White - Williams ---- Edwin K. White, Sergeant, son of C. E. and E. L. White Okmulgee OK was born in Texas, February 4, 1896, educated in the Texas schools and a high school graduate. He answered the call to colors and enlisted September 5, 1917. He was ordered to Camp Travis, Texas where he underwent military training with Company F, 358th Infantry of the famous 90th Division. He was ordered overseas and embarked June 9, 1918, and landed in France. He took part in the engagements W 11:00 AM on November 11th the battle ended with the signing of the cease fire and the Armistice. There can be no greater sacrifice. Clyde R. Williams, MUS2c U.S. Navy Clyde was born on 25 September 1922 in Henryetta, OK to Richard B. and Martha Jane (Fretwell) Williams who resided at 1006 Griffin Street Okmulgee, OK. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 27 November 1940 in Chicago, IL. He had auditions at the U.S. Navy School of Music located at the Washington Naval Yard then reported for basic at the Norfolk Training Station. He returned to Navy School of Music and after further training was assigned to the USS Lassen, an ammunition ship for delivery to Pearl Harbor. On 17 June 1941 He was assigned to the USS Arizona (BB-39). The Arizona dance band competed in the Battle of Music 1941 and although they did not compete in the semifinals they had won against three other bands. For doing so well in the competition the band was allowed to sleep late that fatal morning. The finals scheduled for December 20 1941 never took place. The Grand Prize trophy was awarded posthumously to the Arizona band and is at the Arizona memorial inscribed with the names of the band members.

The leadership of the White-Williams Post No. 10 in the early days was composed principally of veterans who immediately became interested in the department and national affairs. The first five commanders of the post were Howard A. Gingerich in 1919; Dudley C. Monk, an attorney, in 1920; James P. "Pat" Hannigan, an attorney, in 1921; Fenton M. Wood, an oil man, in 1922; and Pres Nicholas, in the furniture business, in 1923. Dudley Monk was the State Commander in 1923. He was the first of four members of this post who have served as state commanders. The others were B.J. Patton, an oil operator; Dr. A.B. Rivers, a dentist; and Dick Sullivan, an engineer. All four served with distinction as commanders.

Okmulgee, the county seat of Okmulgee county, is located fourteen miles north of Interstate 40 on U.S. Highway 62/75. The town was founded after the Civil War in 1868 when the Creek Nation (one of the 5 Civilized Tribes) began restoring order to their devastated homeland and came together in a general council to establish a capitol building. A post office opened there in April 29, 1869, under the spelling Okmulkee until November 15, 1883 when the spelling was changed to Okmulgee. The name is a Creek word, OKI MULGI, meaning "boiling waters" and is taken from a town in their native region, in present Russell County Alabama. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Captain Frederick B. Servers to serve as Okmulgee's first postmaster. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation's tribal headquarters are in Okmulgee, and those members are a valuable asset to the community. Okmulgee is also home to Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.