November 2023

Michael C. Kelly Army, active duty May 1975 - May 1978 Fort Lewis, Wash.

Robert King Townsend Born Feb. 24, 1907 Died June 2, 1944 His family had a long, pioneer connection to El Reno. Townsend trained pilots on the Henry Bomhoff farm airfield west of El Reno as part of the El Reno Junior College pilot training program.

David Abel Uribe-Shelton Specialist in 2/504 PIR 82nd Airborne Division. Served 2017-2020. Part of rapid deployment to Iraq in support of the attack on U.S. embassy during the start of 2020.

Warren Vernon Frazier Born Jan. 2, 1922 Died March 2, 1942 Enlisted in February of his senior year in high school. Warren Street in El Reno was named in his honor after his death.

Sammy Smith Born Oct. 23, 1946 Died April 16, 1968    Graduated from El Reno High School Class of 1966 Served in the 101st Airborne Division Killed in Action in Thua Thien province, South Vietnam, from small arms fire in his first battle.

Terry Yeakey Nov. 9, 1965 - May 8, 1996 U.S. Military Police First Gulf War Oklahoma City police officer Credited with saving several lives immediately after the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, April 19, 1995

Research by El Reno High School instructor Brian Rukes and his English classes has turned up El Reno military members who lost their lives while serving our nation.

Brian Rukes obviously believes no one gets left behind. Rukes, the El Reno High School English teacher and volunteer school historian, has made it his mission to honor the lives of those from El Reno who gave their lives serving in the United States military.

Canadian County held its 12th Annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown El Reno Sunday afternoon. Organized by the El Reno Chamber of Commerce, the parade included flags, floats, the El Reno High School Band and the county’s Veterans of the Year honorees.

Your Tribune this weekend could be late arriving to your mailbox because the post office is closed Friday for Veterans Day. Webmaster’s note: The Tribune will be also be closed Friday, November 10 for Veterans Day.