By Jill Stephenson.

Army PFC Jon Townsend of Claremore was killed September 16, 2012 while actively serving in Afghanistan. He was 19 and left behind a wife and many loving family members and friends. One of those family members was his sister Jennifer, who was six years older than Jon. I interviewed her for this article.

Before Jon started school it was clear he was smart and patriotic. He could recite the pledge of allegiance, sing Amazing Grace and knew his multiplication tables. He was actively involved in 4H where he won numerous awards and was influenced by a band teacher to play almost any instrument he picked up, including the trumpet, drums and guitar.

As a young boy, one of Jon’s heroes was the tv character, “ Walker, Texas Ranger”. He admired his heroism in fighting bad guys and saving good girls. According to Jennifer, he would also walk around in a beat up cowboy hat and kick things like a cowboy would. Jennifer said she would call him Noj just to annoy him and that many people called him Jon Ross.

Jon was actively involved in his church and enjoyed sharing his faith with others. He was a talented musician and tutored other kids in his band class. He also played football during high school and was seen playing with the band while wearing his football uniform. Days after graduating from Sequoyah High School in May of 2011, Jon left for bootcamp.

While overseas, he took to the children and asked his family to send candy and wet wipes for them. He said he wanted them to know he was a good guy. Before Jon left for his deployment he married his sweetheart and made a video to watch in the event of his death. He had also been mentoring several youth from local churches. They would meet in a peaceful spot overlooking Claremore Lake where they shared personal issues with him they didn’t feel comfortable talking about in church. After Jon was killed, his family collaborated with his friends to create a memorial in that place to honor him. Jennifer remarked that to this day, it is the place where she feels the closest to him. In December of 2015, a one mile section of highway 88 between Oologah and Jon’s church was dedicated as the PFC Jon Ross Townsend Memorial Highway. Jennifer drives by this often and says it makes her feel good that people still place memorial items there in his honor. She would like people to know that Jon believed in what he was doing. He was there to share God’s word and to help people that couldn’t help themselves. He led several of his fellow soldiers to God. They called him, “God’s soldier” and “Preacher Boy.” After his death, one of the wives of his brothers in arms had a patch made that said “God’s Soldier” on it. They wore them under a flap on their uniform in his honor.

I asked Jennifer why she thinks it’s important for the public to know about our fallen heroes. She said there are many reasons. They gave the ultimate sacrifice – not just for those they know, but for people they never met, for the possibility and hope for a better life, and to know that what they’ve done will make a difference.

To keep his memory alive, Jennifer still talks about her brother to her children. She reminisced of the great hugs he gave and said her son now gives her the same kind. Her son was four and oldest daughter was two when Jon died. She has since had another daughter. She has been honest about what happened to him and shared with them that Jon loved God and his family and friends and he died serving his country. If he was still here he would do it all over again.

Jennifer stated that Jon grew up without a dad and believes this is why he made the switch with a fellow soldier the night he died. Jon said to him, “You need to be able to stay in and get some rest and call your kids. I’ll take your turn and you can take mine later.” He saw the importance of being a father because he grew up without one. He would pay with his life so children he never knew would still have a father.

PFC Jon Ross Townsend is laid to rest next to his grandfather, who was his father figure, at Lone Chapel Cemetery in Pryor. He is loved and missed every day. •
story by Jill Stephenson, Gold Star Mother.

Greetings, I’m SFC (Ret) George Shafer. I served as Chaplain at the American Legion in Guthrie, Oklahoma while earning my M.Div. I’m now the Digital Media Pastor for Generations Church in Guthrie. It’s a great Christian community.

As Veterans, we share an ethos that guide our decisions, ethics and moral compass. Concepts like timeliness, integrity, courage and selfless service. We learned the value of hard work and its positive impact on our organization, mission and fellow service members. But we often struggle with balancing these proactive values with the concept rest. When we take time to stop and rest, it can be followed by underlying guilt, even shame. We are culturally driven to do the work, to grind it out, no time off, even at the expense of neglecting those we care about. So, how do we avoid these consequences?

