The Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame will celebrate its 26th Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Nov 1 at the Embassy Suites, Norman. This year’s class includes 11 living and deceased service members representing all services and all ranks, one civilian and the Kiowa Code Talkers of WWII. Their achievements are as numerous and inspiring as those as those who have been inducted.

The formal event drew over 600 attendees in 2024, according to Colonel (Ret.) Kelly Zachgo, President of the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation, who operates the Hall of Fame. Families, friends and corporate sponsors like the Tinker Federal Credit Union attend to celebrate the honorees.

Zachgo also stated the entertainment will feature singer, performer and speaker Maggie Bond and guitarist Dennis Hoch, a Navy veteran of Vietnam. The 145th Army Band will perform patriotic music.

Major General Douglas O. Dollar, USA (retired), who founded the Hall of Fame, explained the purpose behind the ceremony. “We try to honor veterans for one thing, for valor. They’ve been outstanding in combat. The other criteria is that they may have done community/public service for veterans, and they certainly deserve recognition and encouragement. Also, I think it’s very important to educate the public, especially the state’s youth, about military service and the remarkable stories of Oklahoman service.” As an example, Dollar highlighted Private Oscar Upham, a U.S. Marine who erected barricades under enemy fire in 1900 during China’s Boxer Rebellion and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

A trained “Ambassador” works closely with each honoree or their family, if deceased, to ensure their attendance is enjoyable. Colonel (Ret.) Ernest Goodman, a frequent Ambassador assistant, said, “I’m honored to arrange for the family of Colonel Philip Adair, a deceased WWII Air Force pilot, to attend this year’s ceremony, he stated. “He’s an Oklahoma hero and deserves to be recognized.”

Inductees are selected through a rigorous process to ensure Oklahoma’s most worthy are chosen. Candidates must have a connection to Oklahoma, full biographical information, outstanding civilian and/or patriotic service and most importantly, according to the Hall of Fame’s website, “The military record must demonstrate heroic and/or extraordinary leadership action, service, or sacrifice; and principal awards received.”

Seating is $95 per person, with a check or credit card due by Oct 20th. Dress is Sunday best, business suit, Service Uniform or Mess Dress.
For details or to reserve seats, visit www.OKMHF.ORG or email [email protected].
Inductees
Col Philip R. Adair, U.S. Air Force, 1920 – 2017. Adair enlisted in the Army Air Corps in January 1942, training as a pilot and flew P-40s and P-47s on 139 combat missions in the China-Burma-India theater from 1943 – 1944. On December 13, 1943, he bravely attacked a large enemy bomber formation, earning the Silver Star.
SP4 Glen E. Blood, U.S. Army. SP4 Blood was awarded the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts for heroism in Vietnam on June 12, 1968. Despite sustaining wounds to both legs, his arm, and additional shrapnel injuries, he continued to direct a fierce counterattack and led his squad, carrying wounded soldiers to safety under extreme danger.
LTC Vernon W. Gillespie, Jr., U.S. Army, 1933 – 2017. Gillespie was awarded the Silver Star for heroism in Vietnam (three tours), as well as the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Air Medal while commanding two Special Forces units and led the 2nd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.
1LT Michael Waddle, U.S. Army. For gallantry in action in Vietnam as a platoon leader on August 26, 1969, 1LT Waddle was awarded the Silver Star, and received two Bronze Stars for additional acts of merit. He is a certified DAV Service Officer and public speaker on Veterans’ affairs.
MG Doug Dollar Distinguished Public Service Award
CAPT John P. Keilty, U.S. Navy. Former Commodore of Strategic Communications Wing One at Tinker AFB, devoted educator and mentor at Mount St. Mary High School, Rose State College, and Del City High School’s Junior NROTC. Keilty has led or supported numerous community projects.
Mrs. Pamela K. Kloiber. She spent over thirty years working with the local community and supporting Airmen and Sailors at Tinker AFB. She co-founded “Team Tinker Home Away From Home,” a program designed to support first term service members throughout the year, helping reduce suicides among new Airmen. • story by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

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

Jerrold “Jerry” F. Hooker’s life is a shining example of service, loyalty, and honor. Born on August 21, 1919, on his Uncle Floyd’s farm in Colorado, Jerry grew up during a time of great change in America. He spent his first 22 years in Colorado, later living 4 years in Egypt, and eventually calling Oklahoma home for the past 80 years.

Jerry’s childhood was marked by both challenges and determination. At just 7 years old in 1926, he sustained a traumatic amputation of four toes on his left foot when a hay derrick fell, yet even then he carried out his chores-hauling water in canvas bags on horseback to the men in the hay fields. By 1938, he graduated high school at age 18, having worked hard to save enough money to buy his very first car: a Model “A” Ford for $75.

When World War II began, Jerry was just 22 years old. In April 1942, he enlisted in the Army at Fort Logan, Colorado, where his typing ability led to his first assignment as a medical corps clerk typist. He completed 12 weeks of basic training at Camp Bowie in Brownwood, Texas, followed by further training at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. From there, he traveled to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, the Army’s largest processing center for troops shipping overseas.

On September 21, 1942, Jerry boarded the HMS Aquitania in Staten Island, New York, beginning a 40-day journey across the Atlantic and around the coast of Africa. Sailing in a zig-zag pattern to avoid German U-boats, the ship ultimately reached the Port of Suez. By October 31, 1942, Jerry had traveled 16,700 miles by sea to set up a military hospital in the desert outside Cairo, Egypt.

