Lawton....lots of questions (Oklahoma City, Tulsa: environment, tornado, military)

[zarabeth]

Thanks to you all, again, for the informative posts...it really does help paint a picture for me. flintysooner, the link for Lawton was most helpful, thank you so much

[flintysooner]

Just announced (or I just read it at least) that the NLOS (Non-Line of sight) cannon is going to be built in Elgin, OK, which is near Lawton. That's pretty significant.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by zarabeth

Thank you all for the information so far....so it's due to grow from the BRAC standpoint, but the gangs are heating up the town...I'll have to research some more. Makes me wonder how in the world the hospital got $30 million for a renovation...wonder what brought that money in?

Zarabeth,

I've been very impressed with the very honest answers people have given you here.

It is a bit puzzling where the hospital is getting that money for a renovation or addition or whatever is planned. I read that it was the largest county hospital in OK - I don't know if that is true or not, just wondered if county voters passed a levy or some kind of special bond election to fund this change.

Good luck making your decision.

[zarabeth]

Mtn States, yes, aren't Oklahomans a nice bunch? I don't see the bickering that is so prevalent on a few of the state forums I've visited...no one has even said once, STAY AWAY, which is great....

(whispering to flinty so I don't sound dumb, but what's that cannon???)

[flintysooner]

Originally Posted by zarabeth

whispering to flinty so I don't sound dumb, but what's that cannon???

Fort Sill at Lawton is the home of the Army Field Artillery so what happens to the artillery is a big thing (well a bigger thing maybe) than in a lot of places. Fort Sill is very large and a good place to train troops in using artillery pieces. Not just everywhere in the United States wants troops learning to shoot big guns with exploding projectiles traveling long distances. Exploding ordnance is something one becomes accustomed to hearing by the way.

Fort Sill is an old military post, too. My 90 yo dad used to reminisce about hearing the artillery sounds even when he was a child growing up near Marlow. Just as an aside he used to tell me stories about driving to Lawton to sell watermelons and cantaloupes and peanuts during the depression. Apparently the Native Americans were about the only people with cash during the depression - or at least that was my dad's take.

At any rate there's been extensive national policy debate about whether the artillery was even needed in our modern military. There have been great debates about future weapon systems and very real efforts to discontinue the entire artillery. Since this would pretty much doom Fort Sill it is a topic dear and near to Oklahomans.

But recent wars have pretty much resolved the issue. It is rather clear that we do need the artillery. So the non-Line-of-sight (NLOS) cannon is part of future combat systems. Basically it is a 155 mm cannon that is manned and extremely mobile. Being non-line-of-sight means the target doesn't have to be visible for this thing to shoot it. It makes a lot of practical sense for it to be built near Fort Sill, too. There is a web site: Manned Ground Vehicles - Home

The modern army and certainly the modern artillery is becoming increasingly complex. So the training of the modern soldier is also very complex and that's especially true with artillery. That will also mean that the modern artillery soldier is going to have to be more professional and better educated than ever before.

Another aside: I was stationed at Fort Sill for my advanced individual training in communications way back in the early 70's. I lived in one of the old, beautiful 2-story, tile roofed barracks. That setting alone made being in the army worthwhile for me. I still remember the beauty and uniqueness of that part of Fort Sill.

I also really enjoyed the weather and terrain around Lawton. I am certain some will laugh at that. I would absolutely burn up during the day but at night it was cold enough for a blanket. And to me it wasn't nearly as windy as other places in Oklahoma. I found it a pleasant tour during my very short time there.

Hope that answers your question and best luck to you.

[zarabeth]

It more than answered my question, thank you again....

[lilysan]

holy cow,what i read here doesn't sound too good.We will have to move to Lawton in 2 months because my husband will be an instructor in Fort Sill.I am 100% german and it will be my first time to be stationed in the US. i was looking at houses in Duncan, we have 2 little kids and a teenager,what do you guys think? is duncan a save place for a family ???? How long is the drive to Fort Sill from duncan ?
thank you so much
a shocked german wife !!!!

[peggydavis]

lilysan, have you read this thread? It has a lot of information about Lawton.

Ft Sill Bound: Need Help

[datazmom]

We live in a small town south east of Lawton , Walters , its quiet and nice . Lived in Lawton for years and because of the gang problems we left . There is not enough money in the world for me to move back there . Walters and Elgin (where I grew up ) are both nice , quiet , small towns with lots of community pride and nice people . If you want to work at one of the Lawton hospitals , they are alright . I would reccommend living in a small town outside of there though . If you don't mind a small commute . My husband commutes back and forth for work 6 days a week and the peace of mind living in a small town and raising our kids here is worth the drive .

[home4mad]

lilysan-i think i replied to your husband on these issues-look at me home4mad to see my take on the duncan area on his thread.