Pete Reed, former director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, was tasked by his close friend, the late Gov. George Nigh, to work with the Force 50 Foundation to help bring the Native American Warrior Project to fruition.

Pete Reed, former director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, right, and Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, are working to help make the Native American Warrior Project in Oklahoma City a reality.Reed, who began his career in public service at age 25 and became director of the Department of Veterans Affairs at 29, has been working with the Native American Warrior Project to establish a monument recognizing Native Americans’ contributions in the U.S. military.

In August, Reed kicked off a statewide tour to honor Native American veterans and raise funds for a new monument at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
The tour, dubbed the “Season of the Warrior Campaign,” will visit 100 communities across Oklahoma in under 100 days.

Reed and his team plan to meet local leaders, visit community landmarks, and engage with newspapers to raise awareness for the project.

“He (Nigh) asked me to pursue with the Force 50 Foundation to visit all 77 counties,” Reed said. “Our goal is to raise $2.5 million from 100,000 Oklahomans at $25 each. That’s one quarter of 1% of our state, and we believe there are 100,000 Oklahomans at $25.”

The Force 50 Foundation, headquartered in Norman, is dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of Veterans by enhancing their access to essential healthcare, mental health support, and transportation services. Through strategic collaboration with an extensive network of partners, they strive to empower Veterans with the resources and support they need to thrive.

The Native American Warrior Monument arch rendering is shown at the state capital in Oklahoma City.Nigh, a special advisor to Force 50, penned a letter to Oklahomans to support the Native American Warrior Project.

“As someone that believes in the State of Oklahoma and supports all Oklahoma veterans, I would like to ask your participation in the Native American Warrior Project,” he wrote. “This is a Special Recognition Vision of the Force 50 Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of all Oklahoma Veterans.”

Nigh continued, “This project promotes the dedication of a First American Warrior monument at the newly established Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Park on the southside of the State Capitol. We are asking all Oklahomans to support this project. Our success depends on you and the many good Oklahomans you know. Please help us spread the word within your community and assist us in our fundraising efforts to honor the heritage and military history of these special Oklahomans!”

The project has garnered support from prominent figures including former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer.

Reed also highlighted the creation of the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Park at the state Capitol, which will feature the 45th Infantry Arch as its centerpiece. He said the Native American Warrior Monument will be the first of its kind in the nation and will honor the state’s diverse military history.

Native Americans have served in every major military conflict since the Revolutionary War. In the 20th century, more than 12,000 Native Americans served in World War I, and 10,000 Native women joined the Red Cross.

During World War II, over 44,000 Native Americans served, including nearly 800 women. Since 9/11, Native Americans have served at a higher per-capita rate than any other ethnic group. While their reasons for serving are as diverse as their tribal affiliations, many cite their desire to follow in the footsteps of family members and the cultural value placed on patriotism, duty, and Warrior traditions.

Reed said the Oklahoma Legislature appropriated $4.3 million for a 45th Infantry arch and site development.

“Even though the 45th Infantry arch will be the anchor monument to the new Veterans Park, what we are doing is going out and working to establish the other monuments and sculptures in the park. The first one being the Native American Warrior Monument,” he said.

Reed said the Veterans Park; the Veterans Arch and the Native American Warrior Monument have already been approved by the Oklahoma Arts Council.
“The Arts Council cannot put the project out to bid until we raise the funds. Once the funds are raised, invitations to bid on the project will only go out to Native American artists and sculptors,” he said.

Reed said his statewide tour is going well.

“We’re getting great newspaper coverage, front-page coverage on every rural newspaper in every rural city that we visit. So, we’re getting the word out,” he said.
Reed said he would like to have all the funds raised by early 2026, but construction on the project may not start until Fall 2026.“The Arch and the site development will all be

completed and dedicated sometime in the middle of next summer, 2026,” he said. “Until that’s dedicated, we can’t put another monument on there.”

Reed said he is grateful to play a part in Nigh’s vision for the project.

“He was my dear friend, and no one represented the state of Oklahoma better than George Nigh. There will never be another George Nigh in Oklahoma,” Reed said. “And so, this means everything to me to see this Veterans Park beginning with the Native American Warrior Monument to become a reality. Nothing means more to me, and I will not stop until we succeed.”

