Early Life & Tulsa Race Massacre

Olivia Hooker was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1915.  When she was a child, she and her family moved fifty miles away to Tulsa…Hooker’s father owned a clothing store in the affluent Greenwood District, sometimes known as America’s “Black Wall Street.”

In 1921, when Hooker was six years old, white supremacist rhetoric boiled over into vicious violence.  Enraged by false rumors that a local Black man had assaulted a white woman, white mobs invaded the Greenwood neighborhood.  Arsonists torched homes, businesses, churches, and schools…At least dozens – likely hundreds – of Black Tulsans died. Nearly 10,000 were left homeless.

Hooker and her family were at home when intruders carrying torches entered their backyard.  In an interview with NPR, she remembered her mother hiding her and her siblings under the dining room table… “It was a horrifying thing for a little girl who’s only six years old,” she said, “trying to remember to keep quiet, so they wouldn’t know we were there.”  The men destroyed the family record player and butchered the piano with an ax.  The mob also burned her father’s store to the ground.

The Hooker family left the city soon after the massacre.  They moved to Topeka, Kansas and then to Ohio.  Hooker earned a BA at Ohio State University and began working as a teacher.  She told NPR that her parents urged her and her siblings to avoid “agonizing over the past” and instead “look forward and think how we could make things better.”

SPARS Service

During World War II, the US military began opening its ranks to women for the first time…When the Navy’s WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) program finally opened to Black enlistees in 1944, Hooker applied several times.  But the WAVES turned her down… Instead, Hooker decided to try the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, better known as the SPARS. In a 2013 interview, she recalled that the SPARS recruiter was “just so welcoming, she wanted to be the first one to enroll an African American.”

On March 9, 1945, Hooker became the first Black SPAR on active duty.  Along with four other Black women, she completed boot camp at the Coast Guard’s training center in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.  She went on to further training as a yeoman, or administrative specialist…The head of the school wrote to every Coast Guard station commander—there were 11—to find an assignment for her.  Only one, in Boston, agreed to take a Black yeoman.

At her post in Boston, Hooker worked in the separation center, processing paperwork for those who were discharging from the service.  While she was there, the war ended…She left the SPARS having been promoted to yeoman 2nd class.

Asked about her SPARS service in 2013, Hooker reflected:

“I would like to see more of us realize that our country needs us, and I’d like to see more girls consider spending some time in the military, if they don’t have a job at all and they have ambition, and they don’t know what heights they might reach. It’s really nice to have people with different points of view and different kinds of upbringing. The world would really prosper from more of that.”

Psychologist

After leaving the SPARS, Hooker used her GI Bill benefits to go back to school.  She earned an MA from Teachers College at Columbia University and a PhD in psychology from the University of Rochester.

Hooker taught at Fordham University in New York City from 1963 until 1985.  She then worked at the Fred S. Keller School…She retired in 2002, at the age of 87.  Hooker co-founded a division of the American Psychological Association (APA) dedicated to intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The APA honored her with a Presidential Citation in 2011.

Later Life & Honors

Throughout her life, Hooker shared her memories of the Tulsa race massacre and advocated for justice for its victims.  No one was charged, and most victims received no compensation from their insurance companies. Hooker co-founded the Tulsa Race Massacre Commission in 1997 to unearth the buried evidence of the massacre. She also pressed for reparations for Black Tulsans. She joined a lawsuit against the state and testified before Congress in 2005 and 2007. In the 2020s, victims and their descendants continue to seek acknowledgement and financial compensation for the massacre.

In 2015, the Coast Guard recognized Hooker by renaming a training facility and a dining hall in her honor. Hooker died in 2018 at the age of 103.

By Ella Wagner, PhD, Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, National Park Service.   Article used with the permission of the National Park Service, August 6, 2025.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will realign an additional $800 million this fiscal year as part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance program, which makes infrastructure improvements to health care facilities to ensure safe and effective patient care.
The extra funding means more resources to repair and update aging VA facilities and technology.
The money will be spent on a variety of planned and supplemental improvement projects at various VA health care facilities across the nation, including the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, where the following improvements will occur:
• Abate Asbestos Phase 1 • Convert Surgery Air Handler to 80% return • Repair/Replace Condensate Return System (and pump)
“This is another step forward in our efforts to make VA work better for the Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors we are charged with serving,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Improved facilities, equipment and infrastructure help improve care for Veterans, and these additional funds will enable VA to achieve that goal.”
The additional funds will come from savings gleaned from various VHA reform efforts. The additions will bring total NRM program spending for fiscal year 2025 to $2.8 billion – a nearly $500 million increase from fiscal year 2024.
The improvements announced today are the latest in a growing list of VA accomplishments during the second Trump Administration, including:
• The backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits is down more than 37% since Jan. 20, 2025.
• Since Jan. 20, VA has offered Veterans nearly 1 million appointments outside of normal operating hours. These early-morning, evening, and weekend appointments are giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
• VA has opened 16 new health care clinics across the nation since Jan. 20, 2025.
• The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request would add billions to VA’s budget.
• VA has made it easier and faster for VA-enrolled Veterans to access care from non-VA providers at the department’s expense.
• VA has implemented major reforms to make it easier for survivors to get benefits.
• VA is processing record numbers of disability claims, reaching 1 million claims processed for FY25 on Feb. 20 and reaching 2 million claims by June – both achievements were done in record time.

