4th of July Fireworks and Remembering a Pair of O-State Heroes
STILLWATER – There will be thousands gathered tonight in Stillwater and millions across the nation that will stare at the dark skies and marvel over the explosive and colorful displays of the Fourth of July fireworks shows across this nation. My wife is more of a fireworks lover than I am. I enjoy seeing the displays, but I usually sit there and reflect on what they mean to me. Fireworks in athletic competition are usually intense, exciting action. On a battlefield, fireworks generally mean the samething. I know this day is not Veteran’s Day or Memorial Day, but I still like to think of heroes on the Fourth of July.
There have been many men that have worn the orange and black representing Oklahoma State or in days gone by, Oklahoma A&M, that have also worn the uniforms of the United States Army, Air Force, and Navy. I salute, respect, admire, and than all of them. My father, an Oklahoma State graduate in the Engineering School Hall of Fame and my uncle, a longtime Stillwater resident and Oklahoma State fan both served in World War II. There are so many Cowboys and Cowgirls over the years that have made us proud in their defense of our nation and it’s principles.
Thank you all.
Here are two that on this day come to mind to me so very quickly.
Nathan Peterson and Sam Aubrey.
Sam Aubrey was around in the athletic department when I came to Oklahoma State as a student, so too was his coach Mr. Henry Iba. You could tell there was something special between them. I knew that both had been head coach at Oklahoma A&M and then Oklahoma State, but I didn’t know the deeper story.
Aubrey came to Oklahoma A&M from Tulsa Central High School when Mr. Iba offered him a partial scholarship, you could do that back in the day, now basketball players are on full scholarships or they’re walk-ons. Aubrey, a tall and talented forward lettered as a sophomore in 1941-42 on a Missouri Valley Championship squad. The next season as a junior he again lettered, but after that season Aubrey enlisted in the Army.
Like in basketball, Aubrey was a go getter. he was awarded a Silver Star for combat valor in the Arno-Po campaign in Italy. Then in battle in September of 1944, Aubrey was shot in the back and the bullet tore through and exited his left hip. The damage was destruction of the large muscle in his left hip. He was immoble with a cast down his lower body from his waist. He was in the hospital for a lengthy period before being discharged.
He came home and less than a year after his injuries fought through a permanent limp and made the team for Iba and Oklahoma A&M in 1945-46. He started every game on a national championship team playing alongside the Hall of Fame center Bob Kurland.
I wish I knew then when I would see Sam Aubrey in old Gallagher Hall or at church what I know now. I knew he was a longtime assistant coach for Mr. Iba and then succeeded his mentor as head coach for a short three seasons after coaching the Cowboys to only 18 wins in those three seasons. I looked at Sam Aubrey as a failed head coach when the man I was looking at was a national champion through injury and pain and a bonafide American hero.
Aubrey passed away in Stillwater in May of 2008.
Nathan Peterson was always special. As a reporter and broadcaster, I was excited that a player of his ability would commit to Oklahoma State. Back then he was the kind of in-state player that would likely end up going to the University of Oklahoma. Peterson, a star for some mighty Tulsa Union teams turned down OU, Arkansas, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Tennessee and more to be a Cowboy.
He was special too and played on teams that included my son Zach. Peterson played as a true freshman and played well before a knee injury ended his season. His sophomore year was also solid as he battled through a series of injuries. Then in 2006 he was outstanding while staying healthy he had eight sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss.
He returned a fumble 19-yards for a touchdown against Nebraska and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. He also had an important tackle-for-loss in the bowl in over Alabama.
Peterson finished his OSU career in 2007 earning second-team All-Big 12 honors with 48 tackles, six more sacks to give him 20.5 sacks for his career. He added another 12 tackles-for-loss. Yet, there was still something burning inside.
“I’m in college and having fun and playing football, and someone my same age is serving tours in Iraq,” Peterson told The Oklahoman after he did multiple tours in Afghanistan in Operation Iraqi Freedom. “That ate at me. ‘Why am I not doing that? I could do that when I’m done.’”
Peterson enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va. and came out a first lieutenant and a Marine Corps Platoon leader. He led his team in missions that resulted in one point in three casualties and he had two of his men injured as double amputees. Peterson saw combat and succeeded in his missions but left permanent memories of what the price of freedom is.
He came home and for a couple of seasons served as a defensive graduate assistant coach for the Cowboys and his head coach Mike Gundy. Now he is a successful husband, father, and member of society.
It is Nate Peterson and Sam Aubrey and others like them that i think of when I look up on the Fourth of July and I see those fireworks.