Check donations for the project can be mailed to 50 Foundation, PO box 722838 in Norman, Okla., 73070. Visit www.force50foundation.com or use your phone and scan the code below. • story by Van Mitchell, staff writer

By Marilyn Olson, Executive Director, VillagesOKC

March 29 will be a full day of celebration and commemoration for VillagesOKC members. It’s National Vietnam Veterans Day, and two major events will fill the day. A morning ceremony at the Oklahoma History Center Museum will honor all Vietnam-era veterans. An afternoon ceremony at Del City High School will recognize the character and sacrifice of 1st Lt. James Robert Kalsu.
VillagesOKC is partnering with the Oklahoma History Center Museum, the local offices of Humana, Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight, the Force 50 Foundation and Navigating Medicare to host a pinning ceremony honoring all the servicemen and servicewomen, active or reservists, who served anywhere in the world during the Vietnam War-era. Each will receive a lapel pin inscribed with “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.”
The event will be held in the Devon Great Hall of the museum 10 a.m. to noon, with the doors opening at 9:00 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
At 1 p.m. that afternoon, a larger-than-life monument to Kalsu will be unveiled at the Del City High School stadium which bears his name. At 1:30 p.m. in the Del City Performing Arts Center there will be a Vietnam-Era Veteran pinning ceremony and premier of the documentary “Uncommon Character – the Legacy of James Robert Kalsu.”
Kalsu was a stand-out student and Del City High School football star, an All-American at the University of Oklahoma, and Rookie of the Year for the Buffalo Bills, who became the only active professional athlete killed in action in the Vietnam War.
“If our children and grandchildren are to truly value the freedoms we have, it will be experiencing events like this where men and women are honored for their character and selfless acts of valor,” said VillagesOKC Executive Director Marilyn Olson. “VillagesOKC values our veterans and intends to continue finding ways to honor them.”
According to a release from the museum: “March 29 was designated as Vietnam Veterans Day by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, to be commemorated with annual nationwide events. Guided by the stipulations in that act, only Vietnam War veterans and their families are recognized. However, the Vietnam War Commemoration organization is providing recognition pins to honor any US veteran who served on active duty or in the reserves in the US Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, Vietnam or elsewhere. Family members of any veteran unable to be present may also receive this pin.”
The keynote speaker will be Colonel “Chuck” DeBellevue who has been deemed “Ace of Aces;” one of only five to achieve that status from downing six North Vietnamese MiGs. Altogether, he logged 550 combat hours while flying 220 combat missions; 96 over Vietnam. His decorations include the Air Force Cross, three Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, eighteen Air Medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device. In 2012, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame and received the Congressional Gold Medal.

Visit: https://villagesokc.org/

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles “Chuck” DeBellevue, now living in Edmond, is the top Vietnam War fighter ace, with six MiG kills, from the last American aerial combat era to produce aces.

“The U.S. Air Force credited us Weapons System Officers (WSOs) with equal credit for MiG kills in Vietnam because we were essential in the F-4 Phantom II weapons and sensor team with the pilot and the other fighters in our flights,” DeBellevue said in an interview. “The aircraft was designed around advanced radar and air-to-air missiles, and as the WSO in the back seat, my vigilance was critical to the team for operating this complex system to shoot down MiGs.”

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter, a high-altitude interceptor, was developed with the assumption that long-range, radar-guided missiles would render classic dogfighting obsolete. The supersonic fighter relied entirely on its missile armament and fire-control radar system to engage targets. This system was far too complex for a single pilot to manage while also flying the aircraft in combat, especially while maintaining mission communications and navigation duties.

The WSO was responsible for operating the aircraft’s powerful radar, tracking enemy aircraft, to help direct the pilot, while also managing targeting and the use of weapons. The WSO managed the firing of the F-4’s sophisticated AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

“My role in shooting down North Vietnamese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19s and MiG-21s was to assess situational awareness of the whole tactical battlefield in the sky,” DeBellevue said. “This included what was being fired at us from the ground to shoot us down. We fought in the most heavily defended airspace in the world, except around Moscow during the Vietnam War. Whenever we flew close to Hanoi, we became the target, not the MiGs we were engaging.”

WSOs were also trained in ground attack, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and forward air control.

