Hamden Vet Now a Hall of Famer

He was class of 1956 at Dartmouth University, spent four years on active duty in the military and 28 years as a Naval Reservist. He is a founder of the Hamden Veterans Commission and its chairman for the last seven years. He and his wife were the grand marshals of this year's Memorial Day parade.     

And now, Abner Oakes III has a new designation to add to his long list of honors: A member of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame's Class of 2010.

Veterans inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame must meet two requirements: to have served the nation with distinction in the armed forces, and then returned home to enrich their communities and state through distinguished public service. Abner Oakes III fits both descriptions.

The 76-year-old Hamden resident devoted 31 years of his life to the Navy and Naval Reserves, and still spends a good deal of time on veterans' causes.   He retired from the Reserves in 1988 with the rank of Commander. 

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place on Nov. 22 at the state Capitol in Hartford.  

"I was very honored," Oakes said, and especially to be part of a group that included former congressman and Vietnam veteran Rob Simmons, and World War Two-era serviceman Stanley Zebzda, who was honored posthumously.  

A few days later, Oakes is still accepting well wishes from folks at his usual morning spot, Whitney Donut.  

"I hear congratulations are in order!" said one waitress at the counter, and several others nod in agreement.

It was his wife who originally got him involved in veterans' issues, Oakes said.  Cynthia Oakes' brother was declared a Vietnam War Prisoner of War/Missing in Action in 1971.  Abner and Cynthia Oakes began gathering support for a monument in honor of those vets.  Since 1973 it's been the centerpiece of Freedom Park at Dixwell and Whitney Avenues across from Town Hall.  

In addition to making sure those who serve receive proper honors, Oakes also has mentored young people at the start of their military careers.   

"My main job in my Reserve duty was to encourage young men and women to attend the U.S. Naval Academy," he said. "I set up committees made up mainly of civilians and retired military people to interview candidates and then give their names to the senators and congressmen."  

That system, he says, made it easier for the lawmakers to manage long lists of qualified applicants.  In his view, it also kept the process from becoming too political because so many people were involved in the decision.  

"They  [the politicians] could say 'my committee recommended it'," if parents questioned why their son or daughter wasn't admitted to Annapolis or West Point," he said. 

More recently, Oakes has been mentoring even younger students.   He's the main force behind the annual Hamden Veterans Awareness Day, which takes place each year around Memorial Day at Quinnipiac University.  Last year about 100 veterans spoke to more than 400 middle school students from Hamden and surrounding towns.

The Korean war-era veteran has also survived a battle with cancer. Oakes never smoked, but was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and jaw about 25 years ago. His surgery was successful but left him with a speech impediment. Oakes thinks it might have been connected to his career as a flight navigator in the late 1950's.  

"I always had my head in a radar set," he said, "but in those days people didn't worry about it [the possible radiation]."

Oakes grew up in Canada and came to Hamden in a roundabout way.   He played and coached hockey at Dartmouth , and became friends with Dick Gagliardi -- "a Hamden fella," Oakes calls him for former Hamden High hockey coach. 

When Oakes' active-duty service was done, he was hired as a Connecticut sales rep for a casket company and was told, to find a place to live. Gagliardi, by then the Yale hockey coach, recommended his home town.  Oakes took him up on the offer and later helped to found the Hamden youth hockey and soccer associations.  

He graciously accepts congratulations for his honor but is now looking ahead to the next Veterans Awareness Day. It's set for June 1, 2011 and Oakes is hoping many future veterans will attend.