There is an amazing alignment between the science of health and wellness and the teachings in scripture concerning the need for rest, it’s called Sabbath. The same root word as sabbatical. The Sabbath is a staple of the Judeo-Christian culture, yet we witness daily the results of ignoring its benefits. Exhaustion, worry, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, quick tempers, damaged relationships, work burnout, addictions and others are symptoms of our overworked and under rested lifestyles.

We were created in God’s image and likeness. We were made to rest. We were made to stop. We were made to meditate on God. Just reading those three sentences may make you cringe or laugh on the inside. “George, you don’t know my schedule.” “You don’t understand the pressure I’m under.” “I need to feed my family.” All valid points, but all too often these people arrive at jobs, even to church, burnt out, full of contempt and bitterness, going through the motions. Now more than ever we need to seek peace, joy, and contentment. These are three fantastic byproducts of the Sabbath, if we’ll only embrace and practice it!

Yes, adhering to the Sabbath is difficult. Attempting your first 24-hour Sabbath will likely be a rehearsal of all that you forgot to do! But it is through this challenge that the fruits of the Sabbath are revealed. Honoring the Sabbath requires you to schedule around it. Early Hebrews understood the Sabbath to begin once the third star is seen in the night sky on Friday evening and concludes when the third star is observed on Saturday evening. It shows us that the Sabbath is not ritualistic as it varies from week to week when the stars are visible to us.

For five years I have intentionally practiced my Sabbath. It has helped me find a balance that has created a closer, more intimate relationship with God and my family. I am healthier, clear-headed, more patient, and more flexible with change. The Sabbath has given me peace, joy, and contentment, and has been an integral part of refreshing my mind, body, soul, and emotions.

Communication has been key to sustaining my Sabbath. In-depth and consistent communication with my wife, my family, my job, and my friends has helped create the space necessary to observe the Sabbath. It also gave unspoken permission for the people around me to observe the Sabbath in their own time.

Take time to focus on your own Sabbath, find rest for your soul. Christ shares this promise: Matt 11:28, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. • Rev. George F. Shafer, SFC (Ret.), M.Div., B.S., Chaplain (TAL Post 58)

Weatherford’s Stafford Air and Space Museum, located at 3000 Logan Road near historic Route 66, offers visitors an extraordinary journey through aviation and space exploration.

From airplanes to space craft
Weatherford’s Stafford Air and Space Museum, located at 3000 Logan Road near historic Route 66, offers visitors an extraordinary journey through aviation and space exploration. Its packed galleries showcase rockets, aircraft, space suits, engines, and other artifacts – many connected to Oklahoma’s celebrated astronaut, Lieutenant General Thomas Stafford. The museum traces the story of flight from the Wright Brothers to the moon landings, with more than 50 American and Soviet technological achievements arranged in rough chronological order. Plan at least two hours to take it all in. Let’s blast off.

The world of controlled, heavier-than-air powered flights started on December 17, 1903, when the Wright Brothers flew the Wright Flyer. A full-scale replica can be seen as well as other early aircraft like an actual Sopwith Pup and replicas of a Bleriot XI, Curtiss Pusher, and Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. Visitors can use a “Star Tour Guide” handout to learn about each exhibit. Reflecting on the rapid pace of progress, Doug Schones of Canute remarked, “From 1903 to 1969, such a short time (one life time), so much technology.”
Rockets and Engines Take Center Stage
The heart of the museum lies in its space exhibits. Among them is an actual German WWII V-2 rocket, as well as F-1, J-2, and Soviet NK-33 engines. The mighty Saturn V moon rocket required five F-1 Rocketdyne engines, producing 7.6 million pounds of thrust, to send astronauts to the moon. A Titan II rocket, the same type Stafford rode into orbit during his Gemini 6 and 9 missions in 1965 and 1966, respectfully, is also displayed. Interactive exhibits let visitors hear-and almost feel – the immense power of rockets.

Houston’s Johnson Space Center contributed an authentic Mission Control Console used from the Gemini program through the Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, and the early Shuttle eras. Another highlight is the actual Gemini 6A spacecraft that Stafford and Wally Schirra flew during the first-ever rendezvous in space with Gemini 7 on December 15, 1965.

