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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Lori Piestewa ~ November 29, 2010
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The Whole World !!
| StarCMC
Posted on 11/28/2010 5:13:56 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska
Our Troops Rock! Thank you for all you do! |
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For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces. |
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Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today! |
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~ Hall of Heroes ~ Lori Piestewa Info from here. |
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SPC Lori Ann Piestewa (December 14, 1979 March 23, 2003) was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which fellow soldiers Shoshana Johnson and Jessica Lynch sustained injuries. A member of the Hopi tribe, Piestewa was the first woman in the U.S. armed forces killed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and is the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military in world history. |
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Piestewa was born in Tuba City, Arizona, to Terry Piestewa and Priscilla "Percy" Baca. Her father is a full-blooded Hopi Native American, and her mother is a Mexican-American. The couple first met in 1964, and married in November 1968.The Piestewa family had a long military tradition; her paternal grandfather served in the U.S. Army in the European Theatre of World War II, and her father Terry Piestewa was drafted in the U.S. Army in September 1965, and served one tour of duty in the Vietnam War before he returned home in March 1967. The Piestewa family resided in a trailer park in Tuba City, a town located on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Coconino County.[9] As a child, she was given the Hopi name Köcha-Hon-Mana (also spelled Qotsa-hon-mana, meaning White Bear Girl). Her surname, Piestewa, is derived from a Hopi language root meaning "water pooled on the desert by a hard rain"; thus, Piestewa translates loosely as "the people who live by the water." |
Piestewa was a member of the army's 507th Army Maintenance Company, a support unit of clerks, cooks, and repair personnel. Her company was traveling in a convoy through the desert and was meant to bypass Nasiriyah, in southern Iraq, during the opening days of the war; but the convoy became lost and ran into an ambush in Nasiriyah on March 23, 2003. As Piestewa came under what an Army investigation described as "a torrent of fire," she drove at a high speed, successfully evading the enemy fire until an RPG hit the front-left wheel-well of her Humvee. The force of the explosion sent her vehicle into the rear of a disabled tractor-trailer. Three other soldiers in the Humvee died in the crash. Lynch attempted to fire her M16, but it jammed. Piestewa, Johnson and Lynch all survived but were wounded. They were taken prisoner along with four others, with Piestewa dying soon after of her wounds. A video of some of the American prisoners of war, including Piestewa (filmed shortly before she died in an Iraqi hospital), was later shown around the world on Al Jazeera television. According to Jessica Lynch's bookI'm a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch StoryPiestewa was wounded in the head, and it was impossible to perform delicate neurosurgery in an Iraqi civilian hospital in wartime conditions (such as intermittent electric power). In a U.S. military hospital with reliable power and neurosurgeons available around the clock, she might have survived. The families of soldiers in the 507th heard almost right away of the ambush and fatalities in the unit. The Piestewa family saw people in Lori's unit being interviewed by Iraqi TV, and for more than a week families of the two women waited for news. All around Tuba City signs were hung out telling people: "Put your porch light on, show Lori the way home." They used white stone to spell her name on a 200-ft mesa just outside the town |
Piestewa was awarded the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal. The army posthumously promoted her from Private First Class to Specialist. Jessica Lynch has repeatedly said that Piestewa is the true hero of the ambush and named her daughter Dakota Ann in honor of her fallen comrade. In addition, many entities have honored her memory with memorials. Arizona's state government renamed Squaw Peak in the Phoenix Mountains near Phoenix as Piestewa Peak and this was codified by the US Board on Geographic Names on April 10, 2008; the freeway that passes near this mountain was also re-named in her honor. In addition, Senator Tom Daschle honored her, as did Indian Nations across America. Since her death, the Grand Canyon Games organizers have held an annual Lori Piestewa National Native American Games, which brings participants from across the country. A plaque bearing her name is also located at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and Fort Bliss, Texas. She has also been memorialized with a plaque and ceremony at Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, California. Her death led to a rare joint prayer gathering between members of the Hopi and Navajo tribes, which have had a centuries-old rivalry. In May 2005, Lori's parents and children had a brand-new home built by Ty Pennington and his crew on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition accompanied by Jessica Lynch. They also built a new veterans' center on the Navajo reservation. Thanks, Beachn4Fun, for the reminder about this hero! |
Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families. This is a politics-free zone! Thanks for helping us in our mission! |
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
To: Kathy in Alaska
Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.* * * * * * * * * * * *
Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
God Bless Our Republic
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic, for which it stands;
one nation UNDER GOD,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
Prayers going up
3
posted on
11/28/2010 5:14:52 PM PST
by
HopeandGlory
(Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
Good evening Ladies! *hugs*
Thank you for tonights Hall of Heroes!
4
posted on
11/28/2010 5:14:59 PM PST
by
oldteen
To: DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
Evenin' Deo!
How ya been?
5
posted on
11/28/2010 5:16:16 PM PST
by
oldteen
To: HopeandGlory
Good evening Hope and thank you for our wonderful pledge! *hugs*
6
posted on
11/28/2010 5:17:49 PM PST
by
oldteen
To: Kathy in Alaska
7
posted on
11/28/2010 5:17:58 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
To: oldteen
Not so good actually...I was around a bit of dust today and am having an allergic reaction. I am all stuffed up and am likely to be so tomorrow as well. :-(
How about you? I hope you are doing well. :)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Aloha Night Owl!
