Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2009
Colonel William Finley
Col. William Finley poses with Iraqi children in Tal A‘Far,
Iraq.
Soldier Honored by Senate for Humanitarianism and Service
On Tuesday, the Senate recognized an Oklahoma soldier
for his service to his country as well as his humanitarian efforts
to help needy Iraqi families and those of deployed soldiers. Senate
Resolution 41, by Sen. Harry
Coates, Don
Barrington and Randy
Bass, commends Colonel William J. Finley
“My family and I have known Col. Finley for sometime and
he has been an inspiration to all of us as well as everyone else
who knows him. He has the heart of a true steward,” said
Coates, R-Seminole. “He’s an amazing man and a great
soldier and American. At the same time that he’s serving
his country overseas, he’s building important relationships
with the Iraqis he’s helping as those Iraqi children will
be the leaders of tomorrow.”
Finley was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Regular
Army in Field Artillery in May 1982. From then until February
2007, he held a variety of artillery position. His most recent
position was Brigade Commander for the 2nd Iraqi Army Brigade/3rd
Iraqi Army Division in Tal A‘Far, Iraq.
In 2007, Finley along with a group of caring Oklahomans in coordination
with the Armed Services YMCA in Lawton helped found “Operation:
Blankets are OK!”, a charity to provide blankets and other
items to the children of deployed Fort Sill soldiers as well as
needy children in Iraq. His coordinating efforts in Iraq at Fort
Sill, where he is currently serving as the Deputy G5 at the Fires
Center of Excellence, along with his outreach efforts to Oklahoma
communities and organizations including the Oklahoma State Senate
last fall has resulted in his team providing aid and comfort in
the form of medical clinics, food supplies, and clothing.
“It’s always an honor for us when we have the opportunity
to recognize our military men and women and the work they do for
our state and country, especially those like Colonel Finley who
go above and beyond the call of duty,” said Barrington,
R-Lawton. “His outreach efforts in have made a tremendous
difference in the lives of so many families both in Iraq and here
in Oklahoma.”
Over the years, he has received numerous awards and decorations
including the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Meritorious Service
Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal,
the United States Army Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge,
the Air Assault Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.
“What an incredible person! The fact that he saw how desperately
in need some of those Iraqi families were and took the initiative
to help begin a charity says so much about his character,”
said Bass, D-Lawton. “We, in the Senate, were so proud to
get to participate and help him in that effort, and we wish him
lots of success in the future with it.”
For more information contact:
Sen. Coates- (405) 521-5547
Sen. Barrington - (405) 521-5563
Sen. Bass - (405) 521-5567
