November 8, 2019 Issue, Page 12 of 18

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Page 12 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, November 8, 2019 Vet’s life took him from military to the pulpit pot, and as a program man- years for The Oklahoman and chair on the Board of the ceived multiple speeding ager for Marine Corps train- for the southwest part of the Western Oklahoma Family tickets or who has landed in ing systems and simulators state. Care Center. prison for the next 20 years. around the world. “And then I was called to Spence started writing He said the book guides Spence also served one the ministry,” he said. long ago and wrote his first the reader through what so tour training Marine Reserv- He was called to ministry book in the late 1990s: a ists in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2008 and was ordained in baseball book for children. many have lost sight of with and his time in the service the Cumberland Presbyteri- He has published over 20 respect to the value of au- took him to Marine bases on an Church in 2010. He con- books, including “Throw thority in modern society. the East Coast, West Coast, tinues to serve as pastor of Away Kids,” which he de- Does Spence miss his mil- Japan, the Philippines and the Burns Flat Cumberland scribes as a “call for Chris- itary days? Korea. He also has served Presbyterian Church. tian parents to lead those in Iraq and Kuwait, and has “T do - every time some- “{t’s what God called me who have abandoned the ‘one says they’ll do some- nearly a year serving aboard to do, so I don’t have to think role of parent back to this sa- U.S. Naval vessels in areas thing and then they don’t do what I’m going to do in the cred calling.” He also wrote north of the Arctic Circle, morning,” he said about his “PoMo Povertty,” which it,” he said. Europe, the Mediterranean, current work. he said is a look at modern About the military, he said North Africa, Central Amer- Similarities exist between poverty in America and de- he misses the camaraderie ica and the Pacific, as well as the pastorate and military, he tails “what we can do about and fellowship and people a year serving in the United said, such as organization, it right now without creating Nations, according to his dedicated to a common pur- administration and delega- an entitlement mentality.” pose. curriculum vitae. tion. Spence said his favor- Spence continued his edu- Spence is married to the Spence has traveled to ite book he has written is Tom Spence. Photo provided. cation while in the Marine Africa to train pastors and “Acceptance of Authority,” former Sharman Oliveri Corps and during retirement of Beaufort, S.C. Tom and By Don Munsch, Editor where Spence graduated with American College, church Uganda. leaders in Kenya and which is for the individual who had to spend an hour Sharman have two children Tom Spence’s military from Mangum High School. Minneapolis, Minnesota: He has served as an officer in detention or who has re- and three grandchildren. service took him all over the He then attended Oklahoma American University, Co- world, which he enjoyed. State where he earned his vina, California; Drake Uni- “Most of the places you degree in political science. versity, Des Moines, Iowa; go, they don’t shoot at you,” He joined the Marine and Memphis Theological The veterans of our military services have put said Spence, who was an in- Corps, and after officer Seminary. He left the mili- their lives on the line to protect the freedoms fantry officer in the Marines. training, he served in Okina- tary in 1999, having spent 20 that we enjoy. They have dedicated their lives Born in Oklahoma City, wa, Japan, in the Third Ma- years of his life there. to their country and deserve to be recognized Spence now lives in Burns rine Division, He served in “T worked for myself as a Flat. Growing up, Spence command and staff positions consultant, taught training for their commitment. - Judd Gregg lived all over the country in all four Marine Divisions, skills,” he said about life because his father was an at Marine Corps Schools in after the service. “I went to electrical engineer and the Quantico, Virginia, as both work at the prison at Sayre job required moves. Spen- student and instructor, as as a counselor.” ce and his family eventu- a series commander at the He also worked as a cir- ally moved back to the area, Marine Corps Recruit De- culation manager for a few Veteran served in Vietnam during Tet Offensive By Casey Lantz, Contributing Writer Johnny McDaniel was born in Sayre and joined the United States Army a week after his high school graduation from Sayre High Washita State Bank Member School in 1968, PO Box 390, Burns Flat, OK 73624 Just a couple of weeks after that, Phone: (580)562-4871 Fax: (580)562-3221 + www.washitastatebank.com he was shipped off to Fort Polk, Louisiana, for basic training. Mc- Daniel says he “always wanted to be a soldier” and to serve his country, so he got the chance and a hero is someone who (<4 . _ went for it. McDaniel, who now lives in Elk City, was sent to Vietnam in 1969 while the Tet Offensive was just starting to wind down. has given his or her life to something bigger “[But] the action I saw was bad enough,” he said. McDaniel saw plenty of action than oneself?” while in Vietnam in the 9th In- fantry Division and was wounded during a helicopter air assault. His uD unit jumped from the chopper See Vietnam page 13. Johnny McDaniel. Photo provided. - Joseph Campbell Midwest Farm Supply 220 N. Main, Elk City, OK 73644 ¢ 580-225-2003 Thank you to our brave men and women who have served and those still serving! “~ > QuaLiTy® Don't Pay More to Cover Your Floor uc 1503 West Third - Elk City, OK 73644 580-243-1112 - FED. IDENT. # 731388647 People Before Property