By Jill Stephenson

U.S. Army, Oklahoma Army National Guard, KIA September 17, 2008.

In mid May a long time friend came to visit me. She came to visit family and attend a graduation party. We met many years ago while working together in Minnesota. We never talked much about her roots or her family from Oklahoma. Little did we know that years later, I would end up living near where she grew up. Sheryl and I were neighbors so she knew my son before he was killed in action. One of the family members she spent time with during her visit was her cousin Kory Thompson. Sheryl informed me that Kory had lost his son Michael in Iraq in 2008. She wondered if we knew each other. We didn’t, however we discovered that we have mutual friends and were both likely at the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, Illinois for an event several years ago. It’s a small world.
Kory served in the Air Force for six years. His father served in the Army and Air Force during WWII and Korea.
Michael Thompson grew up in Kingston, Oklahoma. He graduated high school in 2003. Michael had wanted to be in the military since he was a little boy. The events of September 11th sharpened that pull, so did his best friend’s example. He had joined the Marine Corps a year earlier and was part of the first push into Baghdad. Michael enlisted in the Army in early 2004.
Friends and family called him Mikey. With three Michaels in his class, he became “Mikey T.” His fellow soldiers had another name for him: “EYRE,” his middle name and an Irish family name. His father, Kory, had addressed letters to him that way, in all caps, and it stuck. They also called him “the packhorse” because he was a big man with a kid’s heart, always willing to carry more than his share of the load.
Mikey joined the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas, and deployed with them in 2005-06. He left active duty service in early 2007, but soon discovered that civilian work didn’t pay well and he missed the structure and discipline of the Army. A few months later he re-enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. When he heard the unit out of Lexington, Oklahoma needed infantry guys as open-door machine gunners, he asked his commander for a transfer. He got his wish.
On his second deployment, Thompson was serving as an open-door machine gunner aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, call sign Red River 44, when the helicopter went down near Talil, Iraq. All seven soldiers on board were killed, including two other OK National Guardsmen; SGT. Daniel Eshbaugh and Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf. Also killed were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Corry Edwards, SGT. Anthony Mason, 1st SGT. Julio Ordonez, and 1st LT. Robert Vallejo II.
Mikey was laid to rest at Shay Cemetery in Shay, Oklahoma. A shared memorial for the crew of Red River 44 stands at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Mikey’s obituary described him as “happiest with a gun or a fishing pole in his hand, never met a stranger, and would give anyone the shirt off his back and the last dollar out of his pocket.”
In 2010, a 17-mile stretch of State Highway 70 was designated as the CPL Michael Thompson Memorial Highway. It runs from the west side of the Roosevelt Bridge through the town of Kingston where Mikey grew up.
Mikey’s father shared that there are still things about the notification day he doesn’t remember. He says you can never be who you were before your child died. Within a year of Mikey’s death, Kory joined the Patriot Guard Riders. Standing in flag lines honoring the fallen for other grieving families helped save him. He did this almost daily, until it grew too painful to continue. Michael’s brother, Tommy, died three years ago at age 46 from a heart attack. Kory’s takeaway is this: “Life is about the dash between the dates. We should make the most of it while we are still here.”
For ten years, Mikey’s friends held an annual memorial swim at Lake Texoma in his honor, raising scholarship funds for his high school. Twelve children have been named after him. The boys have been given his first name, and the girls his middle name, Eyre. For this reason and for the friend he was to many, Mikey lives on and will not be forgotten. •

Gov. Kevin Stitt has authorized the Oklahoma National Guard to provide a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and crew to support ongoing wildfire suppression efforts in Arkansas at the request of the Arkansas Forestry Division and Arkansas National Guard.
The Oklahoma National Guard’s support is currently planned for four days and will provide additional aviation capability to assist Arkansas emergency responders in their firefighting efforts.
The deployment is being conducted through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, an interstate mutual-aid agreement that allows states to provide personnel, equipment and other resources to one another during emergencies and disasters.
“Oklahoma stands ready to support our neighbors when they need assistance,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma. “Our Soldiers and Airmen are trained and prepared to respond when called upon, and we are proud to support Arkansas emergency responders during this effort.”
While providing support to Arkansas, the Oklahoma National Guard remains in close coordination with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and the Oklahoma Forestry Services. The Oklahoma National Guard remains prepared to provide support for ongoing wildland firefighting operations within Oklahoma as needed.
The Oklahoma National Guard will continue to coordinate with Arkansas officials throughout the mission and adjust support as needed based on the ongoing wildfire response. • Story and photo by MAJ Kayla L. Christopher, Plans Officer

