Ponca City Recognized As American World War II Heritage City

Ponca City and Kay County Oklahoma are among the eight communities that were designated American World War II Heritage Cities on Tuesday by the National Park Service.

The NPS said the recognition honors the contributions of local towns, cities, counties, and their citizens who stepped into the workforce and volunteered to support America's war effort during World War II.

“World War II not only impacted those who went to war but also those who carried on the life and work of the home front,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “It’s important we remember that cities and towns both big and small made major contributions at home to the war effort, all of which helped Allied forces defeat the Axis powers.” 

The newly designated jurisdictions are:  

1. Calhoun and Ouachita Counties, Arkansas
2. Plymouth Township, Michigan
3. Valley City, North Dakota
4. Municipality of Tinian & Aguiguan, Northern Mariana Islands
5. Ponca City and Kay County, Oklahoma
6. North Kingstown, Rhode Island
7. Sumter City and County, South Carolina
8. Ogden, Utah 

The American World War II Heritage Cities Program was established in 2019 and This year’s additions join 30 other cities, counties, and townships.

According to the National Park Service,

Ponca, OK, located with Kay County, started its home front story with the training of British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots in 1941 prior to America’s entry to WWII on Dec 7, 1941. By 1942, German Afrika Corp POWs were camped in Camp Tonkawa, where some 5,000 military and civilian guards oversaw over 3,000 POWs. These POWs also worked with local farmers for $0.80 a day.

Further north in Kay County, Chilocco Indian School trained indigenous students, served as a garrison for the US Army, and trained Native code talkers. Chilocco was established in 1883 and educated thousands of native Americans from many Tribes, two of whom would go on to receive the Medal of Honor. In addition to these achievements, civilian contributions extended to the production of zinc and the refining of oil throughout Kay County. 

To be considered applicants must have made contributions to WWII home-front efforts and need to have made efforts to preserve the heritage and legacy of the city’s contributions

Applicants must meet both criteria 1 and 2 to be considered for designation.

1. Contributions by a city and its environs to the World War II home-front war effort, such as contributions related to: *
2. Adaptations to wartime survival
3. Civil defense preparedness
4. Defense manufacturing, such as ships, aircraft, uniforms, and equipment
5. Production of foodstuffs and consumer items for the Armed Forces and home consumption
6. Volunteer participation
7. War bond drives
8. Personnel serving in the Armed Forces, their achievements, and facilities for their rest and recreation, or
9. The presence of Armed Forces camps, bases, airfields, harbors, repair facilities, and other installations within or in its environs.
10. Achievements by a city and its environs to preserve the heritage and legacy of the city’s contributions to the war effort and to preserve World War II history, such as contributions related to: *
11. Establishment of memorials to area men who lost their lives in service
12. Establishment of museums, parks, and markers
13. Organizing groups of veterans and home-front workers and their recognition
14. Presentation of cultural events such as dances, plays, and lectures
15. The identification, preservation, restoration, and interpretation of World War II-related structures, facilities, and sites
16. Public relations outreach through the print and electronic media, and books, and
17. Recognition and ceremonies remembering wartime event anniversaries