As I headed to the staging area here in Wichita Falls Texas at 0730 hrs (for those here from Wichita Falls going to Duncan) I looked to the North and saw the rain clouds. It had stormed here during the night and that was the tail end of the storms.
As I got up on our mini mix master, I merged into the I-44 North traffic next to Steve.
We got to the staging area and there was Katie.
Here are Steve and Mike (reflective belt) our North Texas PGR Ride Captain..
Here is Katie as we roll North on I-44. We would go I-44 to US 70 in Oklahoma then US 70 east to Waurika Okla. We would then take 70 to US 81 North to Duncan where we would meet the Oklahoma PGR contingent that was escorting the Pratt family to the funeral home in Lawton Okla.
Here is Mike on his new bike. I usually see him in the PGR Support Vehicle and did not know he had gotten the new bike.
Here is Steve as we roll North on I-44.
Mike up front with Katie in the #2 slot
As we head East on US 70, we eyeball the rain falling up ahead to our right
We turn North on US 81 and stop in Comanche Okla. to top off. Steve & I opt for the Love's
Mike & Katie opt for the Stop & Go across the street. Katie pulls out and heads our way
Here is Mike raggin' on me about taking the pics. It's all in fun....I think.. (grin)
As we enter Duncan Oklahoma
We get to the staging area in Duncan and dismount. Some of the Oklahoma PGR contingent.
More of the Okla. PGR contingent. Kory is in the white shirt/black vest by his pickup truck. His son, Michael, was KIA 9-18-08. Our condolences go out to him & his family
Our bikes with those of our Oklahoma PGR brothers & sisters
This was the first of too many to count Police & County Sheriff escort vehicles that would help out today. All the Law Enforcement Agencies involved did an OUTSTANDING job of leading the escort and keeping us safe. No incidents or injuries occurred that I am aware off.
This is Stubby, a member of the Oklahoma PGR contingent. I believe he said he was out of Lawton Oklahoma
Stubby
Some of the big flag bikes that would be in front of the family cars & hearse
Chief (back to camera) talks with Mike, Katie & Steve
We depart the staging area and head to the Pratt residence to pick up the family
The PGR escort behind me as we roll thru Duncan Okla
Heading to the Pratt residence
The PGR escort behind me.
We park just down from the Pratt residence and wait quietly as they get into their POV's
We then leave the Pratt residence and head West on Okla 7 to Lawton Okla.
The PGR escort continues West with the Police escort out front
Continuing to Lawton Okla.
Everything was running smooth towards the rear of the escort
We enter Lawton Okla.
We get to the funeral home, pull around back and dismount to put on our safety vests. It is policy at Ft. Sill that for us to be allowed on post we must: Wear helmets, glasses or shields, long fingered gloves, long shirt, boots up over the ankles and a reflective vest or belt.
PGR bikes & members as they put on the reflective vests/belts
We get ready to depart the Winnery-Huddleston Funeral Home and head for Ft. Sill
The reflective belts that some have..
PGR escort mounted & ready to roll
PGR members and Police rear escort vehicles are ready..
A Lawton Fire Dept. vehicle stopped in respect for the family
We arrive on Ft. Sill and run along the West perimeter fence of the airfield. We had to go North to the Northern end of the airfield and then swing around and go South along the East Perimeter to the Control Tower and Transient Ramp, where the aircraft with PFC Pratt's remains would taxi to after landing
We pass a Ft. Sill on-post information sign. You can see the control tower, our destination, off to the right, across the airfield.
We make the turn and head to the East side
The view in the mirror
The control tower, at the end of the road, just ahead
As we park the bikes, we have a static display of a Huey Gunship to our left
This is Drifter of the Lawton PGR contingent. That's his new Harley Ultra...
Where we parked in relation to the Control Tower
PGR members secure personal flags prior to getting the flags for the flag line from the PGR Support Vehicle that Cindy, Senior PGR Ride Captain-Lawton, was driving
Members head to the support truck & flags
me & Drifter
I may be wrong, because I didn't look at the plaque in front of the aircraft on display by the tower, but I think that is the US Army Otter..
me & Drifter
This is, left to right: Stubby, Drifter, Mike & Blue
This is Spec. Thomas & Spec. Criswell, two of the MP's that assisted us & escorted us while we were on Ft. Sill. Thank you gentlemen, for your service to our Great country and your assistance today
The Henry Post Army Airfield sign.
The PGR flag line begins to form up
We would form up facing the airfield in front of the fence. Naturally I had to get a pic of the Restricted Area Sign
This is Mike. He is with the Oklahoma PGR. He will be at the funeral tomorrow , so you will see him again, if I can locate him.
Up near the flag line with us, was SSGT. Jacinto Aguero. Thank you Sergeant for your service to our Great country and for being there with us today..
This is Stubby & Cindy, Senior PGR Ride Captain-Lawton
This is Steve fixin' to join in the flag line. Actually, they ran short of flags, so Steve & I shared a flag. I took this photo with Steve's camera and he sent me a copy of the pic.
This is Cindy, Sr PGR Ride Captain-Lawton 
This is Kory and Mike is next to him
The PGR flag line in place. This was taken after the aircraft taxied by us, enroute to the transient ramp which was located to our front down to the left.
We head back to the bikes to get ready to escort the hearse & family cars back to the funeral home
This is Kory's truck. The paint scheme is outstanding and is dedicated to his son Michael, who was KIA on 9-19-08 near Tallil, Iraq.
This is the back of Kory's truck. Click on the picture for a closer view.
This is John & Kory..
This is Chief. I met Chief last year on a PGR Mission in Wichita Falls Texas. He is with the Oklahoma PGR-Lawton
We head out and pause for the hearse & family cars to pull in line.
A view behind me as we head across Ft. Sill
We clear Ft. Sill and make our way thru Lawton to the funeral home.
We get back to the funeral home and set up a brief flag line as they unload the casket into the funeral home. Our lead PGR bikes
The PGR escort bikes & Cindy's PGR Support Vehicle on the left behind Kory's truck. Thank you Cindy for the cold water...Following the final flag line today, we were dismissed until the funeral tomorrow at the Chapel on Ft. Sill.
We stopped to gas up the bikes a final time on Cache Rd, prior to leaving Lawton to head back down to Texas. Here is Katie.
Mike checking in and letting the folks in Texas know we were on our way home
Steve at the gas station
Established on I-44 West, Mike leads the way home followed by Katie, me & Steve..
We get onto South bound US 281/277 to skirt around the I-44 toll gate. Here is Steve as he waves when he sees me raise the camera towards him.
Katie South Bound on US 281/277
Texas is seperated from Oklahoma here by the Red River. Here is a view of the Red River to the West as we cross over the bridge.
Last picture of today's PGR mission is as we re-enter Texas & home. We will be heading up to Ft. Sill again in the morning for PFC Pratt's funeral and burial in the Ft. Sill National Cemetery in Elgin Oklahoma...This will conclude this post. I enjoyed being with my PGR brothers & sisters today and was proud to be part of this PGR mission. Our condolences to the Pratt family and may God comfort you as you mourn your loss.
Scroll down for more rides, events & posts and don't forget to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of EACH page for more rides and posts. Check out North Texas Bikers (1) at http://www.jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from January 08-November 08. and North Texas Bikers II at: http://www.jjskewlstuffii.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from Nov. 08-July 09. Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, ride safe, keep the rubber on the road & pray for our Troops & Pattie & Manuel................JOHN
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