American Indians have given distinguished service in all branches of the military. That camaraderie remains a strong memory for many of those who have distinguished themselves in military service.
According to statistics provided from the U.S. Department of Defense, in 2010, 22,569 enlisted service members and 1,297 officers on active duty were of American Indian heritage. So while the U.S. population recorded nearly 1.4 percent American Indian, the military population was 1.7 percent Native, making it the highest per-capita commitment of any ethnic population to defend the United States.
Thank You For Your Service
Office of Tribal Government Relations
https://www.va.gov/TRIBALGOVERNMENT/resources.asp
RESOLUTION NO.SU-BC-063-2016
In Dedication to our Local Native American Veterans
Theaters of War
World War l
Thomas Tucker
Co. L. 363, Inf. 91 Div.
1917-1918 WWl
First Susanville man to be killed in combat during WWl
World War ll
LTC Leonard Lowry
May 16,1920 – Aug. 17,1999
World War ll, Korea, Vietman
Achievements / Honors
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star (2), Purple Heart (5)
Legion of Merit, World War ll Victory Medal
LTC Lowry served in the famous Second American Infantry Indian Head Division
during the Korean War. He was the most decorated Native American to serve in World War ll.
Stanley Lowry
Second Lieutenant, Army 99th Infantry Division
Battle of the Bulge, Silver Star, Bronze Star
Eugene Newman US Navy, Seaman
1943-1946 WWII
Good Conduct Medal
Johnnie J. Evans US Army 1942 – 1944
Squadron 2nd Air Depot Group
European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon
Mervin R. Evans US Navy, Seaman
1942 – 1945 WWII
Asiatic Pacific American Area
European African Middle Eastern
Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal
Herman Williams
US Army 1942 – 1945
WWII
Clyde Northrup
1942-1945
Technician 4th Grade 35th Tank Battalion
Normandy, Bastone, Battle of The Bulge
Awarded the Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Badge
European-African Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal
Lester Dixon
Enlisted at the age of 16 in the United States Marine Corp. (USMC)
Duties called him to Iwo Jima, he was assigned beach duty.
He was pulling deceased bodies off the beach.
He heard his name called. ” Hey Chunk!”
He was surprised when he heard Glen Wasson call him by his nickname.
Glen was shot in the leg and was floating near the beach.
Lester Dixon was Honorable Discharged and returned home in 1945.
Edward Jackson
Corporal USMC
World War ll, 1943-1946
4th Amphibious Corps
Clarence Potts
Inducted 4 23 41 separation 10 1 45 Sgt. US Army 17th infantry
Clarence Potts brother to Willis Potts Clarence also served in the pacific Campaign
Clarence Potts saw action in the Pacific battles Attu Island Kwajalein Atoll Lette Island and the capture of Okinawa.
Clarence was awarded the bronze star
Clarence Potts Sgt. as also called Doc for helping the wounded and taking care of his men also decorated.
Campaign medals Philippines Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze stars, Good Conduct medal
Clarence was a heavy machine gunner in d company both brothers returned and enjoyed a full happy life
Willis Potts
Inducted 4 3 43 separation 10 16 45 AS s2/c
Willis Potts, US Navy served aboard USS Maryland and USS Pennsylvania
Veteran of World War 2, Willis Potts saw action in the pacific Campaign Lette Gulf, Saipan, Iwo Jemia and Okinawa.
Willis Potts naval gunner scored Kamikaze hit.
Decorated Purple Heart, Battle Stars, Presidential Citations
Honorable discharged
Korean War
Leo Guitierez
Leo was aboard the USS Grapple, ARS-7
Leo Guitierez rate was Enginemen 3 RD Class (EN3)
in charge of all the spare parts to the engines.
If they Broke down, he made sure a part was ready to replace and keep it going
Korean War, served 4 years in the Navy
Felix Guitierez
US Army 82 Airborne Division
Korean War Era
Robert Guitierez
US Army Korean War Era
Wes Burch Sr.
