By Jill Stephenson
My son was killed in 2009 while actively serving as an Army Ranger. Because of this
I connected with rangers of all eras from all over the country. One of those rangers was
a gentleman from the greater Tulsa area. He let me know about Chris Horton, who was killed in 2011. He told me that he and Chris were friends and had participated in shooting competitions together. He told me because I had connected with many other families of the fallen and he thought I might reach out to his widow, Jane. Although I have only lived in the area for one year, I have known of Chris since shortly after he died. When I started writing these stories, I knew Chris’ story was one I wanted to share.

Chris was a graduate of the Missouri Military Academy. He was captain of the rifle team and 2nd Platoon Leader during his senior year. He enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in 2008 after being recruited by the Army Marksmanship Unit. During his time with the ONG he trained to be an infantryman, was SWAT certified, sniper qualified and graduated at the top of his class. Chris proved his expertise by earning numerous awards in 2008-9. He was professionally sponsored as a shooter by the US Shooting Academy in Owasso. He volunteered as a police officer, worked on many political campaigns and was patriotic and passionate about freedom.
Horton deployed for the first time in the summer of 2011. In a letter he wrote while in Afghanistan he said, “The path to becoming a sniper is by no means easy, and if you complete your training, it is a very hard and lonely job. It isn’t what you see in the movies or video games. It is a very difficult but rewarding career. There is no other job in the military like it.”
Sadly, Chris was killed only three months into that deployment. In a 2015 interview with his widow Jane, she said she never thought he would be killed because he was the best
of the best. Chris didn’t think he would be either. I asked her how you get to a place
of acceptance knowing someone who was so strong and so prepared doesn’t come home? She answered, ”I don’t think you do. Life is short therefore we should live in the moment and be grateful for every day we have. Many people, like Chris, didn’t get that opportunity.”
In 2022, a two-day Chris D. Horton Memorial Sniper Competition was started in Jackson, Nebraska by Garrett Grover, who was in the same sniper section as Chris when he was killed. Grover said the event honors Horton, sharpens competitors’ skills and strengthens bonds in the sniper community. Developing that camaraderie is especially important in a career that Horton had described as very isolating.
Grover stated, “The way you think about it going back to ancient times, what warriors are, what warriors do, and the warrior mindset; that was Chris.”
Becoming a widow at such a young
age changed the trajectory of Jane’s life. While her heart was set on growing old and having children with Chris, not long after died, she left Oklahoma and moved to Washington, D.C. She is an active supporter and advocate for veterans and Gold Star Families. She discovered there were issues related to the processes families had to deal with and no one
was working on them. She wanted to help other families, which included the thirteen (at the time) other ONG families that
had experienced a loss. Since 2011, Jane has worked with eight Secretaries of War, including the current one, as his Senior Advisor. She also serves as a member
of the Gold Star Counsel, which was implemented by the current SOW, Pete Hegseth.
Incidentally, SPC Christopher Horton and my son CPL Benjamin Kopp are laid to rest steps apart in the infamous Section 60 at Arlington. I had the privilege of attending a dinner with Jane over Memorial weekend in 2017 at the DC home of the Afghanistan Ambassador to the US. That is a story for another time, however
it remains one of the most honoring and memorable events I have experienced since my son died.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1320 designates four sections of highway 169 to be named after fallen soldiers from the area. In his honor,
U.S. 169 from 106th Street N. to 116th Street N. is named “Specialist Christopher D. Horton Memorial Highway.” May he rest in peace knowing he is not forgotten.

