months working on a project for my company and while in my Air Force career spent much time in that area at the various military installations. There is Sea World, the Hill Country, and the Alamo.

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When I was a young boy the world seemed so different than now. Things were magical and hopeful regardless the Cold War, beginings of the Vietnam War, and Civil Rights initiatives. For me it ended when John F. Kennady was assassinated. I grew up that day. But before that it seemed anything was possible for anyone. I was 10 years old when space travel faciniated me.

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When I was a high school student in 1968 in southern California I enrolled in my school’s first Black History class. Two of us in the class were not black but we were all friends. I had the opportunity to read “The Big C” by Langston Hughes and The Autobiography of Malcom X by Alex Haley. These books and interesting conversations with an excellent class and teacher gave me a deeper appreciation for the contributions and struggles of other Americans. Later I was glued to the mini series “Roots”, also a product of Alex Haley who was a Coastie veteran. I found his works to be thoughtful and meaningful. As Historian I discovered this fellow veteran left us on this day in 1992. He was retired Coast Guard Chief Journalist Alex Haley, internationally noted author and the first person to ever hold that rate in the Coast Guard. He died of a heart attack.

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Like many in my age group I recall “Drills” in school of crawling under my desk and covering my head. The fear of Soviet nuclear attack was real and actions to prepare for the eventuality equally real. How many of us watched “Dr. Strangelove” with Peter Sellers? Although much has changed, as I will relate, some things never do in light of the ongoing tensions on nuclear arms control between our country and Russia even this week.

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