Harry Hoots

Corporal Harry Hoots, veteran and active citizen entered the military through the 45th Infantry division in 1940, at the age of 17, while living in Oklahoma City. In 1943 he took airborne training and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. He later volunteered to become a member of a new airborne division, the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division, deploying to Europe with that organization.

In the European theater he was one of three paratroopers on a C-47 Aircraft, and he and his fellow paratroopers were mistakenly dropped about 30 miles up the Normandy coast, far away from their assigned drop zone. He was severely wounded the next morning from an exploding grenade and captured by the Germans. Later, as a result of the severe wounds, he was returned to England on a POW ship in an exchange of wounded prisoners. After long hospitalization, he was discharged, completed college at Oklahoma A&M, and began a life career in farming in Lincoln County, Oklahoma.

Over the years, he has devoted much of his time and efforts to the veterans of our country. He helped to form a Disabled American Veterans Chapter in Shawnee and was its chapter commander for more than 12 years. He also served as the DAV state commander and was a national executive committee officer. He has served as the commander of the burial detail of the American Legion in Chandler for more than 40 years, and has helped give honors for and pay last respects to hundreds of veterans. He has been post commander, quartermaster and district vice commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and is a life member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the 101st Airborne Division Association and the 82nd Airborne Division Association.