Portraits of Patriots

Growing up in Atoka County, OK, in the early 1940s gave Sherman Avner "Shug" Bledsoe, Jr. some unique perspectives. Shug watched as his relatives and neighbors marched off to war. Some paid the ultimate price for their country. Later, still not much older than a boy, Shug fought for his country in Korea. Thinking back on this heritage, Shug observed that the people of Atoka County were especially patriotic when it came to serving in the armed forces. From 1998 to 2000 Shug wrote about these service men and women in his column "Portraits of Patriots" that appeared in the Atoka County Times. The column was well read and especially appreciated by veterans. This book is a collection of those columns. All proceeds from the sale of this book go toward building the Atoka County Veterans Memorial.