Don Nichols, Adjutant of Chapter 617 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, announced that the Department of Oklahoma’s Military Order of the Purple Heart is enhancing the National Purple Heart Monument in Tahlequah with a new QR code. The monument, created to honor all American veterans, is already unique for its existing QR code that lets visitors view veterans’ stories while on site.
The new addition will connect visitors directly to the Virtual Wall®, “an on-line web site that contains memorial pages honoring the 58,261 women and men whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C” according to the Vietnam Veterans of America. By scanning the code with a smartphone, guests can access detailed profiles and service information for each individual named on the Wall.
“We’ll have the only monument that has that capability,” Nichols said, that provides a direct link to the Virtual Wall®. He added, “We did that to let the families of veterans know they aren’t forgotten.” The Purple Heart Monument is located at the corner of Muskogee Avenue and the Bertha Parker Bypass, at 2001 South Muskogee Avenue. Scan this code to visit. • story by Don Nichols, Adjutant of Chapter 617 in Muskogee.

The Oklahoma National Guard Museum hosted a closing ceremony earlier this summer to honor its historic home, marking the end of an era for the 1937 Works Progress Administration building that served as a cornerstone in preserving the legacy of the Oklahoma National Guard and its service members.

During the 2021 legislative session, the Oklahoma Legislature approved changing the name of the Museum from the 45th Infantry Division Museum located at 2145 NE 36th Street in Oklahoma City to the Oklahoma National Guard Museum and raising funds to house a new museum building to serve as a home for the newly refocused Oklahoma National Guard Museum.

As the current museum focuses heavily on the 45th Infantry Division’s service during World War II, the new Oklahoma National Guard Museum will focus on telling the entire story of the Oklahoma Air and Army National Guard, from pre-statehood to modern times.

The museum will soon transition to a new state-of-the-art, nearly 40,000 square-foot facility located at 3301 Northeast Grand Blvd., is scheduled to open the summer 2026.

“The construction is going very rapidly actually. The building is enclosed. Sheet rock has gone up and we are still on target to open in the summer of 2026,” Dr. Denise Neil, the museum’s executive director said. “We closed the previous museum in May.”

It will provide enhanced space and tools to effectively tell the Oklahoma National Guard’s story from its founding through modern times, including a focus on domestic operations throughout the state and neighboring states.

“To be able to share and preserve and maintain a history of the men and women that serve in the National Guard in Oklahoma is really important that it drives our mission,” Neil said. “When we think about us starting with military history and how the Guard participated in wars, that starts really for us in 1898 with Guardsmen that leave the Guard to serve in the volunteers for the Spanish-American War. And that is history that people don’t know about because it’s so far removed.”

In addition to new displays, numerous artifacts from the 45th Infantry Division Museum will continue to be on display. There will also be a variety of interactive displays, which will provide more information about Oklahoma National Guard activities than is currently possible.

The museum has been instrumental in collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of the Oklahoma National Guard. Its extensive collection includes the Jordan B. Reaves American Military Weapons Collection, Bill Mauldin’s personal collection of World War II cartoons, a tribute exhibit to the 12 members of the 45th Infantry Division and Oklahoma Army National Guard who received the Medal of Honor, a robust exhibit on the 45th ID’s role in the liberating the Dachau concentration camp 80 years ago, and more.

“All of the exhibitions will be brand new,” Neil said. “We will expand our storyline so we’re starting with the history of the Oklahoma National Guard beginning in 1890 with the establishment of the territorial militia and moving up as contemporary as possible. We also are expanding beyond telling the story of war so that we can tell the story of how the Guard responds to natural and man-made disasters in the state and the country as well. We’re also expanding how we tell the story of the Oklahoma Air National Guard in the new museum. And we’ve been pretty Army-heavy over here for a long time in the old museum, so we’re looking forward to that too.”

Though a bittersweet farewell to the building that housed the museum for nearly 50 years, Neil expressed gratitude and excitement for the future.

“My first job here was in the early 2000s, and then, fast forward to having the honor of guiding the museum to this new chapter,” Neil said. “The idea was that we needed a new building to house the museum’s collection so that we could tell a better story of the Oklahoma National Guard. We love our historic building, and it has great history to the [Oklahoma National] Guard, but it also has challenges, and a new building will allow us to do a better job.”

