11 to be inducted into Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame
Eleven Oklahoma veterans including University of Oklahoma All-American Robert “Bob” Kalsu, the only NFL player to be killed in action in the Vietnam war, will be inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame on Oct. 17 in Norman.
Among the inductees are a World War I soldier, a Special Forces Medic who was awarded t he Medal of Honor 47 years after his acts of heroism because he was on a classified Army mission in Laos, and a soldier who was a Ranger whose unit landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Six of this year's nominees are deceased.
Also, two Oklahomans will receive the Maj. Gen. Douglas O. Dollar Distinguished Public Service Award for promoting good citizenship, continued patriotism beyond military service and assistance to Oklahoma' s veterans and families.
Inductions will be held during ceremonies at the Embassy Suites Conference Hotel, 2501 Conference Drive in Norman.
Besides 1st Lt. Kalsu, other inductees are: Capt. Cloyce Vann “Chuck” Choney; Col. Gregory Dmitri Gads on; Capt. George Russell Miller, deceased; Tech. Sgt. Verdun Covert Myers, deceased; Pfc. Joseph Oklahombi, deceased; Capt. David Arthur Peters, deceased; Vice Admiral Sean Averell Pybus; Capt. Gary M. “Mike” Rose; Staff Sgt. Douglas J. Warden; and Sgt. Lyn do lR aye Wilson, deceased.
Dollar A war de es are Col. Levi Stanley L. Evans, Oklahoma City, and Mary Ann Ligon, Tulsa.
2nd Lt. Cloyce Vann `Chuck' Choney
Choney was born in Lawton on Nov. 13, 1944. He graduated from Lawton High School in 1963, Cameron Junior College in 1965, and Oklahoma State University in 1969 where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant,
Infantry, in January 1969. He now lives in Shawnee. An enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, he also is of Kiowa tribal descent. Choney is a great-grandson of Quanah Parker, the last recognized chief of the Comanche Nation and a Kiowa tribal soldier.
Choney served in Vietnam from January to December 1970 as a platoon leader in the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. He twice was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device f or heroism and the Purple Heart for combat wounds for actions against North Vietnamese forces from May 1 to July 6, 1970.
His other awards include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 campaign stars, and Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Additionally, he has Parachutist badges and Special Forces, Ranger, Pathfinder Airborne tabs and the Jungle Expert Patch.
In 1976, he became a Special Agent with the FBI and retired in 2001. His service included the Los Angeles Rio ts of 1992; the 1993 Waco Siege; the Montana Standoff, the Oklahoma City Bombing, and t he Kenya Africa Embassy Bombing in 1998.
Col. Gregory D. Gadson
Gadson was born Feb. 19, 1966, in Oklahoma City. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Virginia.
Gadson attended the U.S. Military Academy where he played football and maintained the high academic standards of West Point. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Artillery, and was assigned to Fort Sill. He was assigned Fire Direction Officer of a firing battery plato on, ensuring accurate, timely and safe firing data for 8-inch field artillery howitzers.
Later he was assigned to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. He was deployed to Desert Shield/ Desert Storm for battle against Iraqi targets. He would deploy to war on three more occasions, including Operation Joint Forge in the Balkans, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. On May 7, 2007, while returning from a memorial service for two soldiers from his brigade, he lost both his legs and his right arm was injured by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. After several surgeries and rehabilitation, Gads on became Director of the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program for two years.
After promotion to Colonel, Gads on made history as the first double amputee to assume command of a major Army installation program. He has spent some of his time as a motivational speaker.
Gadson's medals include the Distinguished Service Medal; two awards of the Legion of Merit; three awards of the Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart. He now lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
1st Lt. Robert `Bob' Kalsu
Capt. John Keilty, who nominated Kalsu, described Kalsu as a man of real character. Kalsu was born April 13, 1945, in Oklahoma City and grew up in Del City where he played football. He was recruited by Sooners Coach Bud Wilkinson in 1963.
Kalsu was part of OU's football renaissance and in 1966 the Sooners were 6-4. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and was their rookie of the year.
At OU Kalsu went through Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), which required a two-year active duty tour. In 1969, when he was scheduled to go on active duty for two years, the Bills urged him to find another way to complete his military obligation, Keilty said.
“I gave t hem my word,” Kalsu said, of going on active duty.