Although not designed for extensive monitoring of ground threats, the F-4 proved to be a special aircraft in missions to shoot down MiGs because it used the top-secret Combat Tree system, installed on a select few F-4s. This equipment played a pivotal role in their missions as air crews gained a decisive advantage over Vietnamese Air Force MiGs.

Combat Tree was a modified Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator. The Vietnamese used Soviet-made SRO-2 IFF transponders on their MiGs. The enemy ground-controlled interception stations and Surface-to-Air missile (SAMs) sites used the transponder signal to distinguish friendly aircraft from US attackers.

“We used the Combat Tree our technical geniuses came up with to gain the tactical advantage. By ‘interrogating’ the enemy’s IFF system, we could receive a signal from the MiG’s transponder,” DeBellevue said. “This gave the F-4 crew a positive, long-range identification of a MiG, even in the ‘look-down’ clutter of my normal radar screen.”

The Combat Tree employed a passive detection method, unlike a normal radar “lock,” allowing it to passively detect and target MiGs from beyond visual range without alerting the enemy. This allowed the American F-4 crews to maneuver into an optimal position for an ambush.

On May 10, 1972, DeBellevue, flying with pilot Captain Steve Ritchie on a MiG Combat Air Patrol (MiGCAP), was vectored by command and control aircraft toward a flight of MiG-21s. Combat Tree allowed DeBellevue to identify and track one of the MiG-21s from beyond visual range.

With the Combat Tree providing a confirmed, long-range target, Ritchie strategically maneuvered their F-4 into an optimal firing position. DeBellevue launched two AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, scoring their first kill. This strategic thinking and quick decision-making in the heat of battle, amidst the intense pressure, are what made the air crew successful.

On July 8, 1972, while Captain Ritchie was flying a MiG sweep in an F-4E, they were alerted to two MiG-21s.

The men tracked the lead MiG and then quickly confirmed the second, trailing MiG, which was a known tactic for ambushing American fighters.

Ritchie to set up a reversal maneuver without the MiGs detecting them. DeBellevue fired two AIM-7 Sparrows at the trailing MiG, one of which hit the engine for the second kill. A quick maneuver onto the lead MiG and a final Sparrow secured the third kill, all within two minutes.

On August 28, 1972, DeBellevue and Captain Ritchie were protecting a Linebacker strike mission. When they encountered a single MiG-21 at high altitude, the crew used Combat Tree to acquire a radar lock that was head-on, giving them a critical ‘first-look’ advantage. DeBellevue fired four AIM-7 missiles, with the fourth finally impacting the MiG.

DeBellevue’s last two kills, making him an ace and the highest scoring ace of the war, took place on September 9, 1972. Ace is defined as having five or more confirmed aerial victories. Flying with his new pilot, Captain John Madden, on a MiGCAP flight near Phuc Yen Air Base in North Vietnam, they were engaged by two MiG-19s.

“The strength of our partnership and the teamwork between us, our mutual reliance on each other, was evident in this final mission,” DeBellevue said.

Supplying his pilot with Combat Tree data, Madden was able to perform a “slicing, low-speed yo-yo” maneuver to get behind the first MiG-19. DeBellevue then guided a heat-seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder to detonate near the first MiG. A quick switch to the second MiG allowed them to launch another AIM-9, which hit that aircraft’s tail. The two kills were scored within minutes of each other.

“All of this dogfight action is what the public wants to hear about. But first, we had to survive the battlefield below us to hunt and kill MiGs,” DeBellevue said.

The F-4 Phantom II WSOs faced a sophisticated and dense integrated air defense system primarily supplied and developed by the Soviet Union. The WSO used the F-4’s electronics to detect and counter these threats.

This threat included SAMs, radar-guided, high-altitude missiles that could reach up to 90,000 feet. WSOs were responsible for operating electronic countermeasures to give the pilot crucial information about the missile’s launch and flight path. By acting on this info to make evasive maneuvers, they countered the SAM threat.

Another ground-based missile threat WSOs monitored was SA-7 “Grail” (Strela-2), a shoulder-fired, heat-seeking missile. The WSO would often be the first to spot the launch smoke trail or receive electronic warnings. He then directed the pilot to deploy flares to confuse the missile’s heat seeker, thereby increasing the aircraft’s chances of survival.

North Vietnamese Anti-Aircraft Artillery’s (AAA) multi-layered threat was responsible for more American aircraft losses than any other enemy weapon system. The enemy employed a wide range of Soviet and Chinese-supplied anti-aircraft guns, from heavy machine guns to giant cannons.