Born dirt poor on September 9, 1913, in Farrar, Texas, Mildred Allison picked cotton
as a child with his family. After high school, tired of low- or no-paying jobs during the
Great Depression, he enlisted in the United States Army on December 31, 1936. That three-year enlistment opened his eyes to a bigger world, including duty in China, and led
to a momentous second enlistment in 1940 that literally changed his life forever. Allison audio-taped his life’s story in retirement. His oldest daughter, Sandy Bishop, transcribed it for descendants – and now the public – to read. His grandson, Marc Bishop, researched the story further.
Getting Faith and Education
“We were Southern Baptist and attended Church regularly,” Allison recorded. One Sunday, “I felt an uncontrollable urge to run down the aisle to the alter to be saved. I was around the age of seven.” The preacher obliged and Allison became a Christian.
Naturally smart and curious about the world, Allison read lots of books and with his best friend, Lee Parks, rebuilt numerous cars. “I knew the only way to get out of the cotton field was to get an education and change my environment.” Allison was valedictorian of Munday High School, but he did not speak in front of others on graduation day because he was ashamed of wearing worn clothes and not having shoes.
Football and a Missed Opportunity
“I played tackle for Munday…from my freshman through senior year.” He scored his only touchdown on a trick play that tied the football game’s score, teammates got the extra point and they earned a conference title in 1931. “As I cleared the defensive players, moving from my left to the right…I began to realize that the end zone was in sight.” Allison received a football scholarship to Texas A&M College, but without a job to pay for room and board, he dropped out.
Bootlegging and a Lucky Escape
“Life was hard for most people during the late 20’s and early 30’s. There was never enough money and very little food.” The lure of easy money bootlegging liquor from Mexico to Fort Worth caught Allison like a fish.
On his third trip, “I backed my car into the worn down garage, to filthy looking Mexicans, who filled the back with the booze I was to deliver and was off to Texas, without a hitch, so I thought.” He hit a huge rut and the rear end went out, but a mechanic swapped repairs for beer. Then, someone followed him at high speed until a tire popped and the car stopped.
A man walked up from behind, hand on his sidearm. It was a Texas Ranger. “As the ranger moved closer to my car, I knew by the build, it was Uncle John.” A thousand to one chance!
His favorite Uncle John towed Allison to the first service station. Without any words being spoken, Allison realized, “This was my one and only get out of jail free card. He left, without any offer of help.” A mechanic traded booze for a patched tire. Next, the radiator broke and Allison barely made it to Fort Worth. However, only one bottle of Tequila remained!
Joining the Army
Although Allison attended a business school a while in 1936 and worked odd jobs, he’d finally had enough of eating beans three times a day and living like a pauper. “I knew it was time to make a major change in my life. So, in December 1936, I left school and enlisted in the United States Army for a three-year hitch.”
His first enlistment started at hot, sandy Fort Bliss, Texas. Marching. Physical training. Hand combat and marksmanship. Graduation and orders followed to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where Allison patrolled the Mexican border – a boring duty.
Next came California. “I got a good duty at the Presidio. I was a prisoner chaser for my unit.” One day, he fired warning shots close to three escaping prisoners and they stopped. On his last prisoner assignment, he and another soldier guarded a soldier on a train to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The prisoner had killed a man over a poker game and a prostitute.
Duty in China
“I spent the last year of my enlistment in China…We were there to train with the Chinese Army.” Japan had invaded Manchuria in 1931. “The training was for show. We would go out a couple times a week in force, and do mock battles. We were always sure to look impressive.”
Allison ended his enlistment there and took a troop ship to San Franciso
to be discharged. Entertainment came through poker games. One night, his cards couldn’t lose. “Hell, you know you’re hot when you win a pot of several hundred dollars on a pair of deuces.”
A New Car and Another Chase
After separating from the Army, Allison bought a new 1939 LaSalle touring car and headed home to Texas in style. Instead, he ended up in East Texas chasing bank robbers when his Uncle Marshall, a town marshal, jumped on the running board of his shiny car and shouted,
“Follow that car!” The bank robbers pelted the LaSalle with bullets from a tommy gun. Uncle Marshall shot the driver, causing him to crash. The chase ended with two bank robbers caught and Allison’s new vehicle ruined.
He moved to Fort Worth searching for a job. “I needed a job fast before I found myself living on the street.” The Gusher Cafe hired him as a dishwasher, fifty cents a day plus meals. It was hot and he was on his feet from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. “It was hard, disgusting work.” Unable to find other work, “I resolved that my best recourse was to re-enlist in the United States Army. I was unaware how this decision would change my life forever.”
Back to the Army
First, Allison was assigned to Fort Bliss again, under Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was then reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, near Canada, which was at war. “At Lewis, I was assigned as the company supply sergeant.”
It was August 1941 and America was not yet at war. Allison and four soldiers discussed joining the Canadian Army with their company commander to get into the fight. Captain Rosen advised them not to.
However, soon afterward, Allison submitted paperwork to purchase his discharge from the Army, which was permitted in pre-WWII. The Army did not respond. The man of action decided on a course of action.
A Life-Changing Decision
“On Friday, August 9, 1941, I returned to my company commander’s office and asked for a three-day pass with the intent of going to Canada to join their Army.” He told Captain Rosen of his plan. Remarkably, Rosen signed the pass anyway. Allison told him, “I have given it plenty of thought and believe this is what I need to do.”
Allison’s life was about to change forever. Henceforth, the Canadian and U.S. armies would play major roles in his life in the near and long term. Next month, read more about Sergeant – soon to be Corporal in the British Columbia Regiment – Allison’s extraordinary journey. • Story by Lt. Col. Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret. website: Rich Travel Niche

