By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
Three Vietnam War veterans were honored Tuesday afternoon for their bravery during an unpopular conflict in Southeast Asia that left more than 58,000 U.S. military personnel dead.
The trio of men were saluted during a luncheon hosted by the Piedmont Area Veteran’s Association (PAVA).
Horace “Hoss” Cooley and Bill Kinnison, of Piedmont, and Kingfisher County Judge Robert Davis, of Okarche, received a Quilt of Valor from local chapter members who sew the quilts.
Laura Sylvester, president of Piedmont Quilts of Valor, said the quilt is a symbol of community support and gratitude.
“We have become a sisterhood that is representative of the brotherhood of veterans that are here,” Sylvester said. “The theme here is building community. There are so many things to tear us down and tear us apart, but we’re about knitting things together and we want to do it the right way, with love and being inclusive of everyone.”
Every three months members will present a quilt to three veterans with the goal that every veteran served by the PAVA will receive one.
“This event today was unique in that we awarded each veteran a handmade quilt produced by local women affiliated with the Quilts of Valor Foundation,” PAVA board member Leon Myers said. “It’s an example of different parts of the Piedmont community coming together for a good, common purpose.”
The veterans were moved by the gift and expressed their gratitude.
Davis, who replaced Ken Dickerson as a judge for Canadian County, did not receive the honor on his own behalf.
“As I humbly accept this today on behalf of all those I served with, all those brave men and women that haven’t had this opportunity and for all those who are forever young who didn’t come home, I want to say very humbly and swiftly we were patriots. We went to serve our country and regardless of what the historians say or regardless of what a lot of people would have you believe, we never lost an engagement when we were allowed to fight. We kept Vietnam free from communist aggression for 10 years and when they pulled us out, the politicians and the diplomats lost the war,” Davis said.
Cooley, president of PAVA, said the U.S. Marine Corps served a need in his life at the time.
“You’re always proud you served,” he said. “But I sure hope my grandkids don’t have to go through that. All I can say is the Marine Corps made me who I am today and I thank you all for awarding me this. It’s a great, great honor.”
Kinnison said the day he was drafted was a difficult moment.
“I wasn’t too happy when I got drafted, but I’m glad I went and served my country…a big thank you to PAVA and the ladies,” he said.
Davis joined the Navy on December 7, 1966 and was assigned to San Diego before being stationed at the Naval Air Station at North Island. He worked as a legal Yeoman making Third Class (E-40) and later taught at the Leadership School. He eventually earned Second Class Petty Officer (E5).
Foregoing the teaching position after his shore time duty was completed, he chose to go to Vietnam. He served with swift boat missions in Cat Lo, Vietnam, Phu Quoc Island and Cam Rah Bay.
Cooley joined the Marine Corps in 1967 but after only four months of infantry and boot camp, he was sent to Vietnam because the military needed more Marines.
After serving in Vietnam, he was stationed in Oahu, Hawaii where he served as Camp Criminal Investigator. In August of 1970 he was sent back to Vietnam as part of a reserve force. Cooley received an honorable discharge in 1974 after four years of active service and two years of reserve duty.
Cooley received the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat near Con Thein, South Vietnam on Nov. 10, 1968.
Kinnison served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971. He was a mechanic before he received his orders for Vietnam in August 1968 when he was assigned to the E Battery, 82nd Artillery, 1st Air Cavalry. He was moved north of Saigon next to the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
He spent most of his time on helicopters and fixing wing aircraft as an Aerial Observer earning two Air Medals.