The WSOs employed countermeasures for all this battlefield danger. In addition to using Electronic Countermeasures pods to jam larger radar-guided guns, the WSO would monitor and call out AAA activity based on visual cues and radar indications. This allowed the pilot to adjust flight paths and perform evasive actions to mitigate the risk of being hit.

Observing outside the cockpit while also focused on their electronic warfare responsibilities, the WSO focused on the broader threat beyond just the immediate visual field. This vigilance was crucial for the survival of both crew members.

“It was my job to keep us alive by constantly scanning for enemy threats on the ground and other planes approaching while the pilot flew the aircraft,” DeBellevue said. “This experience, while I worked with two different pilots during my time above Hanoi and North Vietnam, made me a new type of ace in a new kind of war.”

The F-4’s two-person pilot-WSO team revolutionized air combat by proving that a dual-crew design could effectively manage the workload of a complex, multi-role fighter. Pilot Ritchie and WSO DeBellevue of the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (“Triple Nickel”) were the USAF’s only aces of the Vietnam War. •
story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

World War II Army Veteran, Leland D. Chandler, donated his service dress uniform, awards, decorations, military documents and artifacts to the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
In January of 1941, Leland Chandler enlisted in the Army at 18 years old, served during WWII and was stationed at the Corregidor Islands in the Philippines with the 60th Coast Artillery. At the young age of 19 years old, Chandler was captured and taken to Japan and listed as a prisoner of war. During his three-and-a-half year status as a POW, Chandler worked as a steel mill laborer with 12-hour shifts, slept on the workroom floor, required to perform under grueling conditions, if he was healthy enough to work-he was given a bowl of rice a day to eat and was beaten when he physically couldn’t perform his laborious duties.
“There were 400 of us that went into that Japanese prison camp and when we were freed, only 53 of us came out, Chandler recalled as his children unveiled his service uniform and awards during the recent donation to the Fort Sill Museum.
Chandler weighed approximately 190 pounds when he went into the Japanese POW camp and when the remaining survivors were liberated, he weighed only 58 pounds.
“They told me I wouldn’t be able to have children, we’ll I’ve proved them all wrong. Heck, they never thought I would live this long and I’ve proved them wrong on that one too!”, Chandler said.
Three of Chandlers’ five children brought their father to Ft. Sill and were happy to help their Father donate his service memorabilia to the museum.
“We all talked about what we wanted to do with Dad’s military history and we all agreed, that it wouldn’t be right to split up his uniform and awards and that we wanted it all to be in the same place to be properly preserve to maintain all this history,” Linn Woodworth, Chandler’s daughter said, “Now we have a place that his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids can come to see all of our Father’s history in one location.”
“Our facility is the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility. We have three facilities here at Fort Sill-the Field Artillery Museum, Fort Sill Museum and the Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility,” said Correy Twilley ADA Training Support Facility Curator. “Ours is a new training concept that uses history to develop our Soldiers, weapons and tactics.”
“We are ultimately a training facility and we have an obligation to teach our young AIT [Advanced Individual Training] students and OCS [Officer Candidates Students] that attend these courses about this part of our history so they can learn about the past in the hopes that we are not doomed to repeat it,” Twilley said, “We are grateful for this unique and well-preserved piece of Mr. Chandler’s history. With this donation, he is helping to educate the future generations of service members and their families who walk through these halls. So much of WWII history has been lost and Mr. Chandler and his family has helped us preserve this piece in time to teach those future generations about his contributions to our nation’s heritage.”
Chandler continues to defy the odds, at a very spry 101 years old, Mr. Chandler holds the title of centenarian and continues to puzzle the medical experts.
Chandler attributes his extraordinary good health to medical care he receives at the VA and his family that has taken such good care of him throughout the years.
“I’m 100 percent (VA service connection) and the VA has taken excellent care of me and they have done everything they needed to do for me and my wife-they are outstanding,” Chandler said.
“One of the best things the VA could have done for my Father is to ensure our Mother was also taken care of-this was a huge relief to me and our entire family,” Chandler’s daughter Linn Woodworth stated. Unfortunately, On December 1, 2023, Chandlers’ wife passed away, just four days after celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary.
Chandler encourages other Veterans to find out if they are now eligible for VA healthcare because the rules and laws have changed over the years. Although, Chandler gives some sage words of advice to Veterans and says to come to the VA prepared.
“Bring in the right paperwork, the documents you need to get them into the system,” Chandler said. Ask yourself, do you have what you need to back it up?”
When asked the question about Veterans who may be reluctant to come to the VA to find out if you are eligible or not, he gave some fatherly words of advice.
“Well, that is your own fault, if you don’t go in and find out-I don’t have any sympathy for people who don’t do the right thing. I don’t know about other places, but I know the VA where I belong, that is the way it works.”
Chandler added, “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my family and the excellent care they have given to me over the years.” Chandler said, “I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
For more information about OKC VA HCS, visit our website at the below link: https://www.va.gov/oklahoma-city-health-care