Across Oklahoma, dedicated JROTC cadets enter high school classrooms with a profound desire to wear the uniform and serve their country. However, a major hurdle often stands in their way: meeting the military’s qualifying Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score. For many capable students, a lack of targeted test preparation closes the door on enlistment before they even graduate.

ASVAB Edge Academy-a veteran-owned organization led by 12-year U.S. Air Force and Army veteran Winnie Robinson-was founded to solve this exact problem. Our mission is clear: to increase enlistment eligibility for 11th and 12th-grade JROTC cadets through structured, data-driven ASVAB test preparation.

Proven Impact at Frederick Douglass High School

Earlier this year, ASVAB Edge Academy partnered with Oklahoma City Public Schools to launch a pilot ASVAB Test Prep Bootcamp at Frederick Douglass High School, running from December 3, 2025, to January 9, 2026.The results speak for themselves. Out of 30 enthusiastic participants, the three-week curriculum delivered a powerful impact, successfully moving 5 cadets from testing below thresholds to fully ready for enlistment.
As Principal Kevin Jones noted of the initiative, “Our pilot ASVAB Test Prep Bootcamp was successful through strategic partnership with ASVAB Edge Academy.” Furthermore, 100% of student feedback confirmed that the program’s pacing was “just right,” with specific focus placed on strengthening foundational math and verbal skills. This initiative directly aligns with forward-thinking frameworks like the OKCPS Future Driven 2030 strategic plan, which ensures graduates are fully prepared for enlistment, employment, or enrollment.

A Statewide Call to Action for Leaders
The success at Frederick Douglass High School is just the beginning. Veteran JROTC instructors across Oklahoma-including districts in Tulsa and Lawton-have expressed an urgent, growing need to scale this support so more cadets can achieve their dreams of service.
Achieving statewide impact requires collaboration. We are actively calling on state superintendents, school board members, government officials, and corporate partners who believe in this mission to step forward. If you want to know how to bring the proven OK LEADS ASVAB Prep Program to your school district and unlock new opportunities for your students, we want to hear from you.
Together, we can ensure that every young adult in Oklahoma who wants to serve our nation is given the academic tools to succeed.
To learn more about bringing a bootcamp to your district or to partner with ASVAB Edge Academy, visit www.asvabedgeacademy.org or contact our strategic team at 405-206-3377.
• Story and photos submittd by Quincy Benton | Strategic Advisor

by Freddy Groves
Let’s hear it for whistleblowers, especially when big money is involved, and most especially when some of that money should have gone into the pockets of veterans.
Specifically, starting in 2001, non-VA medical providers and veterans had 90 days to file for reimbursement for veterans who had sought emergency care. Then in 2022 the Cleland-Dole Act added the requirement that
non-VA providers submit payment requests within 180 days for providing nonemergency care. However, there was no mention of veterans having that same 180-day time limit to file for reimbursement, or any time limit at all.
The VA continued, however, to apply the original 90-day payment limit.
Enter the VA Office of Inspector General because of the whistleblower. When asked, the VA identified 78,000 claims — to the tune of $373 million — that had been denied because they didn’t meet the 90-day limit. And no, they hadn’t reviewed those 78,000 denied claims. Apparently there was confusion due to the fact that the law was written to give non-VA providers that 180 days, but not veterans.
Further confusion (or so it was said) arose because it wasn’t clear whether the 90-day filing period should begin on the date of discharge, the date of a veteran’s death during emergency treatment or the date it became clear that a third-party payer would not cover the claim. The VA sought clarification from the policy department … and promptly dropped the ball, not pursuing answers.
The VA began processing those claims, leaving it to the individual claims processors to decide whether they would use the 90- or 180-day limitation.
If you need to get emergency care at a non-VA medical facility, there are some rules you need to know so it will be paid for. You can read the
info at www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities so you’ll know what you should do in an emergency. For example, going to urgent care doesn’t count. And someone needs to tell the VA within 72 hours that you’ve had a medical emergency. You can notify the VA at 844-724-7842.