There, on Armistice Day-November 11, 1942, the 38th General Hospital opened its doors to provide care for Allied forces wounded in the North African campaign. Jerry’s service spanned multiple roles: he first worked as an orthopedic clerk, then was promoted to Corporal, before becoming Supply Sergeant. In this position, he managed medical supplies and inventory for 64 doctors, 105 nurses, and 500 enlisted men. His duties eventually expanded as General Supply Sergeant and later Staff Sergeant, where he not only managed uniforms and equipment but was entrusted with sole access to locked medical supplies. His leadership and integrity earned the deep trust of his superiors and fellow soldiers alike.

Jerry remained overseas until 1945, serving in the Middle East and North Africa, and he was later called back during the Korean War in 1951, serving for one year at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.

After his military service, Jerry began his civilian life in Oklahoma. In 1945, he moved to Hitchcock, where he married Grace Spaeth the following year. They shared 30 years of marriage until her passing from cancer in 1976. Jerry built a meaningful life in Hitchcock, where he ran a grocery and general store, as well as the Whistle Stop Restaurant. He served as Mayor for 18 years, taught Sunday school at the Methodist Church for 22 years, and managed the local COOP Grain Elevator for 12 years.

In 1978, Jerry moved to Okeene, Oklahoma, where he married Emma Osmus, with whom he shared 32 years of marriage until her passing in 2010. In Okeene, he worked as assistant manager at the COOP Grain Elevator, served on the Blaine County Excise Board, and was active in the Masonic Lodge, achieving Master Mason after 50 years of service. He was also a devoted member of the Okeene Methodist Church.

In 2012, at the age of 93, Jerry moved into the Independent Living Facility at Fairview Fellowship Home, where he has continued to inspire those around him with his humility, wisdom, and steady faith.

Through each chapter of his journey-whether on the battlefield, in service to his community, or as a family man-Jerry demonstrated loyalty, leadership, and an unwavering dedication to others. His story is one of quiet strength, resilience, and devotion that has spanned more than a century.

And now, we celebrate not only his remarkable life of service but also a milestone that few in history will ever reach.

On August 21, 2025, Jerrold “Jerry” F. Hooker celebrated his 106th birthday.

A true American hero, a man of faith, loyalty, and compassion – Jerry reminds us that a life dedicated to service is a life well lived. •
story by Latisha King

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.”

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 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.

All 77 Oklahoma Counties.
All 50 states.
Numerous foreign countries.

The geographic reach of Dale K. Graham Veterans Foundation is staggering.
But even moreso, the impact for veterans, their families and generations to come is incalculable.
The operation has grown beyond even Graham’s expectation but the process is always a familiar one.
A friendly voice on the phone leads to a visit to the Norman office where a hot cup of coffee and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet are waiting to thank you for your service, pull you up a chair and show you how to get the benefits you’ve earned for you and your family.
At the heart of it all is Dale Graham, who served in the Marines.
The Veteran’s Administration ranks Graham’s foundation as the eighth-leading organization in the nation in terms of the amount of money procured for veterans and their surviving spouses.
He says service members who have worked with the foundation are currently receiving $900 million per year in benefits.
“In reality it’s double or triple that,” Graham said, noting those numbers only count the last eight years of the organization’s existence, not the 20 that preceded it. “It’s worked out real good.”
More than half of those who seek out the foundation’s assistance travel from out of state, he says.
“The men and women who served got the short end of the stick.”
Last fall, Graham welcomed a service member who flew in from Vietnam. Another from China, another from Dubai, another from Greece.
England, Australia, Africa, the list goes on and on.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Graham said. “But we’re winning.”
Graham still volunteers his time but the foundation pays a small army of staff that is amazing to watch in action. And there’s another dedicated group of volunteers that’s the backbone of what the foundation accomplishes.
“When you help somebody else it helps you,” he said.
It’s a lesson he learned later rather than sooner.
He turned to alcohol to cope with the PTSD he brought back with him after serving in Vietnam. He says it dotted almost 30 years of his life.
“It was the only way I could deal with life. Or I thought it was,” he said. “But we got all that past and now we just do what we can do to change lives.”
Changing lives involves helping navigate a seemingly unfair maze of paperwork to service-connect disabilities veterans thought just went hand in hand with serving their country.
“Everything we’re doing down here is working,” Graham said.
The stories that come through the front door are devastating; service widows losing their homes due to rising inflation, veterans living out on the street who don’t want to ask for help.
“I had one couple come in and I did his papers and he told me ‘next month I get my medicine,’” Graham remembers. “He told me they took turns getting their heart medicines every other month to keep costs down and they hoped nothing else ever happens.”
“Him and his wife were living on $1,200 a month. When I got through with him he was getting $4,000 a month from the VA. It’s the richest he’s ever been.”
The times Graham is able to get a service member 100-percent service connected they are able to receive free medical insurance for the spouse and the kids.
“What we’re doing today I think is wonderful,” he said.
More than a decade ago, Graham was invited to Harvard to speak about how he was helping returning veterans.
He’s an expert, but to some service members he’s a savior.
Taylor Poindexter agrees. As the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Poindexter helps the foundation keep moving forward and track its reach.
“The impact we are having is unmeasurable,” Poindexter said. “Not only are we improving the quality of life for our veterans but we’re actually saving some of their lives.”
Nearly 30 years ago, the Dale K. Graham Veterans Foundation was founded by Graham and Rhonda Reynolds and is dedicated to serving veterans and their families.
Recognizing the challenges veterans face in accessing their entitled benefits, the founders were driven by a deep commitment to fight for those who have served our country.
Since its inception, the Foundation has provided essential services including accredited VA claims assistance, transportation, financial aid, and referral management, ensuring veterans receive the full range of support they deserve.
The Foundation has helped more than 50,000 veterans and their families.
“Not only does it change quality of life, it changes quality of opportunity,” Poindexter said. “We are making a difference and the difference we are making we’ll probably never know. But the only way we truly know is when you and I as veterans get service connected we know how it affects our lives.” •
story and photos by Bobby Anderson, staff writer