This issue represents our 1st anniversary edition! Twelve issues and still growing and changing to publish the best magazine each month. We can’t provide these things without our readers like you and sponsors.
The continued success of Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine depends on a strong, connected community—and that includes you. We encourage every reader to take a moment to support the businesses and organizations featured in this publication. These sponsors make it possible to share important stories, resources, and updates that serve veterans across our state. By choosing to do business with them, you’re directly helping sustain a platform dedicated to honoring and supporting those who have served.
If you find value in this magazine, consider spreading the word. Recommend Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine to local businesses, organizations, and community leaders who may benefit from reaching a veteran-focused audience. When more businesses step forward to advertise and partner with us, it strengthens our ability to grow, improve, and expand the content we provide.
This publication is more than just a magazine—it’s a voice for Oklahoma’s veteran community. It highlights achievements, addresses challenges, and connects individuals to vital resources. That kind of impact requires ongoing support from both readers and sponsors alike.
Your actions matter. Supporting our sponsors and introducing new ones ensures that this magazine continues to thrive and serve future generations of veterans. Together, we can keep this important resource strong, relevant, and available to all who need it.
As always, We encourage you to give us a call or send us an email and let us know how we are doing and how we can improve. Oklahoma Veteran News is published for you. Sincerely, Steve Eldridge and Steve Sibley
For the statewide free Oklahoma Veterans News Magazine to receive a Senate Citation of Recognition after just one year in print serves as powerful validation of its role in bridging the gap between state resources and the Veterans it serves.
Such recognition highlights the magazine’s value as a statewide communication
tool that unifies a community of over 300,000 Veterans.
Co-publishers Steve Eldridge and Veteran Steve Sibley worked together on
its creation for more than a year leading up to the publication’s first issue in May
2025.
This official validation of impact from State Senator Brenda Stanley (R-Midwest
City), who chairs the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, designates the
publication as a trusted source of information for the state’s military community.
This legislative commendation reinforces the magazine’s role as a “vital part of
the state’s identity,” officially acknowledging its mission to pay tribute to the service
and sacrifice of Oklahoma Veterans and their families.
All of this is because the magazine is attempting to help many Veterans who
are unaware of available benefits, such as sales tax exemptions. A recognized
statewide magazine acts as a critical partner in disseminating this essential
information and updates on benefits, services, and new laws, such as the PACT Act
and state-specific tax exemptions.
It also serves as a platform to raise awareness of Veterans-owned businesses
and encourage “patriotic Oklahomans” to support them.
The platform also promotes storytelling and community engagement. It helps
preserve the patriotic legacy by sharing stories of Veterans’ achievements. It
chronicles their sacrifice, fostering a sense of belonging and “collective pride”
across the state.
Its outreach for isolated Veterans continues to expand with over 600 distribution
points-including VFWs, American Legion posts, and VA clinics. This magazine
reaches Veterans who may not have easy access to digital information, partnering
with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to feature leadership
and highlight state-run programs and ceremonies.
The content of the document follows:
THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Citation of Recognition
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE OKLAHOMA VETERAN NEWS MAGAZINE;
COMMENDING ITS LEADERSHIP; AND DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION.
WHEREAS, Senator Brenda Stanley, Chair of the Senate Veterans and Military
Affairs Committee, proudly supports the mission of the Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine, the first statewide monthly free publication dedicated to serving Oklahoma’s veterans, active-duty service members, and their families; and
WHEREAS, the magazine marks one year in print, reflecting its continued commitment to
informing, connecting and honoring those who have taken the oath to defend the United States;
and
WHEREAS, Oklahoma is home to major installations, including Altus Air Force Base, Fort Sill, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Tinker Air Force Base, and Vance Air Force Base, which play a vital role in national defense and serve as key economic drivers; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine strengthens the military community by
sharing important information, connecting veterans to resources, and promoting awareness, respect, and appreciation for their service; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Senate recognizes the importance of ensuring veterans and their
families have access to timely, accurate information and honors the service and sacrifice of those who have defended our freedoms;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA
LEGISLATURE:
THAT the Oklahoma Senate expresses its support for the Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine
and its mission to serve Oklahoma’s military and veteran community, and THAT co-publishers Steve Eldridge and Veteran Steve Sibley are commended for exemplifying
the spirit of “The Oklahoma Standard” through their dedication to veterans’ affairs and community service; and
THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to
Steve Eldridge and Steve Sibley.
Signed April 22, 2026: Senator Brenda Stanley
Senate District 42
Medal of Honor recipient SPC5 Dwight SPC5 Dwight Birdwell Frederick. Birdwell was the guest speaker
March 25th is designated as national Medal of Honor Day. This year Tulsa International Airport hosted an event onsite in the Albert E. Schwab Hall.