I am Cord Fowler, a US Navy veteran, Husband, Father, and Grandfather here in Oklahoma City. I am an eternally grateful follower of Jesus Christ and very happily married to my wife of 38 years, Kim. I know there are plenty of wonderful wives and mothers out there, but God gave me the best one!
In 1990, I was 5 years into my Navy career, working as an Electronics Technician 2nd class Petty Officer on the USS Tarawa (LHA-1). The Tarawa was an amphibious assault ship, carrying helicopters, landing craft, Marines, and equipment for amphibious operations. We deployed during Operation Desert Storm to transport Marines to the Persian Gulf in support of that successful operation.
After my separation from the Navy, I stayed in the technology field for several years, but God had a new plan for my life. I enrolled in Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, OK where I earned a BS in Biblical Leadership. That led to a new career as a Hospice Chaplain. Becoming a Hospice Chaplain has become one of the most challenging and rewarding chapters of my life! I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people at the end of their journey here on earth and have celebrated with them their expectation and hope and what comes next because of Jesus.
One of my most memorable clients was a US Navy veteran who served during World War II. At the time he was transporting marines in the invasion of Guam and the Tarawa atoll. What an amazing coincidence, I served on the very shipped named after the Battle of Tawara he was in Thanksgiving week November 1943. He was piloting a landing craft full of marines headed toward Tarawa. Approximately 150 yards away from the shore, the craft stopped abruptly. It had run aground on the coral reef tearing a hole in the bottom of the craft. He put the throttle at full thrust with no avail. He then tried going backwards with no luck. They were stuck! He described that they were under heavy machine gun and mortar fire. The Marine Sergeant in charge of the squad in the boat shouted at him, “Squid! You need to get us the hell out of here!” My client shouted back, “We’re stuck, I can’t move us!” The Marine ordered everyone, “Out of the boat! Go over the side!” all the while receiving intense small arms fire and explosions all around them.
As soon as all the Marines had left his craft, it became lighter, and he was able to back up off the reef and attempted to return to the ship. He was taking on water and didn’t think he could make it back. Despite the damage he made it back, only to see multiple landing craft in line waiting to be recovered. He piloted his craft to the front of the line when the operations chief on the ship deck ordered him to the back of the line. He shouted back at the chief, “There is a hole in the bottom of my boat and I’m taking on water. If you don’t pull me out now, you’ll need to recover the boat from the bottom of the sea!” The chief ordered that his boat be brought aboard next. He thankfully lived to tell this story to his mates, family members and now me!
I love the shared stories of our service, because we all seem to have examples of these amazing connections, even with those we never served with. That Navy veteran and I became trusted friends, brothers in arms, and brothers in Christ. Our lives are blessed by shared service, a shared Savior, and a shared hope of heaven. •
By Cord Fowler, Chaplain: Legacy Family Hospice

The Bethany Improvement Foundation is raising funds to help build and complete the Bethany Veterans Plaza.

