It started with a simple quest: to find flags representing the military for a tribute to veterans and their families during the College High Wildcat Class of 1965’s 50th-year class reunion, held in Bartlesville in September.
It resulted in the Bartlesville City Council on Monday receiving a set of ceremonial flags recognizing each branch of the military — including the Merchant Marines — as well as Prisoners of War and veterans Missing in Action.
College High Wildcat Class of 1965 members purchased and donated the flags, which will be housed at the Bartlesville Public Library and made available to any local group or organization wishing to use them for special events and occasions.
“They are absolutely free to check out, just like a book,” said George Tarbox, a Wildcat Class of ’65 member and chair of the Military Tribute portion of the reunion, which was organized by class member Larry Mohler.
Tarbox said the idea to purchase the ceremonial flags came after it proved difficult finding them during the planning stages of class’s 50th-year reunion.
“We graduated during the 1960s, or what is refereed to as the ‘Vietnam Era,’ so we had quite a few of us who were in the service,” Tarbox said. “We wanted to honor them and their families — not just the veterans, but everyone in their families. What we found out, in putting together the presentation, is that we had to rent a set of flags from a company in California.
“We wanted to make it our business to make sure no one else had that problem,” he said.
Tarbox told the City Council that several local veterans killed or missing in action were honored during the class’s special tribute: Army Staff Sgt. James Edwin Bailey, Army Pvt. 1st Class John Wesley McVey, Army Spec. 4th Class Richard Howard Parker, Army Spec. 4th Class Michael Gene Warnick, Air Force Lt. Col. William Calvin Diehl, Army Capt. Jack Milton Smith, Army 2 Lt. Harold William Wingate, Marine L Cpl. Bruce Anthony Lynch, Army Sgt. Robert James Osborn, Marine Capt. Jay Anderson Mitchell and, from the Class of 1965, Army Sgt. John Delbert “JD” Starrett.
Also honored was Michael O. Dempsey, who had attended grade school with several Class of 1965 members and who also graduated from “Col-Hi.” Dempsey, an Army specialist who fought in Vietnam and earned several medals — including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart — for his heroic actions on Sept. 8, 1968, clearly weighed heavily on the minds of the Class of 1965.
“Entering a woodline, his company’s point element was suddenly hit by intense automatic weapons fire,” Tarbox told the council. “Immediately Spec. Dempsey volunteered to rescue the casualty. With four comrades, Mike led the way, but they, too, were halted by intense automatic weapons fire. Coming upon a second bunker, Mike unhesitatingly charged it and threw a grenade, which killed both occupants. Two more bunkers were spotted. Artillery was quickly plotted but could not be deployed because of the injured man’s position to the bunkers.
“Concealed only by tall grass, Spec. Dempsey crawled alone — his second time — to within a few feet of the Communist forces, only to find his friend was dead. He then returned to his company’s position and got a rope. Crawling back — his third time — Mike tied a rope to the dead man’s web gear, enabling his comrades to pull (the man’s) body to safety.”
Tarbox said Dempsey survived the war and returned home but suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, becoming homeless and losing contact with his family and all but a few friends.
“Mike eventually came home, but Vietnam never left him,” Tarbox said.
According to Tarbox, Dempsey died on Dec. 27, 2003, and was buried in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery.
“Only the two grave diggers and two office personnel from the cemetery office were present at his burial,” Tarbox said.
But after learning of Dempsey’s plight, the Wildcat Class of 1965 acted and had the soldier’s gravestone changed to “reflect the honor that he earned in the battles in which he fought,” Tarbox said.
“Mike’s medals were placed into a specially-built shadow box and now reside on the Wall of Honor at the Bartlesville American Legion,” he said. “Mike’s sister was asked to attend our Veteran’s Tribute, where an American flag was respectfully presented to her by a member of the U.S. Army Honor Guard” present at the tribute.
“Now, hopefully, each of you has an idea why the College High Class of 1965 chose to do what we have done,” Tarbox told the council. “With money donated by classmates for use as the reunion committee saw fit, we purchased a complete set of ceremonial flags — flag for each branch of the service, a POW/MIA flag and an American flag.
“We owe so much to so many — those who served and came home and those who did not. Those who waited and prayed for the safe return of their loved one and those who received that dreaded knock on the door. The Class of ’65 felt like we owed it to all of them, and to the City in order that other organizations or groups won’t run into the problem we did and need to rent flags to represent our men and women, past and present.”
Tarbox said that in addition to the flags, which cost just over $2,000, the class has purchased benches for a local park.
“We have purchased and plan to donate four benches for Kiddie Park — two cement benches and two portable benches — with leftover funds,” he said. “They should be delivered next spring.”
Interim Transitional Library Director Shellie McGill said the flags will be on display on the mezzanine overlooking the first floor of the library, located at 601 Johnstone Ave., for the public to enjoy.
“This is a wonderful gift to the community and a great addition to the many services offered at the Bartlesville Public Library,” said McGill.
“The College High Wildcat Class of 1965 has not only honored the veterans in their class, they have honored all of our veterans by making these flags available in Bartlesville,” said City Manager Ed Gordon. “This is an outstanding contribution to our city and a great honor to all of those who have served our country.”
For more information or to schedule use of the flags, call 918-338-4187.
Photos
Top, right: Flags representing each branch of the U.S. Military were presented to the City of Bartlesville during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Dec. 7.
Mid-page, left: College High Wildcat Class of 1965 50th reunion committee members. Back row, from left: Ron Adams, Ernie Samaripa, Doris Nye Roberson, Lynne Rice Garrett, George Tarbox, Larry Mohler. Front row, from left: Jeanne Franklin Hale, Ja Ella Mounts Vanatta, Kathleen Alton Livingston, Carol Musick Meridith, Marilyn Schallstede Griffin, Rita Thurman Barnes.
Bottom, left: Vice Mayor Dale Copeland and City Manager Ed Gordon listen during a presentation to the City Council on Monday.
Bottom, right: Councilor Ted Lockin listens as College High Wildcat Class of 1965 member George Tarbox presents the City of Bartlesville with military ceremonial flags.