Story and Photo by Van Mitchel, Staff Writer

The Military Retiree Activities Office (RAO) at Tinker Air Force Base serves as a liaison between the active-duty community and the retiree population.
The RAO is located in Bldg. 1, Door 7, Room 153 at Tinker AFB, and is manned by experienced military retiree members Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Our office is here to serve every retiree, regardless of rank or branch of service, when they need guidance or assistance with any issues, “ said RAO Director/CMSgt. (Retired USAF) Lorraine Caddy. “We also provide volunteers to support the Tinker mission at the RAO Office, and the Tinker Clinic Pharmacy.”
Chief Caddy said the Tinker RAO was started in 1982, and she has been with it since 1985. She started as RAO Director in 2014.
“Our primary mission is to be available for any military people or their families, regardless of rank or branch of service, to help them with whatever difficulties they’re having or get them to the right people to help them, which is really what we are,” she said. “We’re more of a referral agency than a doing agency. We have somebody here Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and they’re all trained with as much knowledge as we can give them. We just take the questions as they come on the phone or through the door.”
Chief Caddy said when someone calls or comes by the RAO, the process begins by determining what their problem is and how we can help
“Most military retirees should know how to handle their own personal business, but unfortunately, a lot of people don’t talk. Husbands and wives don’t talk, so they don’t all have the same information,” she said. “We try to find out exactly what their problem is, number one. We try to give them information about this office so that they know they can always come back here. I always tell people, “If we haven’t solved your problem, please come back. We’ll find somebody else who can help you,” because we always try to be available.”
Chief Caddy said once a veteran separates from their branch of service, it becomes more challenging to find help with services needed.
“When someone is on active duty, they basically have face to face help with all their human resource issues and things of that nature. But once you separate, you’re done. You don’t really have a local office to go to for admin information, things of that nature,” she said. “We try to get them the resources they need.”
Chief Caddy said one of the ways the RAO works to get information out is through its Military Retiree Appreciation Day happening on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Tinker Event Center starting at 7:30 a.m. with the formal program starting at 9 a.m. with several speakers scheduled.
Chief Caddy said the 2023 Military Retiree Appreciation Day had 200 attendees.
“In years past, before COVID, we had more than that, but we had to stop completely for two years,” she said.
The event is planned by Chief Caddy and a committee of volunteers that she selects.
“We’ll open the doors to the public at 0730-for those attending with lite refreshments available while they last,” she said. “I currently have 20 booth folks lined up, meaning people will come and be at a table where you can go and speak with them, and these are people from TriCare and Casualty Assistance, VA, and more. We also have a bus tour that’s available for those who want to take it around Tinker. It takes about 45 minutes to do the bus tour.”
The Military Retiree Appreciation Day also includes the naming of the Volunteer of the Year.
“That award is presented by the Wing Commander at my request to the person at the Retiree Day Service ceremony, so that they know that we give a darn that they’re there, because these people are giving their time and they’ve already given 20 years or more of their life to service,” Chief Caddy said.
Chief Caddy encourages those attending Military Retiree Appreciation Day to ask their questions.
“When I send an email, I encourage them to bring their questions, and before I dismiss any speaker, I always say, ‘Do you have more questions? Please don’t wait until he leaves and then ask me,‘ which is what happens sometimes. They’re shy,” she said. “There’s no question that’s stupid, in my opinion. There is no such thing. If you have a question and you need answers then you need to ask it. Sometimes those questions can’t be answered at the meeting, but then I make sure that that person has an appointment with the people they need to speak with.”
Chief Caddy said she has a desire to keep helping veterans as she was helped along the way.
“I did 20 years of service, and I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.
Chief Caddy said she was very fortunate to make Chief Master Sergeant after 15 years of service. She started her AF Creer in 1957 and retired from active service in 1977, and she was one of the first 10 women to achieve the rank of CMSgt in the entire United States Air Force.
“I was fortunate because I worked with people who cared,” she said. “Women veterans at that time were not assigned worldwide as they are today. I was working on an IG team and because of that was able to spend three years at Wiesbaden, Germany. My volunteer work with the RAO is great. I meet so many wonderful people and am happy to provide this service to our military retirees.”
Chief Caddy said veteran retiree volunteers are welcome to help with the RAO.
“We would love to have you join us as a volunteer in the Retiree Activities Office, and the Clinic Pharmacy,” she said. “We only ask for 3 hours a week of your time and you will know the joy of “continuing to serve.”