The Bethany Improvement Foundation is raising funds to help build and complete the Bethany Veterans Plaza.
This initiative is entirely community-funded, community-designed, and community-driven. It reflects a shared commitment to honoring those who served and strengthening the bonds within their city.
Southern Nazarene University donated the northwest side of Donald Street and NW 39th Expressway (Route 66) for the placement of the plaza.
The Veteran’s Plaza was designed by local sculptor, Scott Stearman, to honor all members of the Armed Services.
“The thing that motivated me about the Veterans Plaza was being a member of this community in that this is where I have my business, this is where I have my home, it’s where I went to college,” Stearman said. “The idea of the Veterans Plaza really started when (former) Mayor KP Westmoreland called me and asked me about creating something for the city of Bethany. But as more of us came together and started dreaming about what it could look like, it really became more than just a Bethany place. This became (original name) Route 66 Oklahoma Veterans Monument. It will be a place that will invite people to visit, a place to honor, service, and sacrifice, and patriotism.”
Stearman said the purpose of this plaza is to invite you to step into the stories of those that have served.
“The stories of those who served are going to be presented,” he said. “Of course, there will be a big central sculpture that will represent different eras and different genders and different ethnic groups that have been represented in our military service branches.”
He continued, “One of the aspects that I’m really excited about incorporating into this is there will be a place for you to read excerpts from letters that were taken. Words that were taken from the battlefield, words that were sent back home to families and spouses, to children. The text will be captured in a little bronze plaque, and you’ll read a letter from someone. Letters from World War I, letters from World War II, Vietnam, letters from Desert Storm. It’s going to be positioned in a circle as it goes around the central sculpture.”
Stearman said the Veterans Plaza will be a place to appreciate and treasure what service and sacrifice means.
“We will have seen their words, and we will have an understanding of what that is all about,” he said. “I’ve talked about this place to be a tribute to veterans and to the families and friends of veterans who sacrificed as well. It’s not really a memorial. This is a veteran’s plaza that will be a tribute.”
Stearman said there will be a memorial aspect to the plaza.
“Set off to the side, a little bit behind the main plaza with the big center sculpture and the wall and the letters and the bronze plaques and all the words will be an area that is a memorial for the fallen from Oklahoma who have died in the global war on terrorism,” he said.
He continued “We don’t think this exists anywhere in the state of Oklahoma. This will be the first place in the state of Oklahoma where all the names of the fallen in the war on terror will be listed on one wall. These are Oklahomans who have died in service since 9/11. They’ll be etched on a black granite wall. It’ll be very much like the Vietnam Wall where folks will be able to do a rubbing, they’ll be able to put a piece of paper up there and rub it and get an impression of what that name is on the wall.”
Stearman said standing in front of that wall will be a sculpture.
“It is a life-size sculpture of a little girl, five years old, literally 39 inches tall, and she’s standing in front of that wall of names and she’s going to be holding a folded flag. That’s all we’re going to know,” he said. “When we walk up to this sacred place, we’ll see this little girl looking at a wall of names holding a folded flag, and we will complete the story. The truth is, she represents us. She represents our community. She represents families and friends who’ve sent loved ones into harm’s way, and now she stands in this silent tribute looking at a wall of names.”
He added, “We’ll fill in the blanks on the story, but she will present a beautiful truth that the citizens of Oklahoma have a great debt and have experienced a great loss, because someone they loved, their name is on that wall. So that’s the memorial aspect of it.”
Stearman said the Veterans Plaza will include three sculptures.
“Three sculptures will be against the sky as you drive by. A Vietnam frontline surgical trauma nurse, a World War II/Korean War veteran, and standing in the center will be a modern-day desert warrior, and the two from previous eras and previous wars will have their hand on his shoulder,” he said. “It will be a previous generation supporting the active-duty soldier today. There’s a continuation of the call to arms that a nation has extended to its citizens or call to arms to go to battle. This is a place to honor those who have answered the call.”
Lawrence A. Ross, committee member of the Bethany Improvement Foundation, said he remains hopeful the first phase of the plaza can be approved by the end of the year by the Bethany City Council.
“I’m still hopeful that by the end of the year, the city council will have said yes, and I can begin looking for contractors and hopefully these angel donors will come out of the woods who I’m told are just waiting for full city approval for our location,” he said.
Donations are being solicited and should be sent to Priscilla Cude, Treasurer, Bethany Improvement Foundation, P.O. Box 218, Bethany, OK 73008. Payable to Bethany Improvement Foundation, which is a 501-c-3 charitable contribution. • By Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Pratt & Whitney Oklahoma City has been selected as the 2025 “Employer of Veterans” (Large Employer) by the American Legion Department of Oklahoma. The award recognizes the company’s strong support of veteran employees and its commitment to hiring and retaining those who have served in the military. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business.
The award was presented on Saturday, July 12, during the American Legion Department of Oklahoma Convention in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
“Veterans bring unique skills, perspectives and leadership to our team,” said Greg Treacy, vice president, Pratt & Whitney Oklahoma City. “We’re proud to support them-not only during their time in uniform, but throughout their careers with us.”
Earlier this year, three Pratt & Whitney OKC leaders received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award during an employee event. That same nomination was shared with the American Legion by the ESGR State Chair, leading to the site’s selection for this statewide recognition.
The recognition reflects Pratt & Whitney OKC’s ongoing efforts to create a workplace where those who have served-and continue to serve-can thrive.

