October 2019 Newsletter
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Freedom’s Voice The Monthly Newsletter of the Military History Center 112 N. Main ST Broken Arrow, OK 74012 http://www.okmhc.org/ “Promoting Patriotism through the Preservation of Military History” Volume 6, Number 10 October 2019 United States Armed Services Birthday Party for Junior Nipps Day of Observance On September 25, the MHC treated World War II veteran, Oscar Nipps, Jr., affectionately called Junior, to a 94th birthday Navy Birthday – October 13 th st party. Junior was a member of the 5 Cavalry Regiment, 1 Cavalry Division. He saw combat on Leyte and in the Battle of Manila. He also witnessed the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Important Dates Bay and spent a short time on occupation duty in Japan. November 10 – Salute to Veterans Concert The MHC will present its fifth annual Salute to Veterans Concert at Broken Arrow’s Kirkland Theater located at 808 E. College ST at 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 10. Maggie Bond, 2019 Miss Broken Arrow, will sing several patriotic and military songs of past eras. The concert will be high- lighted by the Tulsa Community Band, which will play pat- riotic music to honor all those who have served in our armed forces. Mr. Johnnie Parks, Broken Arrow City Coun- cilor, who served in the Honor Company, 3rd Infantry “Old Guard” Regiment, will be the guest speaker at the event. The Honor Company of the 3rd Infantry Regiment guards the Tombs of the Unknowns and conducts all funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Parks served as a casket bearer in the Honor Company. Admission to the concert is free, but the MHC will appreci- Back row (L. to R.) Dan Eiler, Tom Mancino, Roland Nipps, Ronald ate donations to help defray the cost of the event. Dona- Nipps (Junior’s sons) – Front row Howard Coy, Dennis Hoch, tions may be made at the concert. Junior and Pete Collorafi Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this excep- tional patriotic event. November 11 – Tulsa Veterans Day Parade The Tulsa Veterans Day Parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 11. The MHC will have a presence in the Parade again this year. Please try to make it to the Parade and help honor our veterans. Crest of 5th Cavalry “Black Knights” Regiment Military History through the Ages On Saturday, October 5, the MHC presented a living history program with reenactors and veterans in Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II and later uniforms. A large array of World War I, World War II and modern American, German and other military weapons were displayed with MHC docents and reenactors available to explain them. The MHC greatly appreciates all who participated in this event and most important, everyone who came out to visit the MHC. The predicted rain held off, and in the end, it was a nice day for an outdoor event. MHC docent, John Jefferies, a Marine Corps reservist, wearing the uniform of a German World War II oberfeldwebel (first sergeant). MHC docent, Cameron Howerton, displaying a small part of his large collection of World War I and World War II German and Italian militaria. Glen Dresback wearing the uniform of a World War I machine gunner of the German 23rd Infantry Regiment. The 23rd German Empire Regiment was originally the 2nd Upper Silesian Regiment. It was organized July 1, 1813, and garrisoned at Neisse. MHC docents, Gary Johnson and Greg Baile, wearing the uniforms they wore at the end of their military service. Kenneth Steenrod wearing a pilot’s uniform of a German World War I pilot, a vizefeldwebel (staff sergeant). This was the lowest rank that could qualify as a World War I German pilot. MHC Docent, Dan Eiler, a mountain man reenactor, dressed as a ca. 1830s mountain man. His rifle is a reproduction made by MHC docent, Dennis Hoch. His head cover is a Canadian silver fox, which Dan pur- chased from an imprisoned Canadian, who had been convicted of killing the animal. The Canadian government approved the sale. Civil War reenactors depicting soldiers of the 77th Pennsylvania Infan- try, a Union Army regiment. They are showing the children the Civil War era manual of arms. MHC docent, Jonathan Colburn, wearing a reproduction uniform of a Revolutionary War Continental soldier. Meet the Docents This Quarter’s Featured Veteran Jonathan Mark Colburn Master Sergeant David H. Johnson Jonathan Mark Colburn was born in Tulsa on March 11, David Johnson entered the U.S. Army in 1942. He served in 1967. He is a 1985 graduate of Central High School. Within Europe in World War II with the 12th Armored Division, part of days of his graduation, Jonathan enlisted in the U.S. Army. He General Patton’s Third Army. Johnson was discharged in 1948. was trained as a military policeman. His first posting was with When the Korean War