A towering, full-scale replica of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM) “Eagle” is displayed. In 1969, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, Jr. piloted a LM like this to become the first humans to walk on the moon. Nearby, Stafford’s Apollo 10 spacesuit – composed of 18,000 parts – offers a tangible link to his historic mission in May 1969.

International Space Station
Space Station fans will enjoy seeing a 1/24th scale model that illustrates the complexity of the orbiting laboratory. Interactive displays explain its components and the multinational crews who have lived and worked aboard. Viewing the model, Angela Correll of Ponca City observed, “This (ISS) is what keeps us connected” because astronauts from many nations share the station. Visitors are encouraged to download the “Spot the Station” smartphone app to track its path overhead.

Cold War and Modern Aircraft
The museum has an impressive collection of fighter airplanes. Outside are four and inside, visitors encounter an F-86 “Sabre,” Soviet MIG-21R “Fishbed,” T-38 “Talon,” F-16 “Fighting Falcon” and 2024’s addition, a F-117A “Nighthawk” stealth fighter. The MIG-21R served as the Soviet Bloc’s front-line fighter during the Cold War. The F-117A, a stealth fighter which Stafford helped develop, flew combat sorties during Operation Desert Storm, Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom, according to the Star Tour Guide.

Honoring Thomas Stafford
General Stafford was born and raised in Weatherford. The museum’s website notes, “His mother came to Oklahoma in a covered wagon and lived to see her only child fly to the moon. His father was a dentist who taught his son to appreciate what he had by working hard for it.” With a lot of hard work and natural abilities, Stafford graduated at the top 10% of his class at the U.S. Naval Academy and later became “Chief of Astronauts at NASA, was appointed Head of Research and Development at the Pentagon, chaired the team that developed the Hubble instrument COSTAR (Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement), worked at Area 51, and (was) responsible for Stealth Technology as we know it today.” His career included four historic space missions: Gemini 6A, Gemini 9, Apollo 10, and Apollo-Soyuz, where he commanded Apollo’s final flight. Lieutenant General Stafford lived from September 17, 1930 – March 18, 2024, reaching the age of 93.

Completing the Visit
Open seven days a week, the Stafford Air and Space Museum, blends history, technology, and human achievement into an unforgettable experience. Note. Museum personnel did not respond to requests for an interview. •
story and photos by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

Marine Corps First Lieutenant Henry Louis Bellmon displayed heroism and leadership as a tank platoon commander during four WWII Pacific Island landings. He earned a Silver Star for bravery and inspired admiration among infantrymen who could draw water from his tank platoon.

He served one term as an Oklahoma State Legislator from 1946 to 1948 before a prolific career that included serving as Oklahoma’s first Republican Governor and U.S. Senator. He was governor from 1963 to 1967. Under Oklahoma law at the time, he was not allowed to run for a second term. He was then elected twice as U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, serving from 1968 to 1980, when he chose not to run again. In 1986, he was re-elected as governor, a position he held until 1990. Born in 1921, he seldom, if ever, discussed his gallant service during campaigns.

Bellmon first caught his superiors’ attention during his initial tank-commanding training in the United States, where he demonstrated mechanical skills he had learned on the family homestead in Billings, Oklahoma. When his M4 Sherman tank lost a track, he instructed his driver to move forward and backward slowly, and two crew members used hand tools to quickly realign the track back on.

After observing his ingenuity during training, Captain Robert M. Neiman, who took command of the forming Company C, 4th Tank Battalion, chose Second Lt. Bellmon as a platoon leader. A recent graduate of Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), he was soon training as a platoon leader of five tanks.

As members of the 4th Marine Division, his platoon took part in four major amphibious landings across the Central Pacific, ending with intense fighting in the battle for Iwo Jima.
Tanks served as infantry support weapons in the rugged island and jungle terrain. Their firepower helped the infantry counter Japanese defensive tactics. They were considered one of the most important weapons in the Pacific War for breaching stubborn Japanese entrenchments.

