Chairman Wommavovah Speaks at Fort Sill Graduation

On Wednesday, December 14, Comanche Nation Chairman Mark Woommavovah was a guest speaker for the First Battalion 79th Field Artillery Basic Trainee Class Graduation at Fort Sill.

He said for Fort Sill to reach out was very symbolic.

“Just being able to make that connection with the Fort Sill community, it was such a big honor because we live and we thrive as Comanche people in this Lawton-Fort Sill community, and we add value to it,” Woommavovah said.

When he got the call to attend the occasion, he felt pride.

“I am a retired military officer, Army officer, 31 years and for them to call and ask if I would speak, it was such a great honor,” Woommavovah said. “I was overjoyed with pride.”

His military career started after he graduated from high school in 1986.

“While I was in the Army, I used my Montgomery GI Bill, and I went through the University of Oklahoma Army ROTC and received a commission as a second lieutenant in ’92,” Woommavovah said.

His speech focused on leadership.

“The Army has a set of core values, which is loyalty, duty, respect, honesty, integrity and personal courage,” Woommavovah said. “Those soldiers knew each and every one of them as a part of our speech. We repeated them together, and that sets the foundation, not only for their military career but for life.”

The highlight of his day was seeing the soldiers.

“There's something special about a soldier who's been through basic training, and they graduate,” Woommavovah said. “They walk different. They talk different. They look different. They walk with a sense of pride, with their chest out, because they are a changed person.”

While stepping on the stage, he said he didn’t feel nervous but had a message to send to the soldiers.

“We ended it with that hope, and we ended it with Comanche pride, and we let them know not only are they fire strong, but they're warriors, and they're Comanche strong, so it was a great honor,” Woommavovah said.