May 11, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 _ 1ke atomtiet ts i : Sy owe Troy Kirby and fellow tanker are pictured in front of their tank, serving in Korea.; Elk City’s Troy Kirby celebrates his 95th birthday on May 14th. Courtesy photos. By Sheryl Ponce Occupation Medal. He served first went in at Fort Knox, I Vanderwork is the Troy Lee Kirby turns 95-years-old on May 14th and overseas from March 2, 1946, through December 17, 1946, and discharged at the Conve- was 18-years-old. We would get up at five in the morning, and they would be standing Mother’s Day as he approaches the mile- Giveaway Winner nience of the Government be- there, outside... once I was stone, he looked back over the cause the war ended. late. The sergeant chewed me years he served as a private in “It was a fun time. We were out a little bit, and said, ‘don’t the Army at the end of World there in a tank...fighting in let that happen again.” he tank, which became dirty as Korea. I don’t know why, we added. they patrolled the area. Gracie DeeAnn is pictured with her mom Whitney War II. He was drafted into the were going to fight the Ger- Kirby continued to remem- “We were driving all day, Vanderwork, who is the recipient of our Mother’s Day 754 Battalion and served his mans, too. We went to China, ber his time as a private, learn- training, At night we would giveaway. time in Korea on a tank. have to clean out the inside of Whitney is married to Dell Vanderwork and they have Kirby's entrance date was too, they would rub my head... ing how to be in the military. a blended family with seven children and eight grand- the tank. It would be muddy. August 16, 1945, in Oklahoma they never saw someone with He found some things hard to ‘The inside was white, and you children. City. This was just after Germa- red hair. My hair was red, red,” do. ‘The businesses who contributed gifts are: Faith + Jo ny surrendered in May of ’45 Kirby smiled. “T could never make a good had to have it clean at night Gifts and Décor, Hylton’s Flowers, 580 threads, Rib and before Japan surrendered time. You had to have that As he remembered he went bed, We had cots, and I was Crib, The Vogue, Sonic, Merrifield’s Office Supply, Ba- in September of the same year. to China and North and South next to a man, he was Mexi- thing spic and span before you zaar on 66, Main Street Coffee, United Supermarket, He thought he was going to Korea, being stationed in can. Oh man, he could make got out in the night. There was and Fred’s Steakhouse. fight Germans, but found him- Seoul. He trained in Fort Knox, a bed, He would make my bed only about three people in the self in a tank fighting in Korea. Kentucky, for 16 weeks and for me. I could never learn how tank. The captain or a lieuten- ‘This was before the beginning then went straight to South to make a bed in there,” Kirby ant had to be on the outside,” of the Korean conflict, which Korea. said. he explained. started in 1950. “The best thing I learned During the day he was in a Kirby didn’t remember He was awarded the WWII from being in the military was tank, driving and training, At much fighting, but knew that Victory Medal and the Army of how to take orders. When I night they had to clean out the See Kirby Box page2. Patrolman Anderson Joins ECPD phase of training with a Field Training Officer (FTO). His (FTO) is Corporal Jason Harris. “It is a lot of information to take in. The mental part has been the hardest so far, being able to know where you are at all times, talking to people and taking control of the situation. It is like mental gymnastics, making sure every little thing is right,” he explained. Training during Phase One is about geography and learning all of the streets and side streets. Once he is comfortable with where he is, then the radio will be brought in. “Phase One is primarily an observation stage, where he’s with me, he’s observing what police work is about and how things are done. It is tied in with what he is learning about geography. He Elk City Chamber of Comme! learns how to talk on the radio, learning how to properly con- Elk City, Oklahoma duct traffic stops and those kinds of things. During this space, he watches,” Harris said. Harris said that Anderson will spend most of the time listen- ing to everything he says, and watching what he does. Towards the end of the phase, he will transition into doing more and talk- ing more. Then he will transition into Phase Two and move to a different FTO. Each phase lasts about 20 days. Chamber Appreciation Wyatt Anderson “We are there to keep them out of trouble. We don’t let them mess up too bad. They may make little mistakes here and there, Night at the Park By Sheryl Ponce learning as they go forward. As they progress through the phases, we are more hands-off. He is doing really good, he has been one of By Sheryl Ponce ‘The Elk City Police Department has five new recruits, and Pa- the easy ones,” Harris continued. trolman Wyatt Anderson is one of those five. He is a 2016 gradu- ‘Anderson said that he has been surprised at how busy things ‘The Elk City Chamber of Commerce will be having an eve- ate from Blair High School and went to Western Oklahoma State can get. He is on the day shift, finding out that there has been College in Altus on a rodeo scholarship as a bull rider. He then more going on than he expected. ning of fun at Ackely Park on May 12th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., moved to Granite, working in the oil field. “['m from a small town, and I didn’t grow up in a town this as a way to say thank you to their members and the community “I was working a job that was related to the oil field. I then size. The only time I’ve ever had to call the police is whenever for another year of support. All of the activities in the park will got laid off when the oil field went down. So I saw that they were something really bad was happening. So you don’t think about be open and free. The Centennial Carousel, the train, and min- hiring up here (Elk City), and thought I would give it a shot. I'm how that happens every day for people. The typical calls are most- iature golf will be open and running. tired of doing trade like jobs, so I thought I might like doing this,” ly talking with people, helping them sort out something,” Ander- Come out for free popcorn, a free small one flavor snow Anderson said. son said, cone and Legacy Bank will be providing free ice cream. There He said that he has always had the inclination to be in law He said that the best thing about the job so far has been being will be fun for the entire family during this yearly event and a enforcement, but never acted on it, until now. Because of the job able to help people. He said that it feels good to help others, but way the Chamber can show their appreciation for supporting market in the oil field, it was perfect timing. He is now in his first See Anderson page 2. all of their activities throughout the year. Iummniugy = Weather Weather Vol. 120, No. 39 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com