Neil said the Oklahoma National Guard and the Oklahoma Military Department intend to maintain their former building.
“The exact use in the future is to be determined, but they’re hoping that they will be able to take off the additions that we’re put onto it and turn it back to how it looked in 1937,” she said. “It’s a beautiful building and we’re sure glad they’re going to maintain it.”

Neil said the museum’s collections will start moving to its new site early next year.

“Everything is in the same building for right now. We will start moving collections toward January,” she said. We have relocated several sizable items from the park to another area. We are not taking everything out of the park. Some stuff will be maintained on the current property.”

Neil said the museum continues to attract visitors from Oklahoma and abroad.

“Our visitor numbers are good, and we look forward to them going up in the new space,” she said. “Most of our visitors are from Oklahoma. But on an average year, it’s not uncommon for us to have representation from foreign countries at all including from Germany and France. We aim to attract a broad international audience, as we believe our story is both compelling and worthy of attention.”

Neil said she wants visitors to the new museum to walk away with a better understanding of the role the Oklahoma National has played in the state’s past, present and future.

“I think my overarching message would be that we want people to come and learn about everything the Guard has done through its existence from pre-statehood days to current, and the impact that they have on the lives of Oklahomans to their service to community,” she said.
For more information about the Oklahoma National Guard Museum visit www.okngmuseum.com or scan the QR code. •
story by Van Mitchell, staff writer

Special to OKVN

During World War II, tyranny and devastation swept over continents, and the very foundations of our freedom stood in peril. In the face of such danger, communities across Oklahoma did not hesitate. From the bustling streets of Tulsa to the wide-open fields of the Red River Valley, men and women from every corner of the state stepped forward-answering the call when it mattered most. They asked for no recognition or reward, yet history will forever remember them as heroes. Among the courageous women who left Oklahoma but never came home was Second Lieutenant Geraldine Crouch.

Born on December 17, 1919, in McAlester, Geraldine was the cherished daughter of Eugene and Virgie Crouch. She grew up in a close-knit community and shared unforgettable memories with her three sisters and four brothers. From a very young age, Geraldine showed a deep care for those around her-a compassion that would define her life. Her childhood in the heart of McAlester was filled with joy and laughter, but in 1931, her mother passed away. Geraldine was only 11 years old, and that sudden loss left a scar that never fully healed.

Geraldine attended McAlester High School, where she was loved by classmates and teachers alike. Her thoughtfulness and natural empathy were evident to all who knew her. Inspired by a desire to help others, she pursued nurse training at University Hospital in Oklahoma City. After her studies, she returned home and became an assistant nurse at the McAlester Clinic, where her care and dedication earned the admiration of colleagues and patients.

When World War II spread across the globe, Geraldine felt a profound sense of duty and the need to heal the wounds of war. In 1942, she joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, serving with the 61st Station Hospital, and was initially stationed in Texas. A year later, she was deployed to North Africa, tending wounded soldiers with tireless devotion. She later served in Sicily and the Italian Campaign, where she continued her mission under grueling conditions, always bringing comfort and relief to those in the most desperate situations.

Tragically, on October 14, 1944, Geraldine was aboard a B-24 aircraft flying over Italy when disaster struck. The plane crashed into a hill near Rocchetta Sant’Antonio in Foggia, killing her instantly. She was only 24 years old, with so much life ahead of her, and so much yet to give.

Back in McAlester, news of her death sent shockwaves through the entire community, leaving her father, siblings, and neighbors heartbroken. The thought of never again seeing her smile or hearing her voice was unbearable. Her father passed away in 1961, and one by one, her siblings also died, carrying with them the lasting memory of Geraldine’s generosity and humanity.

Today, Geraldine rests at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Arkansas, among countless American heroes who gave their lives to make the world a better place. The cemetery is a site of quiet reflection, where her service is honored in reverent silence. Her headstone stands as an eternal reminder of a life, a story, and a guiding light that must continue to inspire generations to come.

It is our solemn duty to remember Second Lieutenant Geraldine Crouch and to honor a legacy carved through sacrifice, compassion, and bravery. Her poignant story resonates with those of countless women from Oklahoma who left their homes, families, and dreams behind to help turn the tide of war and reshape history. Though time moves on, their spirit remains woven into the fabric of Oklahoma’s history-and their memory will endure as long as we choose to carry their story forward. •
story by John Dekhane – Living in France.

