FORT SILL, Okla.--With a cannon shot, Fort Sill kicked off the Army's 101 critical days of summer with the Fifth Annual Freedom's Thunder Motorcycle Ride and Rally May 27. About 400 motorcyclists participated in the free, public ride, which emphasized safety and took riders on a 70-mile scenic tour through Southwest Oklahoma. This year's ride featured a new route and new staging area.
"It was a great ride," said 1st Sgt. Dan Tribble, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 75th Fires Brigade, who rode a 2009 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. "There was no wind, it was sunny and there was very little traffic."
Tribble was one of 19 ride captains, who rode in groups of about 20 motorcyclists. The captains ensured their riders followed safety procedures.
Before the ride, all military motorcyclists on post attended a safety briefing and heard from Kenneth Broughton, garrison safety manager; Sgt. 1st. Class Jason Shields, 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery, senior ride captain; and post leaders.
Motorcycling is battle-buddy business, said Maj. Gen. David Halverson, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, to the riders in the packed theater.
"Your responsibilities are keeping the young kid under control, taking him and showing him what right looks like and how to operate safely," Halverson said.
The 70-mile route took riders through Elgin, Sterling and Lawton. There were three rest stops, where riders received refreshments and participated in a safety questionnaire where they were awarded raffle tickets for correct answers, said Staff Sgt. Michael Chavers, Fort Sill Garrison, who was the original founder of the ride and this year's coordinator.
Questions were based on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's motorcycle rider test manual, he said.
The tickets gave riders a chance to win safety items, such as helmets, vests and rain gear that were donated by local sponsors, said Janice Brim, Family & Morale, Welfare and Recreation's advertising and sponsorship coordinator. A person could potentially earn 10 tickets, she said.
Even with the emphasis on safety there was an accident during the ride.
One Soldier-motorcyclist braked hard to avoid colliding with a gravel truck, whose driver pulled in front of him on Lee Boulevard. His bike swerved and flipped over. The Soldier was taken to Reynolds Army Community Hospital. He suffered lacerations, a broken right thumb and "was saved by his helmet," according to an Army incident report.
Edmond (Okla.) Police Department Lt. Bob Pratt was one of the sponsors on hand with a display in the parking lot. He manned the department's mobile motorcycling safety course, which is given free to the public.
"We're making contact with the riders, we're talking about safety and showcasing our course," he said.
It was the first year riding in Freedom's Thunder for the Parkers, who have been motorcycling for about a year-and-a-half.
"It was a good ride; it was a good route," said Sgt. Samantha Parker, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, who rode a 2008 Suzuki SV650 sport bike.
Parker signed up her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Floyd Parker, also of the 1st-17th FA, for the ride. He rode a 2009 Honda CBR 600.
"There was variety on the route," he said. "There was highway, city and little towns. It was fun."
After the rally, riders visited vendors, ate a catered lunch or dined at the Impact Zone, participated in the raffle drawing, and heard disc jockey music.
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