Oklahoma Getaway Chapter 6
As their plane left Oklahoma City behind, Booth swiveled in his seat like a small boy impatient for Laser Quest. In a humorous role reversal, he recited interesting facts about Fort Sill to his partner who usually did the same for him. Ft. Sill, he explained, is the only remaining US Army installation still active out of all the forts established across the southern plains during the Indian Wars.
As the site of the Field Artillery School for Army troops and Marines, it also includes the US Army Field Artillery Museum, showcasing guns, rockets, and artillery pieces from the 1700's to present as well as artifacts of forward observation and fire control. Established in 1869 by Phil Sheridan, its first Indian agent was Daniel Boone's grandson.
As they were flying into Lawton, Booth pointed out the Medicine Bluffs amid the Wichita Mountains. Four contiguous porphyry bluffs constitute a landmark long considered sacred by the region's Indian tribes. Formed by an ancient upheaval, its hard igneous rock is dotted with sparkling feldspar crystals. Hodgins had waxed poetic over its beauty during a lunch at the diner with Booth.
"You sound like you swallowed one of Jack's reference books," Brennan chuckled, amused at her husband's tour guide pronouncements.
Booth had arranged for them to spend their first night in Comanche House, a part of the historic Ft. Sill Hospital complex. He knew the wooden floors were as noisy as Paul Revere's home in Boston, but the place was lovingly restored, and across the street from the old post for easily exploring its history. The fort's original buildings are extant and identical to old photographs, which fascinated Brennan. The pair visited the graves of Apache warrior Geronimo and Quanah Parker, last chief of the Comanches. Booth knew this fellow fascinated his son, and resolved to bring Parker to visit in the future. After check-in, they headed to dinner at the Officers' Club with Booth's former commanding officer.
The second night they would stay in the temporary housing complex for families changing assignments. It wasn't the BOQ but would give Brennan a taste of his army days. The place was plain, clean and comfortable and Brennan slept well.
On Sunday morning, she was awakened at 5 am by a slight odor of cordite and low pitched booms from artillery rounds. Rolling over, she found Booth leaning against the headboard, reading the free copy of Stars and Stripes offered in the lobby. Propping herself up on the pillows, she smiled at her husband, in his element, relishing this brief return to military life.
Flipping back the covers, they showered and dressed quickly despite the early hour. They had a unique opportunity to watch a bombardment practice. The wind-whipped hills and gullies around the post are used to train soldiers on the latest artillery. Brennan was intrigued by the physics and mathematical calculations involved. Booth conversed knowledgeably with the fire direction officer, quietly proud of this military post where he had once trained.
Afterward, Brennan went with Booth to the Old Post Chapel for Mass. During the service she looked around reflectively. The rugged stone building, second oldest house of worship still around in Oklahoma, has seen 141 years and was the first structure visible to stage coach travelers approaching the fort. The nearest railroad 200 miles away took 8 days by wagon or 4 days by stagecoach to reach. From its earliest days, the chapel was entirely ecumenical, its use shared by all faiths.
They grabbed a hearty brunch in the busy base dining hall. Brennan asked the friendly woman ringing up their food how nearby Lawton residents felt about the fort. She noted that townspeople, proud of their long standing connection to the fort, are far from upset by the fort's background thunder in their lives.
"We live with the boom-boom of artillery fire 24 hours a day, but once you live here a while, you just don't hear it anymore," the woman said. "In fact it is oddly comforting. Hearing those guns out there popping, that's the sound of freedom. They're ready to defend us if need be. When I hear it at 6 am, and things rattle a bit, I roll over and go back to sleep. So do my kids."
That afternoon, Pilots Henderson and Foster met them at the post airstrip, and they headed east to explore the city of Tulsa.