News

Charles “Sonny” Thomas

Enlisted at age 17 in the U.S. Navy, 1950-1954.

Aviation Boatsmate

Korean War Service Medal

John R. “Jack” Dyer

U.S. Army 1953-55

My husband, John V. Henderson was a proud American soldier in the U.S. military for 23 years - Vietnam – Army, six years, Iraq Freedom – Seabees, 17 years.

John served 23 years for a country that he was very proud to call home.

He retired in 2007 and has since been very unhappy with the America that we are now living in. So many veterans risked their lives for our freedom to now stand by and watch it being taken away slowly every day.

Gordon K. Hoselton served from 1951-1955 in the U.S. Navy on the USS Southerland (DDR-743).

Eight major battles including the Korean Conflict.

Gordon was active duty from 1955-1960, ready for battle.

He served his country with much love and pride.

Johnny Duane Hollman was born Dec. 5, 1941, two days before the Pearl Harbor bombing.

He was drafted into the Army in 1964, shortly after John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

Johnny attended basic training in Fort Polk, La. After that he was sent to Fort Riley, Kan., serving as a Quartermaster.

In June 1965, he was sent to San Francisco and then shipped to Vietnam, a two-week trip on a boat.

During that time he served as a Specialist 4th Class, spending six months in Vietnam. He was on patrol when he was wounded by a grenade in November 1965.

Retired Marine Major Harvey Howard.

At 67 I don’t look like this anymore. I am a 1976 graduate of the University of Oklahoma and former Adjunct Professor, American Public Works Institute, Virginia Tech University. Now making my home in Wilmington, N.C.

My mother, Bernice Austin is a lifelong resident of El Reno.

Cary Lyle Baumwart Jr. and Evelyn Hall were married Sept. 10, 1942.

The following week, Lyle rode the train to Boston for training.

He would be sent to the European Theater with the fighting 45th Infantry Division. Lyle was a Sherman M10 tank destroyer driver.

Evelyn Baumwart would volunteer to be a WAC in 1944 after Lyle was wounded at Anzio Beach. He was wounded two more times.

Gary Baumwart is their son.

Dan Castrop, 94 years old

Served in the U.S. Merchant Marines from 1942-1944. Sailed around the world twice shipping materials for Allied War Effort.

Served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946, stationed offshore on Siapan in preparation for the invasion of Japan prior to the surrender to U.S. forces in August 1945.

Castrop moved to El Reno in 1963. He retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FCI-El Reno, in 1985.

Larry Castrop is his son.

A photo of my father in 1918 when he served in the war.

He never talked about it much, but mentioned France and Belgium.

After the war he came back to El Reno and enrolled in the first school for auctioneers. He worked as an auctioneer until his death in 1962.

Most people called him “Cal.” He was a people person.

Parry Everett Welsh is his daughter.

Donnell Hayes Jr.

Army and Army National Guard, 1989-2014