For more information about the RAO or to sign up for the Military Retiree Appreciation Day call (405) 739-2795 or email Chief Caddy at [email protected]

Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC), celebrates the Red Feather Galaeach year during Native American Heritage month. This year’s occasion raised over $150,000 and will provide 30 pairs of hearing aids for patients in need.
Held at the Omni Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City, this year’s Red Feather Gala was emceed by Ali Meyer and Joleen Chaney, news anchors from KFOR. They successfully united nearly
600 supporters, including tribal representatives from various parts of Oklahoma, to contribute to OKCIC’s charitable mission. To support the cause, attendees had the opportunity to make donations through a silent and live auction and Native art.
An outstanding moment of the evening was when RADM (Ret.) Kevin Meeks received the 2023
Spirit of the Urban Indian honor. RADM Meeks was honored for his lifelong commitment to improving the well-being of Native Americans in Oklahoma. As a proud citizen of Chickasaw Nation, he currently serves as Deputy Secretary of Health. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in the enhancement of health care services for American Indians.
“I am very honored to receive the Spirit of the Urban Indian Honor,” said RADM Meeks. “I’m so proud of Oklahoma City Indian Clinic’s accomplishments. They have created outstanding and nurtured outstanding partnerships with area tribes and the Indian Health Service. OKCIC is a great example for other urban Indian programs to emulate.”
The gala provided attendees with an opportunity to immerse themselves in Native American culture through a captivating dance performance by the Central Plains Dancers. Additionally, guests could make memories at the photo booth, while enjoying a night of dancing with live music and karaoke.

Former police officer, retired Chief Master Sergeant and teacher at Rose State College, Dukes was just appointed as an At Large Representative with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) Commission representing Oklahoma veterans. And he’s not done yet.

First of all, he’s proud of his family. His wife, Norita, is on the Board of Directors for Leah’s Hope, a 501(c)(3) Oklahoma non-profit organization in Midwest City. They have two boys: Nathan, a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at Will Rogers Airport, and Christopher, an active duty United States Marine. Mayor Dukes has lived in Midwest City since the age of three.

What motivated his desire to serve? Dukes responded, “It just seemed like the right thing to do and I was always lined with jobs that was in service…My aunt and my mom worked in the nursing field and that’s probably what got me into the service mindset.”

Work Career

Dukes joined the Coast Guard in 1975 as an active duty hospital corpsman and “served in a number of duty stations…and I stayed in the Coast Guard five years.” Afterwards, he earned an Associate in Health Technology from Oklahoma City Community College in 1982 and worked for the Midwest City Hospital as an EMT on a full and part-time basis until 1987. After completing some “ride-alongs” with Midwest City police officers, he joined the police force in October 1983, working for 31 years until retiring in November 2015. The ODVA website states he was selected as “Supervisor of the Quarter” three times and “Supervisor of the Year” in 1999 for his actions during and after the May 3, 1999 tornado and was awarded two Lifesaving awards, the Police Community Service award, and the Meritorious Service award.

“I missed being in the military…And so I joined the Air National Guard in 1985 and ended up doing 25 years…I was an aerospace med(ical) tech(nician)” said Dukes. Later, he became a Security Forces Specialist. According to ODVA’s website, “During Operation Enduring Freedom, Matt was activated by the Air National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, serving as NCOIC for detainee operations.” Chief Master Sergeant Matthew Dukes retired from the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 2008 with 29 years of service.