Veterans who receive community care for medical treatment have been required in the past to seek and receive new referrals every 90 to 180 days. Just getting that referral or authorization can cause delays in treatment. Now, with changes at the VA, those referrals won’t be as frequent.
Starting now, in 30 different categories of medical care, referrals and new authorizations will only be required once a year.
Community care can literally be a lifesaver for veterans who live too far from a VA medical facility, whose closest facility doesn’t provide the medical care that’s required or if the VA’s wait times are not acceptable.
Here are a few of the 30 medical categories that are now eligible for the longer authorization: cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, pain management and pulmonary.
If you’ve been getting community medical care and are subject to the need for frequent reauthorizations, contact the Community Care office at your closest VA medical center to ask how the new rule impacts the schedule you’ll be on going forward. Ask whether the new “year” began when your current authorization period did, or whether a new year begins right now. Get the answer in writing, if you can. Take the steps you need to, to guarantee that your authorization is indeed extended so you don’t discover at the last minute that there’s been a problem and that your file was overlooked.
If you’d like to take advantage of community care, you need to be enrolled in VA health care or be eligible for it.
If you’re getting VA care, tell your VA physician that you’d like to get community care. If they think it’s appropriate, they will start a referral.
Once you find a civilian community care provider that you like, be sure to verify that they’re part of the VA’s network before you get any treatment from them, otherwise VA won’t pay for it.
To learn more about community care or to find a provider in your area, go online to www.va.gov/communitycare. •
By Freddy Groves
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

Memorial Service
Private Richard Gordon Wright, U.S. Marine Corps, born June 6, 1921, in Sparks, Oklahoma, was buried with military honors on July 18 at Dignity Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City. The ceremony began at 2 p.m., with cicadas loudly singing in the hot, still air.

Was that unusual?

Yes. Why?

Wright died on November 20, 1943, 81 years ago during WWII on Betio Island in the Gilbert Islands. His remains were not identified until February 8, 2024, by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and returned to Oklahoma City on July 11, 2025 – more than eight decades after his death.

As the service drew near, at least 75 people gathered in quiet respect. Members from American Legions (Posts 19, Woodward; 111, Edmond; 88, Norman; 142, Hominy, and others) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (Posts 4938, Edmond; 7977, Skiatook; 3077, Collinsville; 7180, Owasso, and others) came, as did those with no affiliation.

Although no one knew Wright personally, they came to witness the homecoming of a Marine who served his country with honor and gave his life for future generations.

Charli Ford, one of two historians and archivists of military history at the Hamilton VFW Auxiliary 4938 in Edmond (President Amanda Duncan is the other) gave the eulogy and thanked those who made Wright’s repatriation possible, including “the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) for their efforts to recover, organize, analyze and identify the remains of the missing. And a special thank you to Mr. (Narsease) Tolen, Richard’s first cousin, for the donation of the DNA while he was still alive. His DNA was used to positively identify Richard.” Her voice carried pride and emotion while she recounted Wright’s early life. Ford ended with, “After today,” Ford said, “Richard’s journey comes to a close… May we never forget Richard’s sacrifice.”

Chaplain Ed Beesley, a Vietnam War veteran and member of Post 4938, described how well Betio Island was fortified by the Japanese against a large-scale amphibious assault by Americans. Beesley continued, “I want you to understand the Marines did it in three days…it was a fierce battle…which would come to be known in the Marine Corps as ‘Bloody Tarawa.’ What struck me, is…our own Oklahoma Marine was a part of the first wave on that beach landing on the 20th November, 1943…My understanding was that Richard’s landing craft was hit by mortar fire…” Wright’s 2nd Marine Regiment, about 150 men, was almost annihilated that day.

The service concluded with a prayer, seven-gun salute provided by VFW District 5, the playing of taps, and a moving flag folding ceremony followed by presenting it to Ed Zink of Weaubleau, Missouri, who represented the family. Zink is a second cousin to Wright. The crowd slowly, quietly slipped away.

Wright’s family
Zink spoke of his family’s connection to Wright. “My mother’s mother (Zink’s grandmother) was the sister to Richard’s mother. They were sisters…George Ann and Sharon are Richard’s nieces and they knew about him. Their brother was named after him. So, they knew he was missing, they just never expected him to come home.”

“I’m honored to be able to represent the family and to acknowledge his military career, as short as it was.” Zink, a Marine, understands sacrifice. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and one in Thailand.
He praised the research Charlie Ford and VFW Post 4938 performed. “They’ve done a wonderful job. Charlie…has been unbelievable. She’s been on this case for several years. They went above and beyond.”

Identifying veteran remains
Amanda Duncan said, “We do a lot of work with MIAs, POWs. It is something our post and our auxiliary is very passionate about.”

She explained the meticulous process of identifying remains. “When something like this happens, first of all, they (DPAA) look at the service record and where they enlisted out of.” Other clues: where family lives(d) and where the deceased’s military unit was engaged in battle.

In Wright’s case, a relative was located in just a few days, though the full process – DNA testing, approvals, and transport – can take months. Ford described how she reached out to a family member through the Ancestry website after a relative built Wright’s family tree. “I noticed she had him on the tree… trying to see… what relation she was and if we could find somebody to give DNA.”

Private Wright is buried in the same cemetery as his father, Henry Wright, a World War I veteran, and grandfather and grandmother, William and Eva Wright.
There are 1,185 Oklahoma MIA/POW servicemen awaiting repatriation.
• story by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.