In a heartfelt ceremony on the eve of Valentine’s Day, Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin and his wife presented an Honor Quilt to Air Force veteran George Gully at the Okmulgee American Legion Post 10. Family members, including Gully’s daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, gathered alongside his fellow Post 10 members to witness the special recognition.
Gully’s journey to military service began when he quit school in the ninth grade and started working various jobs at filling stations and farms. At the age of 17, he and three friends decided to enlist in the military. However, as he was underage, he required parental consent.
“George’s father, a World War I veteran, told him he would sign the papers, but only if he joined the Air Force,” said Pete Rogers, Commander of American Legion Post 10. “His father had military experience and knew that the Air Force would be the best path for him.”
After basic training, Gully was stationed in Orlando, Fla. Due to his high test scores, he was given a choice of career fields. “The choices were fire department, fire department or fire department,” Rogers said with a chuckle. “So naturally, he picked the Fire Department.” That choice would shape the rest of his career.
In August of that year, Gully was sent from sunny Florida to Thule Air Base in Greenland, one of the northernmost Air Force bases. His thick wool Air Force Blues immediately drew laughter from those who knew where he was headed.
“Sometimes the temperature dropped to sixty below, and George had to walk nearly a mile to the fire station,” Rogers shared. “After snowstorms, the runways were cleared first, then the fire station. One time, the snow was six to eight feet deep, and everyone had to shovel.”
After a year in Greenland, Gully was stationed at Forbes Air Base in Topeka, Kansas, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) facility. Rogers recounted a memorable incident during his time there.
“One day, a two-star general landed at the base and started smoking a cigar while his plane was being refueled,” Rogers said. “The fire department was on standby, and no one wanted to be the one to tell him to put it out. Finally, an Airman 2nd Class saluted and informed the general that smoking was prohibited.”
The general, unimpressed, responded, ‘This is my base. This is my plane. I will do what I want to do.’ However, later on, that brave airman received a letter of commendation and was awarded another stripe for following protocol.
Gully served in the Air Force for eight years and ten months, dedicating nearly a decade to his country. His journey, from a young boy working odd jobs to serving in the harsh Arctic conditions of Greenland and then under the strict discipline of SAC, was honored in front of loved ones and fellow veterans at the American Legion ceremony.
“George’s service is a testament to the commitment and sacrifice of our veterans,” Rogers said. “It was a privilege to recognize him with this Honor Quilt.”
The event was a touching moment of appreciation for Gully, who stood proudly with his family as he received the quilt – a symbol of gratitude and respect for his years of dedication to the United States.
