News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Chief details National Guard contributions in a year of trial
May 5, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. –Over the past year, National Guard members were called on time and again to help their fellow U.S. citizens. They deployed to operations around the world, National Guard Bureau Chief Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense yesterday."The year 2020 was unprecedented and historic," Hokanson said... MORE

The Louisiana National Guard's 3rd Battalion of the 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, take part in their deployment ceremony in Lafayette, La., Nov. 10, 2020. This unit joins the approximately 2,000 Louisiana guardsmen deploying to the Middle East to support U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations.

Oklahoma National Guard helps at federal vaccination clinic
April 29, 2021 — TULSA, Okla. – Nearly 30 Oklahoma National Guardsmen are supporting a community vaccination clinic as part of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Guard members are transporting vaccines, preparing them on-site and supporting administration from two STRIKE teams, ensuring communities with a high risk of exposure and infection are not... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard Airman 1st Class Jaquee Dixon, medical technician, 138th Fighter Wing, prepares COVID-19 vaccines at a community vaccination clinic in Tulsa April 21, 2021. The clinic runs from April 21 to June 15.

Phillips 66 honored by Department of Defense for extraordinary support
April 28, 2021 — Oklahoma Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, announced today Phillips 66 Executive Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Brian Mandell received the ESGR Pro Patria Award in recognition of the extraordinary support of Phillip’s 66 employees who serve in the Oklahoma Guard and Reserve... MORE

(L to R) Kerry Creager, Phillips 66 Manager Indirect Tax and Bartlesville Veterans Network Local Sponsor; Maj Larry Murray, Phillips 66 Nominator and Oklahoma Air National Guard Officer; Colonel Robin Cavanaugh, Vice Commander, 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard; Brian Mandell, Phillips 66 Executive Vice President of Marketing and Commercial; Ben Hur, Phillips 66 Vice President Midstream Commercial and Business Development; Raymond Knapp, Chair, Oklahoma Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (photo credit: Phillips 66, Shaan Ahmad)

45th Infantry Soldiers provide aid following multi-vehicle accident
April 28, 2021 — Soldiers from the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, assisted numerous individuals who were injured in a multiple vehicle accident on Westbound Interstate 40 near State Highway 377, April 25, 2021... MORE

Oklahoma World War II and Korean War Veteran receives Thunderbird Medal
April 14, 2021 — Family, friends and fellow Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen gathered for an awards ceremony celebrating a World War II Veteran with a distinguished military service history in the 45th Infantry Division... MORE

Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, adjutant general for Oklahoma, presents the Thunderbird Medal to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Oren L. Peters, World War II and Korean War Veteran from the renowned 45th Infantry Division, Saturday, April 10, 2021 in Edmond, Oklahoma. The Thunderbird Medal is the Oklahoma National Guard’s highest award presented to a civilian. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Geoff Legler)

345th CSSB Soldiers depart for yearlong mobilization
April 1, 2021 — More than 60 Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers said farewell to their families in a virtual send-off ceremony at the National Guard armory in Ada, Oklahoma on April 1. The Soldiers are assigned to the 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command, and are leaving for a yearlong mobilization to Fort Bliss, Texas to provide COVID-19 mitigation support for Army units deploying to and returning from overseas... MORE

A Soldier with the 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion gives a "thumbs up" gesture to cameras broadcasting a virtual send-off ceremony at the National Guard armory in Ada, Oklahoma, April 1, 2021. The Soldiers are being mobilized to Fort Bliss, Texas in order to provide COVID mitigation support to units deploying overseas. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Leanna Maschino)

Camp Gruber opens first fire station since WWII
March 26, 2021 — Camp Gruber Training Center officially opened a newly completed fire station with a ribbon cutting at the National Guard training base in Eastern Oklahoma, March 24, 2021. Fire Station Number 1 is the first fire station on Camp Gruber since the 1940s, when the base served as a major training location for Army troops headed overseas to fight in World War II, according to Lee Horst, Jr., chief of the newly formed Camp Gruber Fire Department... MORE

Fire trucks assigned to the newly opened Fire Station Number 1 sit parked outside the station prior to a ribbon cutting at Camp Gruber Training Center, March 24, 2021. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

OK Air Guard mourns loss of veteran pilot
March 26, 2021 — The Oklahoma National Guard has announced the loss of a great leader and pilot due to natural causes. Lt. Col. Eric Jauquet, of Claremore, Oklahoma, lost his life on March 20, at the age of 48. At the time of his passing, Jauquet served as the Commander of the 138th Operations Support Squadron for the Oklahoma Air National Guard... MORE

Lt. Col. Eric Jauquet, of Claremore, Oklahoma, lost his life on March 20, at the age of 48. At the time of his passing, Jauquet served as the Commander of the 138th Operations Support Squadron for the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

Oklahoma National Guard assists with COVID-19 vaccinations
March 17, 2021 — The Oklahoma National Guard, alongside the Oklahoma State Department of Health, continues their mission to support Oklahoma’s whole-of-government response to COVID-19 with vaccine support. As the response to COVID-19 progresses, the Oklahoma National Guard’s mission and focus changes to better serve the community... MORE

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard assist with COVID-19 vaccinations across the state. The Oklahoma National Guard continues working alongside Oklahoma State Department of Health partners throughout the state in the fight against COVID-19. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Jordan Sivayavirojna)

Guardsman awarded Oklahoma Star of Valor for saving neighbor
March 5, 2021 — An Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldier was awarded the Oklahoma Star of Valor March 4 for his heroic actions in saving his neighbor's life. The state's second-highest military award was presented to Sgt. Pedro Gonzales III for stepping between his neighbor and a man who was attacking her with a knife in September... MORE

Sgt. Pedro Gonzales, a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, received the Oklahoma Star of Valor March 4, 2021, for risking his life to save the life of a neighbor who was being attacked with a knife in September 2020. Gonzales suffered serious wounds to his face and neck but has recovered.

Video by Spc. Anthony Ackah-Mensah

SWOSU GOLD Soldiers and student honored for saving fellow student’s life

Oklahoma National Guard

March 13, 2025 | 1:22

Four Southwestern Oklahoma State University Guard Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) program officer candidates and one student lifeguard were honored on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, for their heroic actions in saving a fellow GOLD candidate during a training exercise on Jan. 28, 2025, in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Spc. Avrie Nowakowski, Spc. Diego Ortiz, Pfc. Rhyson Golightly, and Spc. Austin May were among the officer candidates who received the Army Achievement Medal for their actions.

Statton Mantz, the student lifeguard involved, received the Thunderbird Medal, the Oklahoma National Guard’s highest award presented to a civilian