Post gives veterans a place to call home
Lawton post gives veterans place to call home

By Ron Jackson

Published: May 13, 2008

LAWTON — All eyes instinctively turn toward the front door of the VFW Post 1193 with each sound of the buzzer. A security button is pressed, the door is unlocked, and someone new walks into the darkened bar where no one is a stranger.

Smiles are quickly exchanged or a name is called out loud. By the time a bar stool is straddled, the customer's favorite drink is waiting.

So are friends.

"I've never been married,” said Vietnam veteran Steven Schneck, 55, of Lawton and a lifetime post member. "I don't have any kids. These guys and girls here, they are my family. Down here, we're all brothers. We're all the same.”

Schneck and his fellow post members will carpool downtown Saturday to watch Lawton's annual Armed Forces Day Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. at the Central Mall. A daylong celebration will culminate at 7 p.m. with a free concert by Michael Peterson, a multiple Grammy Award nominee, at the Elmer Thomas Park amphitheater.

At some point, Schneck and his friends will again gather at their favorite hangout.

"A lot of people think this is just a bar, but it's so much more to them,” said Kealii Thompson, a woman's auxiliary member who leads a Polynesian dance group each year in the parade. "This is their home. If guys are lonely or sad, they come here to be among friends. And if you are real and sincere, then you can come in here and relax. Everyone is welcomed.

"But a lot of these guys have seen so much through their military experiences and war, they don't have time for anyone who isn't real.”

Cliff Carper of Lawton is one such veteran.

"You probably won't hear any stories from me, but you won't hear any lies, either,” said Carper, 53, who retired in 1994 after a 20-year U.S. Army career that took him to Rwanda, Korea and Kurdistan. Bartender Erik Allen often hears the unfiltered version of these war stories.

"It's amazing what some of these guys have been through,” said Allen, 28.

Maj. Michael Frazier finds it therapeutic. Frazier, 36, began frequenting Post 1193 five years ago. He remains a regular, and being active duty, has found the camaraderie and advice of the veterans soothing.

"I remember before I deployed for Iraq, I just sat down here and listened,” Frazier said. "It helped me to know what these guys have been through. I was personally involved in two IED (improvised explosive devise) attacks, and glory be to God, survived.

Assistant manager Jessica Kitchen considers the members to be her extended kinship.

"These guys would do anything for you,” said Kitchen, 21. "One time I was having trouble with my car, Cliff (Carper) took my keys and took my car to the shop to have it fixed. Sometimes, on my days off, I'll even come down here just to hang out and visit.”

At times, the conversations delve deep into her heart.

Her husband is presently serving at Camp Liberty in Iraq. He deployed three weeks after their wedding.

"We talk every day on the Web cam, so it's not like we don't get to visit,” she said. "But I miss him. I've been able to talk to the vets about being at war and being away from family. They've given me good marriage advice because they've been through it all. They've helped open my eyes. They're just good people, and they come from all walks of life.”

Comments