SGT. USMC
Korean War Era 1953-1957
4th Amphibious Corps
Gene Pasqua
USMC 1954
1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Harris Joseph Monroe
PFC, United States Army
Guided Missile Crewman
Good Conduct Metal
(Korean War Era)
Vietnam War
Raymond C. Valenzuela
United States Army
March 1962 – June 1965
Served as a Paratrooper with the 18th Airborne Core
at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This photo was taken in San Jose, CA.
while on Leave after the Cuban Crisis
Vietnam Era
Mike Lowry
1968-1970
Army, Specialist 5, Vietnam Two Tours
Dugan Aguilar US Marine Corps
1968-1970 Vietnam War Veteran
United States Navy
Honorable Discharge
Nicolas J. Padilla Signalman 3rd class (SM3)
February 28,1966-October 28, 1971
U.S.S Prichett DD 561 San Diego,CA.
West Pac Deployment June 1966
West Pac Deployment November 18,1967 – May 26, 1968
U.S. Naval Support Activity DA Nang, Vietnam
September 14, 1968 – September 10,1969 YFU-55
Francis T. Allen US Navy, BMC Diver 1943 – 1972
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Good Conduct Medal 3 Awards
WWII Victory Medal
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
Navy Unit Commendation 2 awards
Vietnam Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kenneth Benner
US Army 1961 – 1964
Vietnam
Chris Cobian Sr., Private First Class
US Army Generator Mechanic
1970 – 1975, Deployed to Germany
Marvin L. Benner
Army National Guard
1962 – 1970
Stephen Albert Lawson
Navy Corpsman
1969-73
Vietnam service medal
Patricia Gusman Webber
U.S. Navy
January 15,1965 – December 15, 1967
Personnelman – U.S. Naval Station
Washington, DC
Enlisted in the U.S.Navy, January 15,1965. Honorable Discharge January 15,1967.
Served as a Personnelman, at the U.S. Naval Station in Washington, DC.
Retired from the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office in October 2004, with
38 years of federal government service. Government service included Bureau of Naval
Personnel, U.S.Forest Service, IRS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Patricia was born in Susanville, CA. and raised in Herlong, CA. Graduated from Herlong High School in 1962, Patricia is a SIR Tribal Member and is of Paiute descent.
Gilbert V. Calac,
US Army
25th Infantry, 165th Signal
Tour of Duty 1968-1970
Stationed at Cu Chi & Tay Ninh
Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal,
Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal
Frederick Gusman
U.S. Army 1966 – 1968, U.S. Army Alaska, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska.
Attended Lassen Jr. College, 1965.
Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of California, 1971.
Master of Education, University of Nevada, 1981.
31 Years of Federal Service, retired 2008.
Robert Dugan Aguilar
Lance Corporal
27th Marines, 11th Marines, attached to the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
United States Marine Corps, January 1968 – Aug 1969
Vietnam War
Ribbons: National Defense Ribbon
Vietnam Service Ribbon
Combat Action Ribbon
Vietnam/RVN Galantry Cross
Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Ribbon
RVN/VN Campaign
Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation
Rifle Expert Badge
Photo taken at the Vietnam Memorial, Capitol Park, Sacramento, CA by Elizabeth Aguilar
Cold War Era
Gulf War (Desert Storm)
Jeff Law
US Army 1989-1993
8th Infantry Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment
Wildflecken, Germany
1st Armor Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment
Dexheim, Germany
7th Infantry Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment
Ft. Ord, CA.
MJTF, Annette Island, Alaska
Radley T. Shipes Jr.
USMC
Served from 1995-1999
Lance Corporal
1st FSSG, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Bravo Company
Iraq
Benjamin Padilla, Staff Sergeant US Army Infantry 1993 – 2011
Kosovo, Operation Joint Guardian 11-2000 to 5-2001
Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom 6-25-2005 to 6-20-2006
Awarded Bronze Star
Brandon Guitierez
Infantry, Sergeant USMC, PN3 F/A-18 Plane Captain US Navy 1998 – 2007
Operation Southern Watch, Operation Determined Response USS Cole Bombing,
Operation Noble Eagle/Operation Iraqi Freedom
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal 2 Awards
Navy Good Conduct Medal
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Battle E 2 Awards
Sean O’Roake
United States Air Force
Airman 1st Class, aircraft armament systems journeyman,
2014-Present Cannon AFB
Currently on assignment in Iraq as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve