The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Veterans > Veterans Memorials

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-01-2019, 11:55 AM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,784
Thumbs up A Native American war memorial is coming to Washington. Here are six vets it honors.

A Native American war memorial is coming to Washington. Here are six vets it honors.
By: DANA HEDGPETH / The Washington Post / Stars & Stripes - April 1, 2019
RE: https://www.stripes.com/news/us/a-na...onors-1.575251

WASHINGTON — Native Americans have served in the U.S. military in every major conflict since the Revolutionary War but are often overlooked, according to historians and tribal leaders.

A memorial coming to Washington will honor the roughly 141,000 veterans and 15,100 active duty service members who are Native Americans. The memorial, which will be outside the National Museum of the American Indian, is expected to open on Veterans Day in 2020.

Museum officials said they're planning an exhibit to share the stories of Native American service members. Here are six American Indian veterans you may not have heard about.

(1) - Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler (Cherokee). He was assigned to an elite Delta Force in the Army and was killed in Iraq in 2015. Wheeler was the first American servicemember killed in action in the U.S. fight against the Islamic State.

Wheeler, a 39-year-old father of four from Oklahoma, was credited with helping to release 70 hostages held by ISIS, according to the office of Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. Wheeler was shot in the rescue. He had 14 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded several Bronze Stars.

(2)- Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (Brule Sioux). As a World War II combat pilot, he earned the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross. He was credited with shooting down 26 Japanese planes and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

During his career, he also flew with the famed Flying Tigers in Myanmar.

At one point, he was in charge of the Marine Corps fighter squad known as the "Black Sheep." A television series called "Black Sheep Squadron" (originally called "Baa Baa Black Sheep") in the late 1970s was inspired by Boyington and his squadron.

He was shot down over the Pacific Ocean and became a prisoner of war for almost two years.

(3) - Ely S. Parker (Seneca). He served as secretary for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Civil War. In 1865, Parker was the highest-ranking Native American in the Union Army, a lieutenant colonel, and helped draft the terms of surrender for the war at Appomattox, according to American Indian museum experts.

Parker later recalled that after learning of his race, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee stared at him, extended his hand and said, "I am glad to see one real American here." In response, Parker said, "We are all Americans."

Parker went on to become an officer in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry.

(4) - Billy Walkabout (Cherokee). The Oklahoma native was considered one of the most decorated Native American soldiers in the Vietnam War. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, a Purple Heart and several Silver and Bronze Stars.

Walkabout served as an Army Ranger sergeant and became known for taking heavy gunfire and saving comrades in a mission behind enemy lines, according to his obituary in USA Today. He retired from the Army as a second lieutenant and died in 2007.

In a 1986 interview with The Associated Press, Walkabout said his years in Vietnam had left him with injuries and troubles. He would imagine bombs going off and was worried that in his sleep he would hurt his wife or push her under the bed to protect her.

"War is not hell," he said. "It's worse."

He said he found comfort in Native American pow wows with the beat of the drum and chanting of the singers.

(5) - Donna M. Loring (Penobscot). She served as a communications specialist in Vietnam and processed casualty reports, according to the American Indian museum. She eventually became the first female police academy graduate and went on to become the Penobscots' police chief. She also served as a state adviser on women veterans' affairs.

(6) - Master Sgt. Raul "Roy" Perez Benavidez (Yaqui). His parents were of Mexican and Yaqui Indian ancestry and he enlisted in the U.S. Army in the 1950s.

In Vietnam, Benavidez suffered serious injuries after he stepped on a land mine and was told by doctors he'd never walk again. But he did and eventually returned to Vietnam.

While serving as part of a Special Forces team, he was on a helicopter and heard a call for help from units on patrol. He jumped from the chopper and, armed with a knife, went to help. Benavidez suffered more than 30 bayonet and shrapnel wounds during a six-hour battle, experts said.

He earned the Medal of Honor, several Purple Hearts and other awards.
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:23 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.