Editor’s note: The November and December 2025 editions of the print Hownikan will be combined into one Holiday edition. The column published here is available online only.
Bozho (Hello),
November is the month to be thankful for all the blessings we have received. I have lots of blessings accumulated over my 80 years. Being raised as an Air Force brat (Army brats, Navy and Marine brats can identify with that term) I had many experiences living all over our nation. People, especially kids, are different in every region of our one nation. They talk differently, act differently and give you very different relationships. It’s great training for joining the military, where all your comrades are from different parts of this country and even other countries. I met circus acrobats, firefighting smoke jumpers, former police officers, gang/mafia members, cowboys and many others. During training we learned to be a team and depend on each other. I was fortunate to have served in five different branches of military service: the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force Reserves, the U.S. Army Reserves, and finally the Oklahoma Air National Guard. I did not plan this adventure. I just went with the flow. I am often asked which one I liked best. I enjoyed each experience.
As for blessings, while I was in the Marines, my unit received orders for Vietnam twice and each time as we were packed to go, the orders were canceled. When I finished my electronic technician schooling in San Diego, I had orders for Japan, but I didn’t want to go to Japan. I was sitting on my bunk feeling down, and one of my classmates came over and sat down beside me and he was feeling sad. He asked why I was sad, and I told him I didn’t want to go to Japan. He told me he was going to Yuma, Arizona, and he didn’t want to go there. He said, let’s go tell them we want to switch. So, we did, and they did. A month later things got hot in Vietnam and the Marine Corps pulled Marines out of the Pacific, which included Japan, to war. It was fate, I guess. I am thankful. Somebody upstairs has taken a liking to me, I guess. I have a lot to be thankful for. I have had too many blessings to include in this report. Ask me about them sometime.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Remember our CPN Veterans Organization’s Christmas Dinner is Dec. 2, 2025, at 6 p.m. (or as soon as you can get there) in the Veterans Memorial Hall of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Heritage Center. CPN veterans and families are welcome.
Calendar of meetings:
Dec 2 – Christmas Dinner at the Cultural Heritage Center at 6 p.m.
Daryl Talbot, Commander, 405-275-1054
Daniel Castaneda, Vice Commander/Event Contact, 405-585-3859
David Barrett, Treasurer, 405-613-7313
Bill Wano, Secretary, 405-670-1200
Chris Lenggenhager, CPN Veterans Organization’s Facilitator, 405-878-5830