On September 18, as Dr. Anthony Pham was performing his normal vision exams and prescribing eyeglasses at Tinker Eye Care, he received a nice-to-have surprise award.
A “Special Recognition Award” came from the Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart, presented by Master Chief Petty Officer Larry Van Schuyver, State Commander.
Schuyver said the award was given “because over and over again, he’s taken the time to help with our elderly, disabled veterans and other families. He’ll help you any way he can. He’s an honorable, decent man and we’re proud to welcome him to our Purple Heart family.”
Staff, family and Joanna Bunde, Visual Merchandizer at Tinker’s Base Exchange, clapped with their approval.
Afterwards, Pham, who owns and manages the store, explained how he felt. “I’m honored to receive this. It’s my privilege to serve as a civilian optometrist.”
The Tinker Eye Care office serves 250 customers a week with primary eye care (exams, eye disease, contact lenses and more). • story by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps reunited a World War II veteran with the tank he drove during the Battle of Iwo Jima, in a ceremony held Aug. 15 at the Museum Support Facility.

In a powerful moment of living history on the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Corporal Leighton Willhite, 100, stood beside “Lucky,” the very M4A3 Sherman tank he drove ashore during the assault on Iwo Jima in 1945. He was joined by his son, grandson and great-grandson.

“It’s amazing,” Willhite said. “I never thought I would see the tank again. That tank was my life.”

At just 19 years old, Willhite landed with C Company, 5th Tank Battalion, in Lucky during the opening assault on Iwo Jima. Lucky was among the Marine Corps’ newest standard tanks and saw its combat debut on the island. Willhite’s crew supported Marines near Hill 362A, north of Mount Suribachi, and carried out rescue missions under heavy fire.

In one defining moment, when a fellow tank, Jeannie, became trapped, Willhite volunteered to cover his commander, Lt. Leonard Blake, as they moved to rescue the crew. Willhite was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor, and Blake received the Silver Star.

After the battle, Lucky returned to Hawaii in April 1945 and was one of 72 tanks selected for conversion into CB-H5 flamethrower tanks in preparation for the planned invasion of Japan. Following the war, Lucky was transferred to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where it remained largely unnoticed until the early 2000s, when it was recovered and entered the Museum’s collection. At the time, its historical significance was not yet known.

Its true identity came to light in 2023, when Jon Bernstein, the Museum’s Arms & Armor Curator, conducted a routine inspection of the tank. During the inspection, Bernstein noticed a set of distinctive weld scars, marks unique to the 5th Tank Battalion’s improvised self-protection modifications for Iwo Jima.

Through careful analysis of those scars, along with field modifications and comparisons to archival photographs and historical records, Bernstein was able to positively identify the tank as belonging to C Company, 5th Tank Battalion. Further paint excavation revealed the name “Lucky” and the unit’s tactical markings, confirming not only the tank’s battlefield role but also its direct connection to its original crew, including Corposal Willhite.

Today, Lucky is one of only six confirmed Sherman tanks from Iwo Jima still in existence.

“Today is the end of the beginning and is the culmination of two years of research and piecing the story together, said Bernstein. “To bring Corporal Willhite back together with the tank he drove in battle is to bring that story to life.”
This reunion carried even greater meaning because 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito announcing Japan’s surrender and ending World War II. For Willhite, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 9, standing beside Lucky once more was more than just a personal milestone-it was a living reminder of the service and sacrifice of Marines in one of the Corps’ most pivotal battles.

As the number of World War II veterans dwindles each year, gatherings like this become increasingly rare and precious. They offer something no book or artifact alone can provide: the chance to see history embodied in those who lived it.
“Having Corporal Willhite here, standing beside this tank again after 80 years, is very special,” said Museum Director Keil Gentry. “It is a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice that defined the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima.”

Lucky’s journey is far from over. It is now undergoing a meticulous restoration to its 1945 appearance…For generations to come, Lucky will stand as a storyteller in steel, carrying forward the legacy of those who battled on Iwo Jima.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps, located near Marine Corps Base Quantico in Triangle, Va., is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines-past, present and future. With immersive exhibits and world-class collections, the museum preserves and shares the history, culture and traditions of the Marine Corps. For more information, visit www.usmcmuseum.com or use the qr code here. •
story by Karen Amaro, USMC Training Command.