The event was formally hosted by the Marine Corp League’s Albert E. Schwab Detachment #857. Two very special guests of honor were in attendance; Medal of Honor recipient SPC5 Dwight Birdwell and Captain Joe Ihle, who was present during the second wave at Iwo Jima. At 103, he is also Oklahoma’s oldest living marine! Semper Fi! Medal of Honor Day was officially designated by Congress on March 25, 1991. The day was chosen because on that day in 1863, the first Medal of Honor was presented to Private Jacob Parrott, for his participation in Andrews’ Raiders, a Civil War mission behind enemy lines.There are three versions of the Medal of Honor; one for the Army, one for the Navy, and one for the Air
Force. Recipients in the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard receive the Navy version, and
members of the Space Force receive the Air Force version. In 1861, President Lincoln signed a bill into law that authorized the creation of the Navy Medal of Valor, and in 1862, legislation authorized a similar medal for the U.S. Army. The Air Force Medal of Honor was
signed into law in 1956.
He kept his speech short and focused on the valor of the men he served with who didn’t come home and to helping our veterans nationwide. Staying true to every MOH recipient I have had the privilege to meet, he was humble as the day is long. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and entered the Army on May 24, 1966. In addition to his medal of Honor, Birdwell earned two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star for meritorious service and two Purple Hearts. He received the first Silver Star for heroism on January 31, 1968, when his unit defended Tan Son Nhut Air Base during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. This is the medal that was eventually upgraded to the MOH, which was presented to him at the White House on July 5, 2022.
Birdwell was a member of the Judicial Appeals Tribunal (Supreme Court) of the Cherokee Nation from 1987 to 1999, serving as its Chief Justice from 1995 to 1996 and 1998 to 1999.
In my attempt to interview CPT Ihle, I found him to be equally as humble as Birdwell. At 103, he is also incredibly spry and sharp. He was not interested in having any attention drawn to his service during WWII or at Iwo Jima. He told me there were more than 50,000 other men that fought in that battle and that he didn’t do anything more extraordinary than the rest. I gently reminded him that the fact that he was still alive was a reflection of the grit he still possessed that was surely present during his time of service. My grandfather, whom I loved and admired dearly, also served in WWII. There is no human alive today whose presence I am more honored to be in than a WWII veteran. I smiled and firmly shook CPT Ihle’s hand as I shared this thought with him. That made him smile too, however, I did not press him to tell me any more about himself. Being in his presence was enough of a gift.
During the ceremony, citations were read for three additional Oklahoma Medal of Honor recipients. One of them was for PFC Albert E. Schwab, (the namesake of the hall the ceremony was held in), whose medal was posthumously awarded for his valiant actions on May 7, 1945 at the Battle of Okinawa, Japan. His niece and nephew were in attendance. One of the others was for LTC Earnest Childers, a member of the Creek Nation, who earned his Medal of Honor for heroic actions on September 22, 1943, in Oliveto, Italy, during WWII. The Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa is named in his honor.
Members of the Marine Corp League’s Albert E. Schwab Detachment #857, spent the
morning of the ceremony visiting the graves of some of NE Oklahoma’s other MOH recipients. According to the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation and state officials, there are 36 individuals with Oklahoma connections who have earned the Medal of Honor.
They are honored with a dedicated plaque in the state Capitol from conflicts ranging from the Indian Campaigns to the Global War on Terrorism. At the time of the dedication (April 2024), no other state has an installation like it. • by Jill Stephenson, staff writer
It took two-and-a-half-years for Doyle Tampleton of Holdenville to get approval from local, state and federal offices to name Holdenville’s Veterans Park
Is there a creek, stream or river near your town that is unnamed with the State of Oklahoma? Perhaps not. But stay with this story if you want to read how Captain (retired) Doyle Tampleton, a tenacious Marine Corps member (aren’t they all?) with American Legion Post 32 got a 1.5-mile-long creek that runs through Holdenville named for veterans and when the creek will be publicly commemorated.
Why name a creek anyway? To honor veterans, Tampleton said, to include Muscogee (Creek) Native Americans employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Holdenville from 1938-1940. He also wants “to help others understand the complexity involved, so they can name an unnamed creek.”
Creek Construction
While in high school in 1959-1960, Tampleton worked in Charlie Sims’ Grocery Store. He remembers a Native American named Harjo, a Marine veteran. “I was very impressed by all the tales he told about how this creek was built. And he was the foreman that oversaw the workers of the creek.”
Tampleton said the creek was dug with picks and shovels. Sandstone rocks were brought and dropped at one centralized point. “They made skids like pallets that traveled and they loaded these stones on these skids, and they would hitch on a mule or a horse and drag ‘em down this creek where they would concrete them in and make a channelized creek.” Backbreaking work during the Depression years for $40 a week.
About the Creek
The creek’s headwaters originate in Holdenville. It flows into Tiger Creek five miles north of the city, becomes Wewoka Creek, and finally, joins the North Canadian River.
Process Starts at a National Level
Tampleton discovered the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), Washington D.C., approves geographic features such as creeks and mountains. The BGN sent him a 13-page application which plainly stated it may take three years to complete. “You have to have the city, the county, the state, any Native American property affected. And it all has to be related to who you wish it to be named after.”
Starting Local to get Approval
In September 2023, Tampleton’s American Legion post approved his quest. That was followed by in-person and written requests to the Holdenville City Council and Hughes County Commissioner. David Smith, State Representative House District 18, approved the request in November 2024.
