Writer's note: I enjoyed meeting this fellow Sailor and hearing his incredible story of service in three wars. But, what made the greatest impression on me was his befriending Japanese soldiers not long after the Battle of Okinawa and the end of the war. "They had a job to do, just like we did," McCray said. … Continue reading From Okinawa to Vietnam and back: Retired sailor recalls career that spanned three wars
World War II
“No good comes of war” Birthday memories of D-Day
ENID, Okla. — Ernest Leierer's 22nd birthday started out like any other day at his Army Air Corps Base in England. By the end of that day, Leierer was in France, in Eisenhower's "Great Crusade" to liberate Europe. Leierer, now 97, of Enid, Okla., found himself in the war the same way as many other … Continue reading “No good comes of war” Birthday memories of D-Day
The U.S. remains a world leader — we’re just leading in the wrong direction
The United States has long prided itself on being a leader in international affairs. Unfortunately, American influence today is driving us, and many of our allies, off the path of our ideals. Reagan’s “shining city upon a hill” has become a leader in the ideology of nationalism. The multilateral approach that raised us from … Continue reading The U.S. remains a world leader — we’re just leading in the wrong direction
War letters recount a Marine’s fight in the Pacific
ENID, Okla. — Squire Utsler, of Enid, was barely out of high school when he enlisted and shipped out to fight in some of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War. Daily letters home chronicled Utsler’s service, from the first day of boot camp on Aug. 18, 1943, until he … Continue reading War letters recount a Marine’s fight in the Pacific
Honored dead, religious liberty and the death penalty: The week in review
Some weeks there’s just too much going on to pick one topic. With North Korea returning Americans’ remains, the federal government launching a “religious liberty” task force and the Pope denouncing the death penalty, it has been such a week. A return long overdue Last Friday, North Korea returned 55 sets of human remains believed to … Continue reading Honored dead, religious liberty and the death penalty: The week in review