Herman Meinders and the Meinders Foundation have combined for an $8 million donation to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. The gift aims to transform neurodegenerative disease research in Oklahoma.
OMRF will add a new floor to its research tower that will serve as the hub for the Meinders Center for Neurodegenerative Research, the state’s first dedicated center to study brain diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Meinders, an Oklahoma City businessman and philanthropist, contributed $2 million toward this gift before he died in March. The Meinders Foundation then increased the gift by an additional $6 million.
“This generous donation will help us build upon the groundbreaking discoveries our scientists have already made involving neurodegenerative diseases,” said OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D. “Our ultimate goal is to improve diagnostics and treatment options for the millions of Americans who live with one of these debilitating diseases.”
At OMRF, 10 scientists lead labs that study various aspects of neurodegenerative diseases. The combined gift by Herman Meinders and the Meinders Foundation will integrate the work of these labs, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the causes behind brain disorders, including the environmental and genetic factors that increase the risk of developing one.
Meinders and his wife, LaDonna, were passionate supporters of causes that included research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Their gifts established the Meinders NeuroScience Institute and the Meinders Center for Movement Disorders at Oklahoma City’s Mercy Hospital. Both centers provide advanced treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which Herman Meinders lived with over his final 10 years.
The couple also were longtime supporters of OMRF, and their foundation became aware of OMRF’s focus on neurodegenerative diseases shortly before Herman’s death.
OMRF scientist Mike Beckstead, Ph.D., had recently been awarded a National Institutes of Health grant to create novel research model for Parkinson’s research. Mo Grotjohn, treasurer and trustee for the Meinders Foundation, read a resulting newspaper article about the grant a few weeks before Herman’s death.
“As I learned about Dr. Beckstead’s research, I became convinced this was an endeavor worth pursuing, so I contacted OMRF Board Chair Len Cason and shared the information with members of the Meinders family,” Grotjohn said.
In Parkinson’s, nerve cells produce less dopamine, resulting in a loss of muscle control, balance and movement. It is second only behind Alzheimer’s as the most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting an estimated 1 million people in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide.
In addition to studying Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, OMRF scientists have made major breakthroughs for people living with other brain diseases.
For example, research at OMRF led to the only treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for neuromyelitis optica, which robs people of movement, balance and sight. OMRF scientists also pioneered an investigational drug for glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer.
“With this gift from Herman Meinders and the Meinders Foundation, we hope to make similarly meaningful headway toward improved treatments for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s,” Weyrich said. “Doing so would honor the memory of Mr. Meinders.”

On October 7, 1911, a gunfight erupted between a posse of lawmen and train robber Elmer McCurdy. Elmer would not survive the encounter. He would, however, go on to become a legend. The story of outlaw-turned-mummy Elmer McCurdy garners worldwide interest and has been featured in books, documentaries and a Broadway musical. The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie is the home of his story, and the “Boot Hill” section of Summit View Cemetery on the edge of town is his final resting place.
Join the Oklahoma Territorial Museum on Zoom on Tuesday, October 7, at noon as museum director Michael Williams moderates a discussion on the life and afterlife of Elmer McCurdy with David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, creators of the Broadway musical “Dead Outlaw.”
Yazbek is an American writer, musician, composer and lyricist. He wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals “The Full Monty,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Tootsie” and “Dead Outlaw.” He won a Tony and a Grammy for “The Band’s Visit.” He also consulted on the musical “Buena Vista Social Club.”
Della Penna is a composer, lyricist, instrumentalist and vocalist who has appeared on over 60 rock, pop and Americana albums. He has toured and recorded extensively with Joan Osborne, Natalie Merchant and Joan Baez and has worked with legendary music producer T Bone Burnett. He is conservatory-trained, holding a BFA in Classical Guitar from the Mannes School of Music (now The New School). He also plays the banjo, lap steel guitar and mandolin. In 2024, he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for “Dead Outlaw,” which was off-Broadway at the time.
This event is free; however, spots are limited, and registration is required. A registration form is available online.
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum is located at 406 E. Oklahoma Ave. in Guthrie. For more information, please call 405-282-1889. Please visit okhistory.org.