broke out, he was serving in the 179th the 202nd Military Police Company of the 42nd Field Artillery Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry “Thunderbird” Division, Okla- Brigade. Jonathan served as an Army recruiter in the Tulsa Re- homa National Guard. The 45th ID was federalized and de- cruiting Company during 1995-98. In 2000, he was deployed to ployed to Korea. Johnson saw action at Outpost Eerie and T- Kosovo for seven months with the Army’s Criminal Investiga- Bone Hill. For a time, he was acting platoon leader of Company tion Division. Jonathan retired from the Army in 2011 as a ser- K, 179th Infantry. After the war, he separated from the Army as geant first class after twenty-one years of service, ten of which, a master sergeant. he served in Germany. MSGT Johnson was a long-time resident of Stillwater and an While in the Army, Jonathan completed a Bachelor of Arts avid OSU fan. Ms. Tania Hill honored her father by sponsoring degree from Excelsior College at Albany, New York, in 2004. him as the first MHC featured veteran. Returning to Tulsa after retirement, he worked at ITT Tech in the public relations department while pursuing a masters de- “Featured Veteran” is a new program at the MHC. The se- gree. He received his Master of Science degree from Southern lected veteran will be showcased for three months in the vesti- Nazarene University (Tulsa campus) in 2012. He began teach- bule of the MHC. The kiosk, shown next to the mannequin, will ing eighth-grade history at Oliver Middle School in Broken Ar- feature a two- to three-minute recording detailing the veter- row in 2013. He was transferred to teaching geography for the an’s service. Anyone wishing to sponsor a featured veteran – current school year. of any branch of service at any time or conflict – contact BG Jonathan has been an MHC docent for four years. Because Tom Mancino at the MHC for details – (918) 734-2712). he works fulltime, he is a Saturday docent. Jonathan currently lives in Broken Arrow. Museum Hours and Admission Fee Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 – 4:00; Saturday: 10:00 – 2:00 Closed Sunday and Monday and major Federal holidays Adults – $5.00 Members and Children under 18 – Free For more information, call (918) 794-2712 Seal of the United States Army www.okmhc.org Criminal Investigation Command Delta Force Ranger Oklahoma’s Newest General Master Sergeant Joshua Lloyd Wheeler On October 22, 2015, Army ranger, MSGT Joshua Wheeler, Brigadier General Tommy Mancino was serving in Iraq with the Army’s Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (better known as Delta Force). On that date, On Tuesday, October 8, COL Tommy Mancino officially re- Delta Force, along with Kurdish Peshmerga forces, was ordered ceived his brigadier general’s star. Tommy is the son of MHC on a mission to rescue prisoners held by ISIS in a compound President, BG Tom Mancino (Ret.). Theirs is the first father/son located a little more than four miles north of Hawija in Kirkuk brigadier general legacy in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Province, Iraq. Wheeler was killed in the ensuing firefight. He As BG Mancino’s duties as a brigadier general and Assistant was the first American soldier killed fighting ISIS and the first Adjutant General (Army) for Oklahoma, he advises and assists killed in Iraq in four years. The operation ended with the rescue the adjutant general on the preparation of units for homeland of seventy hostages. defense and mobilizations, and has oversight of training, ad- Joshua Lloyd Wheeler was born at Roland (Sequoyah Coun- ministration, logistics and personnel actions that affect the ty), Oklahoma, on November 22, 1975. He graduated from organization, its soldiers and their families. He is also the exec- Muldrow High School in 1994. He enlisted in the Army in May utive director of the Oklahoma Military Department, where he 1995. After basic training he was accepted into Ranger school, oversees state accounting, personnel, youth programs and the th and upon graduation, he was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regi- 45 Infantry Division Museum, as well as serving as a military ment. Wheeler deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan liaison to the Oklahoma State Senate. with the 75th Rangers. In 2004, he was assigned to Delta Force. BG Mancino joined the Oklahoma National Guard on his MSGT Wheeler held eleven Bronze Stars including four with seventeenth birthday in 1986. He was commissioned a second Valor Device and numerous other decorations. He was post- lieutenant in 1992. He twice deployed to Afghanistan – 2004 humously awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart. In July 2016, and 2011. All of us at the MHC congratulate Tommy on his he was posthumously awarded the Cherokee Nation Medal of exceptional achievement.