The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) hosted a successful Open House and VetFest event on September 3rd to promote admissions to the Sallisaw Veterans Home. “We need the veteran community and their families to raise awareness about the Sallisaw Veterans Home, a flagship facility and hidden gem in a beautiful area of our state,” said James Bynum, Executive Director of ODVA.
Eagle Ops, along with other community stakeholders, held a special claims clinic onsite to assist veterans in accessing the care and benefits during the open house.
“Partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs and the VA to help bring events like VetFest to communities across Oklahoma just makes sense for Eagle OPS. Our mission is about connecting relationships and resources to bring our heroes home, and this is exactly what that looks like in action. When we can help raise awareness, bring veterans through the door and connect them with the benefits and resources they’ve earned, everybody wins,” said Johnathon “Shep” Shepherd, Executive Director, Eagle OPS Foundation.
The event provided veterans with an opportunity to connect, tour the new facility, and meet with elected officials and ODVA staff. Senators Tom Woods and Warren Hamilton, along with Representatives Rick West, Melissa Provenzano, and Derrick Hildebrandt, attended to show their support for Oklahoma’s veteran community.
“When veterans get connected to the VA, their benefits and other trusted resources, it also opens the door to the many opportunities for social connection and community that exist across our state. From Eagle OPS Rally Points to events and programs hosted by other veteran-serving organizations, there are so many ways for Oklahoma veterans to get connected and stay connected,” said Shepherd.
In June, ODVA announced that Sallisaw Veterans Home was fully staffed, marking a significant milestone in expanding veteran care capacity across Oklahoma. To celebrate this achievement, ODVA initiated a statewide effort to admit sixty veterans within sixty days. Filling the long-term care beds within the Oklahoma Veterans Home System is vital to demonstrating ODVA’s commitment to supporting the needs of veterans.
“This facility serves as a valuable resource for veterans in Oklahoma, yet we also welcome residents from any state,” Bynum added. The home boasts unique amenities and is conveniently located near Muskogee, Tulsa, Fort Smith, Rogers, and Joplin.
ODVA is committed to improving the lives of veterans and their families at the Sallisaw Veterans Home in eastern Oklahoma. This modern facility spans 201,000 square feet on a 40.8-acre campus, offering 175 beds and employing approximately 275 staff members. The home features nine courtyards for therapy, relaxation, and dining, providing a safe environment that promotes wellness. Each veteran is provided with a spacious private room, a significant advantage over smaller veteran homes. Recently approved for admissions after passing its VA survey in April 2026, the home offers robust clinical services, and an excellent safety record.
Scan the QR CODE below for an Application for Veterans Home Admission:

Veterans are invited to attend PhotoCon OKC 2026, Oklahoma’s only regional level three-day interactive photography skills advancement convention, as immersive as their military experience. The event will be held Oct. 29- 31 in OKC at Embassy Suites by Hilton OKC Northwest.
Celebrating its 13th year, Bedford Camera & Video’s PhotoCon OKC helps photographers at every level bridge the gap between theoretical classroom learning and real-world application, much like Veterans preparing for their first duty station. The event is widely recognized as the region’s largest photography and digital imaging show.
For more current information about the event, lodging discounts and special VIP access, visit www.photoconokc.com. Early-bird admission is $149, or $199 at the door, and the event benefits four local charities.
“PhotoCon fosters camaraderie between photographers from across the state and region that supports our creative endeavors,” said Richard Clifton, long-time prolific Oklahoma City photographer. “The master class sessions have let me hear speakers I have idolized for years and followed on Facebook and YouTube.”
The core of the educational experience is the lineup of two dozen expert speakers covering diverse genres. Instead of general advice, photographers can attend these targeted sessions to learn specific, actionable skills.
Keynote presentations include Hank Schyma and Kansas City Chiefs Director of Photography Steve Sanders.
Veterans can build technical mastery by learning complex workflows like astro-landscape photography and “night techniques” from experts like Tony Hebert, or dive into macro and nature photography with Don Hamilton.
Photographers are invited to move beyond camera settings by attending sessions on storytelling with Jason Domingues or learning how to generate income as an “Intentional Artist” with Brennen Nicole.
For photographers looking to expand into video, Ioannis Androitis is presenting on Sound for Visual Media & Podcasting, a critical skill for modern hybrid shooters.
The experiential learning, similar to military training, begins with building your portfolio and live shooting. This year, it offers its inaugural Open Car Show for more photography vistas on opening day.
Unlike typical conferences where attendees only listen, PhotoCon offers hands-on gear demos and live shooting scenarios that let them practice new techniques immediately.
The Thursday Night “Envoy Evening” kicks off with a free community night on Thursday, October 29. This includes live photo demos and model shoots, presenting a low-pressure environment to test gear and lighting setups before the main conference begins.
Throughout the weekend, attendees will have access to professional models for portfolio building. This is a rare opportunity to direct professional talent and capture high-quality images for websites or social media without the usual costs of hiring talent.
“Beyond PhotoCon, you see Bedford’s support for the photographer striving to learn more when they host their Third Thursday night photo walks several months during the good weather months,” Clifton said.
This spirit of support is strongest during PhotoCon, when expanding creative networks and growth often come from community critique and collaboration. The conference offers interactive photo walks, taking guided sessions out of the hotel to shoot alongside experts and allowing attendees to learn how professionals “see” light and composition in real time.
PhotoCon is designed to connect attendees with fellow creators, potential mentors, and brand representatives, facilitating the exchange of tips, location ideas, and business referrals.
The vendor-rich Expo floor lets attendees test proof-of-concept gear to build technical knowledge by physically testing equipment rather than relying on online reviews.
Attendees can test the latest camera bodies, lenses, and lighting modifiers from leading manufacturers such as Canon USA. This helps you understand exactly how new technology-such as mirrorless autofocus systems or off-camera flash-can solve specific problems in workflow.
A well-supported, popular photo-capture contest runs in the background during PhotoCon. This PhotoConTEST, a signature interactive event sponsored by Canon USA, runs continuously from opening night through the final day.
It is a real-time challenge where attendees apply what they learn immediately, turning the entire conference into their canvas.
Unlike traditional contests where you submit files online, this is a tactile, on-site experience. From the moment the doors open on Thursday evening (October 29), attendees are encouraged to capture images that best capture the spirit of PhotoCon. This includes photos of the professional models, candid moments from the photo walks, and dynamic images of the gear and the crowd.
Instead of uploading a digital file, attendees visit the Canon Printer Booth on the expo floor. There, Canon experts will help print attendees’ selected masterpiece (often a high-quality 13×19” print) at no charge as their official entry.
The printed image is then hung in the Hallway Gallery, creating a growing exhibition that expands throughout the weekend. This “Hallway of Fame” allows every attendee, speaker, and instructor to view, admire, and discuss the work, turning the venue into a living art gallery.
While the exact voting and judging mechanics can vary slightly year to year (often a mix of peer popularity and judge selection), the core “voting” typically involves a People’s Choice and peer recognition.
During breaks, attendees walk the hallway, critiquing and admiring the prints. The “buzz” around specific images often drives the popular vote or influences the final selection.
The contest usually closes for entries by noon on Saturday, with winners announced at the closing ceremonies or during the afternoon prize drawings. Winners often receive significant prizes, such as new camera bodies, lenses, or substantial gift cards.
“Use the professional models to make the most of the dedicated shooting bays,” Clifton said. “These controlled setups are designed to help you get a ‘contest-worthy’ shot using professional lighting.” • Story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

Most veterans have a few. A unit coin. One from a first sergeant or a chief. One pressed into a palm at Fort Sill or Tinker or Vance, at a change of command, at a retirement, or on the far side of a deployment. Some go back further, to a father or grandfather who came home from Korea or Vietnam with something in a pocket that meant more than its weight in brass.
Each one was given for a reason, and the reason is the part that matters. It is also the part that gets lost. The coin sits in a desk drawer or a shadow box for thirty years, and when the veteran passes, it goes to a son or a granddaughter who can read the crest but not the story.
AllCoin exists to write it down. A veteran, or a family member helping, photographs both sides of a coin they already own, adds a few lines about how it was earned, and it lives in a searchable Coin Library a grandchild can find decades from now. Uploading existing coins is always free for veterans.
To take part, go to allcoin.braav.co and create a free account; an email address is all that is required. Photograph the front and back of a coin in good light. Write the story: who gave it, when, where, and what it meant. Once your account is set up, you can also text a photo of a coin, with your account name, to (805) 395-6805. Then ask the veteran next to you at your post about theirs.
Questions are welcome at [email protected].

Established Continental Navy League Veterans Families Active-duty cake-cutting ceremony Elmo Zumwalt Navy Congress Crew Captain Admiral Commander Sailor Tradition Pride Courage Salute Tribute Honor Celebration Sailor Tradition Pride Courage Salute Tribute Honor Celebration