Approval from the Muskogee (Creek) Nation in Okmulgee was needed because Holdenville is in their reservation. “I sent a lot of letters and on the phone talked to various parts of that nation, like the veterans, cultural and historical desks.” Result? David Hill, their Principal Chief, supported the proposal in April 2025.
State, Congressional and National Approval
Tampleton and Lou Jean, his wife, met with Senator James Langford’s staff in Tulsa. After staffers said they could help, they informed him that permission from the Oklahoma Board of Geographic Names (OBGN) was needed. Another step to complete. Cesalea Ray, Chairman of the OBGN, came to Holdenville, saw the creek and gathered more information.
Final Steps
In December 2025, the BGN approved the creek’s name. Done? Nearly. The Geographic Names and Information System (GNIS) office, a section of the BGN, needed to provide coordinates of the beginning and ending of the creek for typographical maps. This was completed in January 2026.
This February, the OGBN approved the name, Veterans Creek, in an email which read in part, “The name Tvstvnvke Hvccuce (Warrior Creek in Muscogee Creek), phonetically pronounced, Dust-Dun-Uh-Gey Huh-Jo-Jee, has been added to the GNIS with Feature ID 2833026.” State and federal approvals complete!
Public Dedication
On June 20, at 10:00 a.m. in Holdenville’s Stroup Park, officials will publicly dedicate Veterans Creek with a big celebration. The creek’s sign, “Veterans Creek” on one side and “Tvstvnvke Hvccuce” on the other, will be uncovered. Attendees will include U.S. Representative Josh Brecheen, State Senator Jonathan Winguard, David Smith, a representative from Senator Lankford’s office, Holdenville officials and veteran groups.
Tampleton’s biography
Tampleton enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1960, became a warrant officer and commissioned officer, and retired in 1985. He served in the Vietnam War south of Da Nang for 20 months and received two Purple Hearts. He was a police officer for nine years, school board representative for two years and President of the Central Oklahoma Military Officers Association of America for three years.
Captain Tampleton’s tenacity to name Holdenville’s creek for veterans, despite a two-year, five-month period that required numerous details and approvals, resulted in success. For more information, go to U.S. Board on Geographic Names. •
story and photos by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.
Holdenville’s Stroup Park with the newly named Veteran Creek running though it. The creek fills during rain storms.
Across the country, state and local governments, nonprofits, certain tribes and other community organizations are going to share in a $112 million grant program for their work in veterans suicide prevention. The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (also known as SSG Fox SPGP) promotes outreach to identify veterans at risk, clinical services for emergency treatment, case management, baseline screening, education, peer support, help with connecting with benefits and more. Help can also be in the form of temporary income support, legal services, child care, financial counseling and fiduciary help.
And it works: Over 90% of veterans who got these services reported improvements in their mental health and well-being.
The grant organizations will work with local VA medical centers to verify that the individual is a veteran, has some risk factors (such as traumatic brain injury, recent loss, homelessness or history of abuse) and has been assessed as to the degree of risk of suicide.
Veteran suicide stats are, as they always have been, grim to consider. The national suicide report for 2025 says that the number of suicides have decreased (for 2023, the last year numbers were available). Specifically, 2023 had 44 fewer veteran suicides than in 2022. The report calls that an “encouraging” result — even though the number for 2023 was a whopping 6,398 veterans.
In an analysis of the stats, 61% of those veterans were not getting VA health care. The group most affected were veterans ages 18 to 34 with risk factors of homelessness, health problems and pain, with pain being the biggest risk factor.
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To learn all the details about the SSG Fox SPGP grant program, see www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/docs/SSG-Fox-SPGP-Program-Guide-508.pdf.
If you (or a veteran you know) are at risk for suicide, call the VA crisis hotline at 988, then press 1. That’s all you need to dial. Or text to 838255. Or go online to chat at
www.veteranscrisisline.net. Somebody is there 24/7. It’s free and confidential, and you don’t have to be enrolled in VA health care or benefits.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc
Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Lakota Lancaster.
Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Lakota Lancaster grew up far from the ocean in rural Okmulgee, Oklahoma, but now his work supports U.S. Navy missions and protects American interests worldwide.
From a young age, Lancaster developed an interest in aircraft and aviation. After graduating from Preston High School in 2021, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 45, a maritime patrol squadron based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Known as the “Pelicans,” the squadron operates the P-8A Poseidon. As an aviation electronics technician, Lancaster maintains and repairs electronic systems on the aircraft. His work supports missions such as anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations that rely on the aircraft’s radar, communication, and sensor systems.
One of Lancaster’s favorite parts of the Navy is the opportunity to travel.
“You get to go everywhere,” said Lancaster. “It doesn’t matter if you’re on a fixed-wing platform or a boat.”
During Lancaster’s time in the U.S. Navy, he traveled to seven countries, collaborating with allied partners during exercises such as Sea Dragon 2026 in Guam. Lancaster plans to continue serving and hopes to advance through the enlisted ranks with the goal of becoming a master chief petty officer.
Sea Dragon is a U.S.-led, multinational exercise designed to train anti-submarine warfare tactics and to operate together in response to maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