Mayor of Midwest City

Dukes wanted his town to continue to improve, so he ran for mayor and was elected in 2016 for a partial two-year term. He was reelected in 2018 and 2022. His second, four-year term expires in April 2026.
Starting in 2017, the City Council, Guy Henson (former City Manager), and Dukes identified and promoted extensive infrastructure and quality of life improvements, resulting in the citizens of Midwest City approving a “2018 Moving Forward General Obligation Bond.” The bonds provided $53,650,000 for 19 projects affecting all six wards of the city: parks and recreation, streets, water safety, public safety and animal control.

The mayor is proud of those. “We passed the largest general obligation bond initiative in the City of Midwest City’s history at $53 million…Myself and the City Manager (Guy Henson) did over 45 presentations throughout the city, telling the citizens, ‘This is what we want and this is what we’re gonna do, and this is how you hold us accountable.’ And I’m extremely proud of the fact that we’ve completed all those projects.”

A Problem and an Opportunity
Currently, city leaders are addressing one long-term problem and one big opportunity.

The problem being handled is turning a nearly empty Heritage Park Mall on the northwest corner of East Reno Avenue and Air Depot Boulevard, closed since February 2010, into a new retail store and housing area. On Jan. 1, the Midwest City Beacon newspaper reported, “The Midwest City Urban Renewal Authority is using eminent domain to acquire the property after city officials and the property owner were unable to reach an agreement on a sale.”

Three commissioners and the city are working to take possession of the mall. Once that’s complete, Dukes said, “We’ll have to go through the RFP (request for proposal) process and see what developer comes with the best plan (to redevelop it)…I wanna make sure before I leave office, that we wrap that up.”

The big opportunity is to build a new, 74,000-square foot YMCA close to SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital. A statement by Midwest City on April 16, read, “The City of Midwest City, Mid-Del Schools, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Midwest, and the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City have partnered on a funding agreement ($40 million) that would build a new YMCA in Midwest City.” Dukes said, “Our current YMCA was built in 1964 and they’ve outgrown it three times.”

Employee Feedback

Midwest City employees like what Dukes is doing. Micala Newland, Midwest City Storm Water Quality Technician in the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, said, “ I appreciate that the city is environmentally friendly…He’s (Mayor Dukes) really supportive of the city.” Marc Bargel, a Midwest City Parks Maintenance employee, agreed. “It’s (Midwest City) a great place to work. Mayor Dukes does a great job and he’s very friendly with all the city employees.”

Dukes is pleased with the city’s progress. “You know, I grew up in this town…I raised my boys in this town and it’s a great place to live. And I just want it to continue.”

Purple Heart City

In December 2024, Midwest City was designated as a Purple Heart City and on March 1, Dukes was named “Mayor of the Year,” honors bestowed by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). The State Commander of the MOPH, Master Chief Larry Van Schuyver, said Dukes was chosen ahead of 64 nominees for the award. Accepting the plaque at VFW Post 4938 in Edmond, Dukes smiled and told the crowd, “I’m very honored. My whole family served in the military and this is very humbling. My son is a United States Marine. I tried to guide him the other way (crowd laughed)…I had the honor of serving in not one, but two branches of the United States military…All I did was make Midwest City a Purple Heart City.”
story/photos by Richard Stephens, Jr., Lt. Col, USAF Retired

Midwest City is a military-friendly, veteran-filled community with 58,000 citizens. The city’s motto, “Where the Spirit Flies High,” is living up to expectations. story/photos by Richard Stephens, Jr., Lt. Col, USAF Retired

At 97, Gillaspy Shares Tales of Courage, Service, and Resilience.

From serving in WWII to building a family farm and becoming a beloved storyteller, legacy spans generations.

Story by Richard Stephens, Jr.

