Oklahoma veterans recall 'extraordinary' time
Those who served are honored

BY JOHN A. WILLIAMS Comments 0
Published: November 11, 2008

Veterans who attended Edmond Senior Center’s Veterans Day program last week felt like they were taken back in time.

Heart and Soul duo Karen Kay Bailey, left, and Pam Barrymore sing to veteran John Burch during the celebration at Edmond Senior Center. A related Veterans Day story is on Page 2D. PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN

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As the singing duo Heart and Soul performed Andrews Sisters’ songs from the 1940s, many of the veterans said the memories came flooding back.

Arthur Powell, who served with the Army Air Corps in World War II, remembers coming home on liberty on a ship from India. "They played ‘Sentimental Journey’ over and over and over it seemed,” he said. "I know all the words and can even sing it before they could.”

The veterans honored at the program Thursday served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and in peace time.

Wally Camp was a yeoman in the Navy from 1960 to 1964. "We were at peace, but there was also the Cuban Missile Crisis and later the Kennedy assassination to deal with,” he said. "We didn’t know if a foreign power was responsible for the president’s death. Those were some tense times as we waited, ready for anything.”

Otto Briesch served in the military during the Korean War. Recently he was invited to a program honoring vets at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. "It’s just nice to be remembered,” he said.

The vocal duo Pam Barrymore and Karen Kay Bailey said of all the styles of music they sing, they love singing the music of the Big Band era.

"It’s amazing to see the eyes light up on many of these vets when we sing,” Barrymore said.

"They come alive and soon they’re clapping or singing along. Some get up with their spouse and dance.”

Bailey said the music seems to honor a generation of those who served. "I think it makes them feel special and remember a time that was extraordin