In their first combat landing at Roi-Namur (Kwajalein Atoll) in February 1944, Bellmon’s unit supported the assault on these twin islands in the Marshall Islands.
The unit returned to base on Maui, Hawaii, where Bellmon and other tank crews began modifying their tanks to enhance survival and effectiveness, showcasing their ingenuity and dedication to protecting the infantry.

Marines adapted existing equipment to demonstrate that unconventional leadership and rapid adaptation could build an elite force in significant engagements of the Pacific War.
With each return to Maui, new features were added until the modifications were deemed complete. These included water tanks to supply the infantry, wooden planking on the sides to prevent magnetic mines, radios welded to the back so the infantry could communicate with the tanks without opening hatches, protection for all hatches, and protection against mines.

These modifications clearly exemplify the Marines’ concept of adapting and improvising to defeat a resourceful enemy.

In June of 1944, during the invasion of Saipan, Bellmon’s leadership and technical skill with heavy equipment were duly noted by his commanders. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his tank platoon’s frequent success in attacking fortified positions and traversing minefields.

In July, Bellmon’s platoon took part in the landing on Tinian, where his unit fought for all but one day of the campaign. Once again, they destroyed many enemy installations while under heavy fire.

In February 1945, Bellmon’s final combat landing at Iwo Jima was the most harrowing, as his tank was immobilized by a land mine immediately after landing.

The island, just 8 square miles in size, was key to the Pacific campaign. Its three airfields could support heavy bombers within a close 750-mile strike range of mainland Japan, making Bellmon’s actions essential to the broader war effort.

Bellmon was quoted in an interview with Jim Stafford with “The Daily Oklahoman” in 1995 on the 50th anniversary of the invasion, as remembering his tank being stranded because of Japanese fire later in the battle.

“It disabled the tracks, Bellmon said. “It was impossible to get out and fix it with all the machine gun fire, so we just sat there.”

“When we would spot a machine gun nest, we’d take it out, and of course, that drew artillery fire,” Bellmon said his tank took numerous hits. “They (the Japanese) were stupid,” he said. “They were using high-explosive artillery that exploded on impact. We would just get sparks.”

Despite the tank being a prime target for artillery, he remained inside to direct his platoon’s fire and movements by radio. Over the many days of the long battle, he had two more tanks destroyed beneath him, but continued the attack in new vehicles. Bellmon was known for his aggressive leadership. This courageous effort earned him the Silver Star for his gallantry.

He remembered taking over command of the five tanks of another platoon leader who was killed for several days.

At age 24, Iwo Jima was his most significant and last battle of the war. Approximately 70,000 Marines and Sailors participated; over 6,800 were killed, and nearly 20,000 were wounded. About 22,000 Japanese were killed or captured.

Iwo Jima lasted for 36 days of continuous combat. While military planners initially estimated the island would be secured in just three to four days, Japanese defensive strategies extended the conflict into a grueling five-week campaign.

His unit returned to Maui to train troops for the planned invasion of Japan. The use of the two atomic bombs ended the war.

Navy Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said of the Battle of Iwo Jima, “If there had been any question whether there should be a Marine Corps after this war, the Battle of Iwo Jima will assure that there will always be a Marine Corps.”
Bellmon’s political achievements, including his principled approach and impact on Oklahoma’s Republican party, exemplify how his military leadership translated into public service.

After his distinguished service in Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., he taught government and political science at Oklahoma City University, Central State University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma, shaping future generations.

He retired to the family farm and then retired from his wheat and cattle operations in his late 70s. He died at the age of 88 in 2009 following a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. • by Darl Devault, contributing editor

A new roof is one of the biggest expenses a homeowner will ever face—often the single most expensive replacement on a home.

What many Oklahomans don’t realize is that the Oklahoma Insurance Commission underwrites a program that can provide up to a $10,000 grant for homeowners who install a FORTIFIED roof. The program is called the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program. Information can be found online at ok.org, or by searching “Strengthen Oklahoma Homes” using voice search on your phone.

A FORTIFIED roof may realistically be a lifetime roof. When properly installed, 30 years or more of service life is a reasonable expectation.

