Sharing memories

In the privacy of his hospital room, Army veteran Floyd Warren shares his shadow box of military medals with Maj. Gen. Loren Reno. Two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star rest behind glass, prized possessions for the Veterans Administration Medical Center resident visited by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander. General Reno was the facility’s guest speaker for an April 9 Ex-POW Recognition Day event and then joined other military members to visit hospitalized veterans after the official ceremony. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

Ex-POW Recognition Day

Brig. Gen. Lori Robinson listens as Roy Ratliff recall 33 months as a prisoner of war in Korea during an April 9 Ex-POW Recognition Day at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Oklahoma City. General Robinson, commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing, and other base leaders and Airmen, attended the program. (Air Force photos by Margo Wright)

World War II Veteran

His salute never wavering, World War II Army veteran and ex-prisoner of war Harry Hoots honors the flag during Ex-POW Recognition Day opening ceremonies at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Oklahoma City. The 101st Airborne veteran’s hands were severely injured by an enemy hand grenade during the Normandy invasion D-Day battle. Imprisoned in a German hospital for three weeks, Mr. Hoots told of dropping 65 pounds being fed only two cups of sauerkraut juice a day and having German SS forces severing his injured fingers one joint at a time. (Air Force photos by Margo Wright)

Tinker honors ex-prisoners of war

Published April 24, 2008
By Danielle Gregory
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- There were seven former prisoners of war and their families who attended the Ex-POW recognition day held at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center on April 9.
   Maj. Gen. Loren Reno, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander, Brig. Gen. Lori Robinson, 552nd Air Control Wing commander and several personnel from her command attended this event.
   Tricia Dear, assistant chief medical administrator, opened the ceremony by reminding everyone that there are more than a half a million individuals who have returned as prisoners of war since the American civil war.
   As guest speaker of the ceremonies, Maj. Gen. Loren Reno, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander, stepped up and immediately requested that his previously prepared slides be turned off.
   "Brig. Gen. Lori Robinson, 552nd Air Control Wing commander and I stand in awe to be in a room with seven former prisoners of war. What an awesome contribution you've made," General Reno said. "I think it's wonderful that we have World War II veterans with us and young children from a local elementary school. These are the young folks that we in uniform are working for."
General Reno told a story of his first assignment in the Saigon during the Vietnam War as the war was drawing to a close.
   "In 1973, I saw on television POWs returning from Hanoi Hilton and stepping off with pride at Clark Field and I said I want to belong to that," the general said. "I want to do something bigger than myself."
   General Reno then told a story of a veteran he had met by the name of Bill McClendon from Muskogee, OK. The veteran who enlisted in the Army infantry in 1936 paid an Airman five dollars a week to train him to fly because he wanted to fly so badly. He then had permanent change of station to Lowery field where he was Dec. 7, 1941. The Monday following he was told to report to the base commanders office where he was sent on officers training and soon after became a fighter pilot. In 1943, the group commander asked him what he knew about boats.
   "This farm boy from Muskogee that had his heart set on flying, had to drive a boat," said General Reno.
   McClendon was given a mission to navigate boats to pick up downed Airman for the rest of the war. General Reno asked him how he felt about receiving the new assignment; the veteran told the general he took an oath.
   "He didn't take an oath to be a fighter pilot, he didn't take an oath to fly, he took an oath to defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic like you gentleman did. Like you veterans have and like you gentleman wearing a uniform today have done," said General Reno.
   General Reno closed the ceremony with the first two stanzas of the Airmen's Creed, "I am an American Airman. I am a Warrior. I have answered my Nation's call. I am an American Airman. My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win. I am faithful to a Proud Heritage, A Tradition of Honor, And a Legacy of Valor."
   General Reno said, "It has two more stanzas, but I stop there, because we have a presence today, men that we want to remember and honor. Prisoners of war that have come back to us, they didn't all come back."
   According to the POW/MIA Web site, national POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies are now held throughout the nation and around the world on military installations, ships at sea, schools, churches and fire stations. The focus is to ensure that America remembers to stand behind those who serve and do everything possible to account for those who do not return.