Dear Savvy Senior, I understand that the Veterans Administration has a benefit that can help veterans and spouses with long-term care costs. We recently had to move my elderly father into an assisted living memory care facility, and my mother will probably need care too in the near future. What can you tell me?
Searching for Aid

Dear Searching,
The Veterans Administration (VA) does indeed have an underutilized benefit that can help wartime veterans and their surviving spouses pay for a variety of long-term care costs.
This benefit, called “Aid and Attendance,” is a special pension that’s paid on top of existing VA pensions for eligible veterans and surviving spouses. In 2024, it pays a maximum of $2,727 a month to married veterans; $2,300 a month to single veterans; or $1,478 a month to a surviving spouse. The money is tax free, and can be used to pay for assisted living, memory care, nursing home or in-home care services.
Currently, around 156,000 veterans and survivors are receiving the Aid and Attendance benefit, but many thousands more are eligible who either don’t know about it or don’t think they qualify.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, your dad must have served at least 90 days of active military service with at least one day of service during a period of war, and not have been discharged dishonorably. Single surviving spouses of wartime vets are eligible if their marriage ended due to death.
In addition, your dad will also have to meet certain thresholds for medical and financial need to be eligible.
To qualify medically he must be either disabled, or over the age of 65 and need help performing basic everyday living tasks such as eating, bathing, dressing or going to the bathroom. Being blind or in a nursing home due to disability or receiving Social Security Disability or SSI also qualifies him. Single surviving spouses have no age restrictions, but they must require help with basic everyday living tasks to be eligible.
To qualify financially your parents “net worth,” which includes assets and annual income combined, must be below $155,356 in 2024.
To calculate this, add up your parent’s assets, which includes their personal property (like investments, real estate, etc.) excluding their primary home and vehicles. And tally up their income over the past year (including Social Security, pensions, interest income from investments, annuities, etc.), minus any out-of-pocket medical expenses, prescription drugs, insurance premiums and long-term care costs over that same period of time.
The VA also has a three-year lookback to determine if your parents transferred any assets to ensure they would qualify for benefits. If so, they may be subject to a penalty period of up to 5 years.
How to Apply
To apply for Aid and Attendance, you’ll need to fill out VA Form 21-2680 and mail it to the Pension Management Center (PMC) for your dad’s state. You’ll need to have your dad’s doctor fill out the examination information section. Or you can also apply in person at a VA regional office near your parents.
For more information or to download application forms see
https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound. You can also call the VA at 800-827-1000 if you have questions.
If you need some help, you can appoint a Veteran Service Officer (VSO), a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent to represent your dad. See
https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp to locate someone.
If your dad is eligible, it can take months for his application to be processed, so be patient.
You should also know that if your dad’s Aid and Attendance application is approved, the VA will send a lump sum retroactive payment covering the time from the day you filed the application until the day it was approved. Then your dad receives monthly payments going forward.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit https://savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

The Oklahoma History Center, in association with VillagesOKC, the local offices of Humana, Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight, Navigating Medicare and the Force 50 Foundation, is proud to host a pinning ceremony honoring all the servicemen and servicewomen, active or reservists, who served anywhere in the world during the Vietnam War-era. Family members of any veteran unable to be present may also receive this pin. The event will be held in the Devon Great Hall of the Oklahoma History Center on Friday, March 29, from 10 a.m.-noon, with doors opening at 9 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
March 29 was designated as Vietnam Veterans Day by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, to be commemorated with annual nationwide events. Guided by the stipulations in that act, only Vietnam War veterans and their families are recognized. However, the Vietnam War Commemoration organization is providing recognition pins to honor any US veteran who served on active duty or in the reserves in the US Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, Vietnam or otherwise. Family members of any veteran unable to be present may also receive this pin.
The keynote speaker will be Colonel “Chuck” DeBellevue, who has been deemed “Ace of Aces,” one of only five to achieve that status from downing six North Vietnamese MiGs. He logged 550 combat hours while flying 220 combat missions, with 96 over Vietnam. His decorations include the Air Force Cross, three Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, 18 Air Medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device. In 2012, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame and received the Congressional Gold Medal.
Also speaking will be Colonel Peter Plank, one of the founders of the Liberty Jump Team. This team has taken more than 100 World War II veterans back to the battlefields of Normandy and Belgium at no cost to the veterans. “Taking them to the battlefields they fought in and the villages they liberated is a humbling experience. Being a part of the Liberty Jump Team preserves the memory of those that came before us alive. We owe them that,” says Plank.
Michael Do, an Oklahoma City businessman, will speak on behalf of the Oklahoma City Vietnamese community and the South Vietnamese military. Music will be provided by the 145th Army Band, known as “The Governor’s Own.”
The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit
https://www.okhistory.org.