My name is Jack Werner. I’ve been in construction for 50 years, hold a degree in construction, and own A to Z Inspections. In my professional opinion, the two most important advancements in residential construction over the last 50 years are Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) and the FORTIFIED building program.

A FORTIFIED roof meets standards developed and tested by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. These standards are based on years of research into high wind and hail performance. Simply put, it is the toughest composition roof a homeowner can install.

As just one example out of hundreds of required details:
Standard roofs typically use OSB or plywood decking fastened at wider intervals. A FORTIFIED roof requires roof decking to be fastened to rafters every 4 inches using #8 screw-shank nails. That dramatically improves wind uplift resistance—and that’s only one of many enhanced requirements.

Will $10,000 pay for a new roof?
Usually not.
However, on a small, single-story home, roughly 1,000 square feet, with decking already in good condition, it is possible. Even when it doesn’t cover the full cost, the grant typically represents a substantial portion of the expense.

As a veteran myself, I want to be sure Oklahoma veterans are fully aware of this opportunity.

For additional information, I can be reached at 405-412-7861.

Visit us here: A to Z Inspections, Fortified Evaluator

Jack Werner

A to Z Inspections, Fortified Evaluator

Note: Jack Werner served with the 4th Infantry Division, K Company, 75th Airborne Rangers, completing two tours in Vietnam. Each of his sons has also served in the United States military. Jack holds a degree in construction and is the owner of A to Z Inspections.

Patricia Hocker is on a mission to give inspiration to Veterans and their families while at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, located at 921 NE 13th Street.

She is doing so via a rock garden that features painted rocks with inspirational messages.
“Four years ago, I became the chairman of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Veterans committee. The Veteran’s committee is a national outreach for the Salvation Army,” she said. “When I went down to the VA Hospital, I thought it looked bleak and not very welcoming.

There was a small sign in an area surrounded by some bushes. It said, ”take a rock and leave a rock for inspiration.” One of the hospital staff came by when I was there. She told me that occupational therapy did this for a few years, but they were no longer doing it. I knew then that I had to do something about that.”

Hocker said she asked three of her friends, Teta Turner, Shirley Brummett, and Becky Evans to help her.

“Shirley and Becky are artists and Teta and I do the best we can. I also invited ladies from our Salvation Women’s Auxiliary to help with the painting. My Bible study group also paints,” Hocker said. “I supply all the paint, rocks, and ideas for painting. I’m always happy when someone walks up to me with a box of painted rocks. We now have some “rock fairies” who leave painted rocks.”

Hocker said last year they purchased an attractive metal sign to go in the garden.
“I try to get down every 2 to 3 weeks to “plant” new rocks. When I get there, the garden is bare. It’s a challenge to keep the garden planted,” she said. “It has become a mission for Shirley, Becky, and I. It is a blessing for us as we bless our Veterans and their families. Whenever we are down there, we hear beautiful stories about what the rocks mean to that person or a loved one.”

Turner and her friends all previously worked together at Windsor Hills Elementary School in the Putnam City school district.

“We all worked in and we ended our careers at Windsor Hills,” she said.
Turner said she got involved with the VA Rock Garden after a close friend passed away while in the Oklahoma City VA Hospital.

“What frankly got me involved directly in it is two years ago on New Year’s Day we had a very close friend who died at the Veterans Hospital, and that’s when I began to get inspired to do something for the people who come down there,” she said.

“The garden was already going, but I had gone down to see him. And then when he passed away, of course, I wanted to do my part. And the rocks are not just for the Vets but for their families too.”
Turner said being a part of the VA rock garden has been a blessing.

“It became such a joyful mission that we’ve carried it on now for at least two years. And we can hardly keep rocks in there. They disappear so quickly. They give people a lot of joy,” she said. • by Van Mitchell, staff writer

Veteran service organizations can’t run on good deeds and good will alone – they need money to pay staff, utilities and rent – that’s where Tulsa-based Coffee Bunker’s primary annual fundraiser, Bunker Bites, comes in. On November 6, at Tulsa University’s Student Union, 200 veterans, supporters, and community leaders came together. Guests paid $125 per person or $200 per couple to eat tasty hors d’oeuvres, buy raffle tickets to win 11 gift baskets and a 50/50 cash prize and watch three deserving people receive awards. It was loud, social and fun. Readers were introduced to Coffee Bunker in August’s publication.