Kalsuwa sam ember of Battery A ,2 nd Battalion, 11th Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
He was killed in action on July 21, 1970. He was 25.
Kalsu received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.
Capt. George R. Miller
Miller was born in Kenefic in Bryan County on June 22,1921. He attended local schools and upon graduating from high school, enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard which was called into active duty Sept. 16, 1940. Miller was assigned to the 180 th Infantry at Fort Sill.
In 1942, he was sent to Officer Candidate School at the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia. He volunteered for and was selected for the Rangers soon after the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion was formed on Sept. 14, 1943. After extensive training, his unit was moved to England and Miller was put in command of D Company of the 5th Ranger Battalion.
On June 6, 1944, the 2nd and 5 th Ranger Infantry Battalions landed on Omaha Beach, playing a key role in opening Omaha Beach and the surrounding area for the larger invasion forces. Miller received the Silver Star in December 1944 for his actions on Omaha Beach. He died Oct. 12, 1983.
Tech Sgt. Verdun Covert Myers
Myers was born J une 23, 1919, i n Tecumseh. He was i nducted i nto t he Army i n March 1942.
Myers served with Co. G ,34 th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division in New Guinea, the
Philippines and Luzon. He was wounded in New Guinea and awarded the Purple Heart. He was awarded the Silver Star and an Oak Leaf Cluster for the Purple Heart for his actions in the Philippines.
On Oct. 20 and 21, 1944, he distinguished himself in action at Pa wing, Leyte, Philippine Islands when the enemy attacked his unit' s position. The company was pinned down and the enemy advanced to within a few feet of American foxholes, throwing grenades. One landed in the foxhole occupied by Myers and two others, wounding all but Myers. Without regard for his safety, Myers evacuated his comrades one at a time despite heavy enemy fire.
The next day, the company attacked the enemy and Myers fought his way through shoulder-deep swamp to warn another company that more Americans were behind him trying to fight their way through. His Silver Star citation notes that he exposed himself to enemy fire to direct and bring his men safely in.
When Myers returned home after the war, he was elected Pottawatomie County sheriff from 1947 to 1950.
Pfc. Joseph Oklahombi
Okla hom bi, a decorated soldier of World War I, was born in Bokchita in McCurtain County, on May 1 4, 1 895. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Oklahombi registered for the draft and volunteered May 25, 1917.
Oklahombi was assigned to Co. D, 141st Infantry 36 Division (Texas and Oklahoma
National Guard). On Oct. 8, Oklahombi, a Choctaw code talker, and his unit were in trench warfare near St. Etienne in the Champagne Regions west of the Argonne Forest.
Their objective was more than 2,000 yards away. Oklahombi and 23 remaining men of Co. D advanced 800 yards, holding their posi - tion for four days. Each was awarded the Silver Star and the French Croix de Guerre for gallantry.
When the war ended, Okla hom bi came home. In 1942, at the age of 47, he again registered for the draft. Oklahombi died April 13, 1960, and is buried in Broken Bow.
Capt. David Arthur Peters
Peters was born in Santa Monica, California, on Sept. 12, 1943. His family moved to Lawton when his father, a career soldier, retired.
Peters graduated from Lawton High School in 1961, from Cameron College in 1963, and from OSU in
1965. He was an OSU ROTC Distinguished Military Student and later a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was commissioned June 7, 1963, as a 2nd Lieutenant, Artillery. He was sent to Vietnam and assigned to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 77 th Artillery of the 1 st Cavalry Division.
On April 4, 1968, Peters was part of Operation Pegasus, a major combat action to break through and link up with Marine Corps forces defending
Khe Sanh Combat Base, which was encircled by the enemy. He volunteered to search for fellow soldiers who had been wounded the previous night and needed medical evacuation. Peters had volunteered for similar missions before.
The aerial search was in marginal weather and in a high threat area. The helicopter he was on was hit by heavy enemy fire and crashed, killing Peters and four others.
He was awarded the Silver Star for heroism, posthumously. He also received the Bronze Star for outstanding meritorious service in connection with military operations against a hostile force in Vietnam from June 3, 1967, to April 4, 1968.
Peters' other awards are the Combat Infantry Badge; the Purple Heart; Air Medal; Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign and Republic of Vietnam National Order 5th Class.
