It was just a chance encounter at a Shawnee restaurant and now Jearl Knighten is the proud owner of an honor quilt.

It was about six months ago that Jearl, wearing his Vietnam cap, held the door for a lady leaving the restaurant. Noticing his cap, the lady stopped to inquire about his service and to ask if he’d like to participate in a project that honored veterans. He agreed and, after visiting for a little while, they went their separate ways. Weeks later the Knightens thought the matter was dropped but then, recently, they were contacted.

Jearl and his family were invited to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Norman where he was presented with a personalized patriotic quilt pieced by Brenda Alta and quilted by Beth’s Quilts in Blanchard, Oklahoma.

The presentation was hosted by the Norman VFW. Their representative, Tony McGrew, thanked Jearl for his service and sacrifice and then summarized his military career.

Sgt E5 Carlton Jearl Knighten was drafted in 1966 and bused to Fort Polk, Louisiana for basic training. From there he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1967 he flew on a cargo plane to Bein Woia, then on to Saigon, Vietnam where he was assigned to the 69th Signal Battalion Armory Division in Tan Son Nhut. He served there in 1967 and 1968 which included service during the historic Tet Offensive (January 1968). Those were days to remember that the soldiers involved would all like to forget.

An R and R was the highlight of his deployment, he got to go to Oahu Hawaii to spend a week with Linda.

Jearl said his happiest memory was the day they boarded a plane to return home and the relief felt when they reached an altitude out of the range of danger.

Jearl was accompanied to the presentation by his wife Linda, daughter Tammy Lawler, and granddaughter Kayla Perry, plus a surprise visitor from Del City, Connie Wiley.