9
posted on
11/28/2010 5:19:40 PM PST
by
BIGLOOK
(Keelhaul Congress!)
To: SandRat
Good evening Sandrat! How are you doing tonight? :)
To: DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
Ahhhh..you have those pesky allergies too? I know of what you speak. They are miserable.
Hope you find some relief!
11
posted on
11/28/2010 5:22:42 PM PST
by
oldteen
To: StarCMC; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; ...
Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC.
Please thank her for todays thread.
Hall of Heroes: Lori Piestewa FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS
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To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open. The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.
NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.
12
posted on
11/28/2010 5:22:52 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
She is deserving of this Hall of Heroes.
May she Rest In Peace!
13
posted on
11/28/2010 5:25:42 PM PST
by
oldteen
To: txradioguy; tongue-tied; SoldierDad; mike1sg; Milo828; mystery-ak; CMS; The Sailor; Jet Jaguar; ...
Honoring Our Heroes 2LT Rebecca USA (Daughter of U S Army EOD) 3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad) AbnSarge USA Adam USAF (Grumpybutt) Allegra Anoreth USCG (daughter of Tax-chick) aviator USAF BIGLOOK USN Brett USN (CindyDawg) Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee) Cannoneer No. 4 CAPT Bryan USA (Diver Dave) CAPT Future Snake Eater USA (RightOnline) CAPT Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou) Chris USA (amom) Chuck USA (RightOnline) COL Mike (gpapa) CMS USA ConorMacNessa USN USMC David USAF (LUV W) Defender2 Deven USA (Shimmer) Ethan USMC (georgiabelle) forgotenknight13 USA (grandson of Monkey Face) Fred (DocRock) GulfWar1Vet USA HiJinx USA IS2 Brianne USN (My Hearts in London - Everett) IS2 Heather USN (My Hearts in London - Everett) Jade Falcon USN James USA (Grumpybutt) JemiansTerror USA (Jemian) Jet Jaguar USAF Joel (NEMDF) Jonathan USMC (AZbushgal) Josh USN (doug from upland) Karen USA (fatima's granddaughter) Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim) Kevin USMC (skimask) Kevin and David USA (vigilante2) Laurita USA LCpl Carter USMC LCpl Joe USMC (DontMessWithTexas) Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim) Lt David (Coldwater Creek) Lt Nathan Rice Navy Chaplin (Coldwater Creek) M1911A1 USMC (M0sby) M1Tanker Major Jennifer USA (Diver Dave) Major joma89 USAF MEG33's Navy Grandson Michael USAR (RightOnline) Mike1Sg USA (mystery-ak) Milo828 USA (mystery-ak) MSgt Eddie USAF ( Son of ThomasPaine2000, CMSgt USAF, Ret) MSGT Glen Ignasiak USAF (nephew of AirForceMom) Nate USN (sneakers) Old Sarge USA OneLoyalAmerican USCG PFC Alan USA (brother-in-law Stonewall Jackson) PFC Dan USA (son of swmobuffalo) PFC Jake USMC (son of Enough_Deceit) Philetus USA PROCON USA Pvt Alex USA (son of Enough_Deceit) Rick USAF (Doogle) Robert, Jeremy, Daynnis USA (SoldierDad) SandRat USA Sat-Com Chris USA (son of KC Burke) SGT Ev USA (Mozie) SGT Gray USA (colorcountrys son) SGT Robert USMC (MarineMom613) SGT Sean Reed (preed) Son USCG (GodBlessUSA) SPC Mike USA (AbnSarge) SPC William Akin USA (Step-son of BlueLancer) SrA The Black Knight USAF SSG Brian USA (repubmom) SSG Dustin USA (SIL of U S Army EOD) SSG Dusty USA (MountainDad) SSG Mitchel USA (tina07) SSG Spencer USA (grame) SSGT Adam USA (Diver Dave) SSGT Don May Jr USMC (debm29palms) SSGT John Linde USA (JFoxbear) Stevan USA (Grumpybutt) Terrence USN (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim) The Sailor TMSuchman USMC tongue-tied USN/USA Tonkin USN/USCG TSGT Jason M Kibler USAF (son of AirForceMom) SFC txradioguy USA USAFSecurityForces (son of visualops & TheStickman) Valerie USAF (Shimmer) Victor and Tony D USMC (weldgophardline) William USA (jackv) WOs Bob and Michelle USA (nephew, and his wife, of BnBlFlag)
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14
posted on
11/28/2010 5:26:21 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: SandRat
Evenin' Sandy! *hugs*
Things going OK?
15
posted on
11/28/2010 5:26:48 PM PST
by
oldteen
To: DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
Hanging in there.
The kids have gone back home and the house is quiet again.
Tomorrow begins another week of running errands.
16
posted on
11/28/2010 5:28:34 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
To: BIGLOOK
Aloha BIG! *hugs*
Are you having a good weekend?
17
posted on
11/28/2010 5:28:42 PM PST
by
oldteen
To: DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
Good evening, Deo...((HUGS))...hope you’ve had a nice holiday.
18
posted on
11/28/2010 5:30:40 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: oldteen
*hugs*
The kids have gone back home and the house is quiet again.
Tomorrow begins another week of running errands.
19
posted on
11/28/2010 5:31:09 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
To: All
20
posted on
11/28/2010 5:32:31 PM PST
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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