Vice Admiral (ret.) Sean A. Pybus
Pybus was born Sept. 22, 1957, in H av re de Grace, Maryland. He grew up in Stillwater and has spent his life in the Navy.
A Navy Seal, his career was spent in overseas assignments.
Although born in Maryland, he grew up in Still water, which he and his wife consi der their
home. Before retirement in 2016, Pybus served multiple Joint Special Operations duty assignments in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia; later in command tours in Panama, Germany and Bahrain; as well as duty as Commodore, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Group One, San Diego. Later he commanded Special Operations in the Pacific; the N SW Community; and NATO's Special Operations Forces. Some of his career included classified contingency operations. He retired as a career Naval Special Warfare SEAL officer.
Pybus currently is president of The Pybus Groups of Odessa, Florida. In that role he consults and advises defense and security sector organizations, providing strategic recommendations and business development steerage to C-Suite leads. In January 2019, he was named Chair of the Board of Directors of the US Navy SEAL Foundation.
Medic Gary M. `Mike' Rose
Rose was born Oct. 17, 1947, in Watertown, New York. He later lived in Lawton.
In 1970, Rose, a Special Forces Medic, was credited with treating between 60 and 70 wounded soldiers and saving many lives during Operation
Tail wind, a secret mission into Laos. In that battle he used his own
body to protect a wounded soldier while treating the soldier's wounds. After stabilizing the soldier, Rose carried him through enemy fire to defensive positions, engaging the enemy while treating that soldier. At one point, he had to crawl from position to position to treat American, South Vietnamese and Montagnard troops.
Injured during the battle, his foot crippled, he used a crutch while continuing to treat the wounded. Because the Laotian Mission was classified, his nomination for the Medal of Honor for heroism was downgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross, which he received on Jan. 16, 1971.
In 1977, he graduated from Cameron University in Lawton with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Military Science. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Rose retired from the Army as a captain in May 1987.
In the late1990s, an effort began to upgrade his Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor. ThenSecretary of Defense Ash Carter approved the upgrade in 2016 and Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks and Sen. Jeff Sessions wrote Roses' name into the National Defense Authorization Act for 2017.
On Oct. 23, 2017, 47 years after his heroism, he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump.
Staff Sgt. Douglas J. Warden
Warden was born in Prague on April 14, 1947. The Shawnee resident became one of the most decorated soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 12th Calvary, 1st Calvary Division in Vietnam.
He was awarded the Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal for Val or, Two Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts during his service in Vietnam.
Warden earned his first Silver Star on May 31, 1967, during combat operations in AnQui when his company came into contact with a well-entrenched, numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. One plato on was immediately pinned down and the others were engaged in an intense fire fight. Throughout the battle, Warden braved intense enemy automatic weapons fire to remain with his platoon leader, and provided covering fire and excellent communications for him, killing two or more North Vietnamese Army soldiers from his exposed position. At times when his platoon was pinned down and surrounded, Warden stood up and charged several bunkers with the platoon leader.
He earned his 2nd Silver Star on Dec 15, 1967, for gallantry while engaged with an armed hostile force.
Warden distinguished himself serving as a squad leader with Co. C, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry. He deployed his men to avoid being pinned down. Then he led an assault on an anti-tank position and eliminated it. He also rescued a mortally wounded soldier.
He earned the Bronze Star on May 27, 1 967, when he moved between a comrade and an enemy machine gunner and killed the gunner.
Sgt. Lyndol Raye Wilson
Wilson was born April 2, 1949, in Okemah. He graduated from high school in May 1967 and joined the Marine Corps, becoming a member of H Company, 5th Marines. When the enemy launched the T et Offensive in 1968, Wilson fought in the deadly monthlong siege of Hue. He was awarded the
Silver Star for his actions during this battle.
On Feb .3,1968, as his unit was assaulting a wellentrenched and numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force near Hue University, they were halted temporarily by enemy fire including B -40 rockets. Wilson ran across a fire-swept street, climbed to the roof of a building and began firing his 3.5-inch rocket launcher and light antitank assault weapons on enemy positions, enabling his unit to maneuver toward its objective, his Silver Star citation said.
The following day his platoon was engaging the enemy and the squad leader was seriously wounded. Wilson immediately maneuvered to the man, picked him up and carried him to a covered position. Wilson then assumed command of the squad and led