Coffee Bunker’s mission is “to empower veterans and their families as they move forward.” They support veterans and their families transition to civilian life through personal and professional development.

Attendees sampled – and re-sampled – a wide variety of appetizers prepared by 10 local chefs. Each guest dropped their attendance ticket in one chef’s bowl to vote for the “People’s Choice Award.”

Chefs had personal reasons for participating. John Badgwell, an Army veteran in Tulsa, said, “I like to cook for the Coffee Bunker once a month because I want to give back to veterans.” He and another chef offered raspberry lemon cakes with homemade raspberry topping and cherry chocolate brownies with homemade cherry glaze.

Joaquinn Juarez cooks for the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. “My mom is a ten-year Navy vet and she went to the Coffee Bunker often. Someone at the Food Bank suggested I show up and compete.” His oh-so-good meatballs were rewarded with the People’s Choice Award, a white chef’s jacket. Dr. Michael Horton, Coffee Bunker’s Executive Director, said, “It’s a very prestigious jacket. They want that jacket.”

After the auction and People’s Choice winners were announced, Scott Blackburn and Dr. Robby Hedrick were inducted into Oklahoma’s Military Hall of Honor for their work at Coffee Bunker and presented medallions.

From the stage, Jim Lyall, President of the Board of Directors, remarked, “I’ve worked alongside our two inductees tonight for several years, and both of them wear the motto, ‘The spirit of a warrior in the Heart of a Patriot.’”

Blackburn served as Operations Manager from 2011 to 2019. Lyall noted, “Scott credits the veterans, the volunteers he had the honor of serving with, and the community partners for the success of the Coffee Bunker and the lives that are changed within its walls.” Blackburn is now a clinical therapist at Rightway Medical in Bartlesville.

Lyall then recognized Dr. Robbie Hedrick, a former Director of Transition Services. Among Hedrick’s accomplishments, Lyall added, “he led strategic initiatives and connected veterans and their families to critical resources in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. His leadership helped forge partnerships with (other service) organizations…” Hedrick now works as a Military Account Executive at Grand Canyon University.

The Honorable Rebecca Nightingale received the first-ever Lieutenant Colonel Bobby Armour Service to Veterans Award. As a Tulsa District Judge, she supervises the Alternative Courts program, including Veterans Treatment Court and Reentry Court.

Lyall explained, “Working with veterans and those recently released from prison is Judge Nightingale’s passion…Adjudication of Cases in Veterans Treatment Court necessitates the unique ability to blend appropriate justice and appropriate compassion.”

Mary Ligon, Coffee Bunker’s founder, concluded with a moving, deeply personal account of the organization’s beginnings. Daniel, her Marine son who experienced intense combat in Iraq, returned home with severe PTSD and died by suicide in 2007.

Ligon recalled him saying, “Mom, there’s no one to talk to. And there’s no USO or anything. And you know, civilians, they can be really nice, but they just can’t relate.” She “began to have this concept of a place…where they (veterans) could put up their boots…and just talk and connect.” She provided examples of the veteran center’s importance and relevance.

Coffee Bunker receives no local, state, or federal funding and relies entirely on grants, donations, and fundraising. Dr. Horton explained, “The funds from… Bunker Bites…will be dispersed…to all the programs we do for veterans, to include our food pantry, helping them with job searches…with education searches, and sometimes, emergency funding.” The event raised $70,000 – an impressive 30% increase over 2024’s $50,000 total. The lead sponsor among 19 listed in the program was Helmerich Payne, Inc.

Afterwards, Horton mentioned that “people left in good spirits with a willingness to donate more and it was a great exercise of teamwork.”

A community that knows Coffee Bunker makes a difference ensured the doors were kept open to help veterans and their families. •
by Richard Stephens, Jr., Lt Col, USAF, Ret. See Rich Travel Niche