50 years ago, August 10, 1972Tonkawa Guardsmen Start Training With A Bang“LAST HITCH 24 this is LAST HITCH 18 over” crackled the radio. Guardsmen from Battery C, First Battalion, 180th Field Artillery (Tonkawa) 45th Field Artillery Group, Oklahoma Army National Guard jumped into action. Minutes later, four loud blasts roared across the bare hills around Ft. Sill, OK. And forty seconds later, clouds of dust rose in the impact area.Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen had started off their Annual Summer Training literally with a “BANG”.While the wind stirred the white dust, Guardsmen could be seen hustling in the hot sun preparing to send another 200 pound projectile screaming into the compact area.The Guardsmen moved into the field Monday to prepare for their 24 hour tactical problem scheduled to begin Thursday.“This year the Tonkawa unit has the new 175mm guns,” said CPT Jim Swafford, commander of the Tonkawa unit. “These artillery weapons are well propelled and have recently been given to the unit,” he said. “Our Guardsmen have adjusted to the new weapon and are doing a great job here at camp.”The Guardsmen arrived at Ft. Sill Saturday and will remain in the field until Friday morning when they will return to their barrack area to prepare for their Annual Governor’s Day Review.The Review will start on Saturday with Gov. Hall addressing the Guardsmen. Monday, of the second week the Guardsmen will move back to the field to continue their tactical training.Seven Fillies Name To South All-Star TeamSeven players from the Tonkawa Fillies softball team have been selected for the Southern Division All-Star team.They are Reta Martin, Jeanie Richards, Judy Wood, Kim Waggoner, Vicky Shaull and Barbara Kitchen Pease, and Bonnie Reese, alternate.The Southern division all stars will play the Northern division all-stars Monday night at Caldwell at 9 p.m.NOC Gets Merit Award At Vo-Tech ConferenceNorthern Oklahoma college received a merit award Sunday evening at the Fifth Annual Vocational and Technical Education Conference underway in the campus of Oklahoma State university. Four large trophies and a number of merit awards were presented to instructors by Dr. Francis Tuttle, director of vocational and technical education, for excellence in promoting National Vocational Education Week last February.Large trophies were presented to the Hollis High School vocational education instructors, the Clinton High School instructors, the Central Oklahoma Area School instructors, Drumright and the vocational instructors at Northwestern Oklahoma A & M College, Miami.Each of these schools ...
