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Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa Was a Native American

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Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa Was a Native American Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa was a Native American from the Hopi Tribe and was born on December 14th, 1979 in Tuba City; the Navajo Nation’s largest community in Arizona. The name “Hopi” is short for “Hopituh Shi-nu-mu”, which translates as "The Peaceful People" or "Peaceful Little Ones.” Her Native Hopi name “Qötsa-Hon-Mana” stands for “White Bear Girl.” There are only about 19,338 Hopi Natives in the United States. Her grandfather served in the U.S. Army during WWII and her father is a Vietnam War veteran. She is considered to be a warrior by her people. In her tribe’s culture, becoming a warrior requires acting with honour and courage and doing “the right thing", one of which, is to join the U.S. Army. She was the first Native American woman in history to die in combat on foreign soil. On March 20th, 2003, the second Gulf War, also known as the Iraq War, began after Saddam Hussein refused to step down from power and leave Iraq within 48 hours, as demanded by then U.S. President George W. Bush. Only 3 days after the commencement of that war, a support unit of the maintenance and repair personnel of the Quartermaster Corps, 507th Maintenance Company, was part of a convoy that got ambushed in Nasiriyah, southeast of Iraq. Piestewa, at the time a Private First Class and part of the 3rd Forward Support Battalion, was the designated driver of a four-wheel drive military vehicle HMMWV. She accelerated to high speed in order to avoid a heavy barrage of enemy fire, consisting of AK-47s, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. First Sergeant Robert J. Dowdy was firing his M-16 rifle from the vehicle window at enemy troops, while Specialist Edward Anguiano and Sergeant George E. Buggs fired each a M-249 machine gun over each side of the light tactical vehicle. However, a rocket-propelled grenade hit their HMMWV and the ensuing explosion killed Dowdy, Buggs, and Anguiano and leaving Piestewa mortally wounded. Specialist Shoshana Johnson and Private First Class Jessica Lynch, who were seated in the back, were seriously injured. They were taken prisoner along with four other soldiers, with Piestewa dying of her wounds soon after. According to Jessica Lynch, Piestewa was hit in the head, and it was impossible to perform delicate neurosurgery in an Iraqi civilian hospital under wartime conditions, such as intermittent electric power. Nine Soldiers were killed in action during the ambush. When Lori was first reported as missing in action, prayers went up from reservations throughout the United States. Ever since, individuals from various tribes have contacted the family to say her spirit has visited or moved them, or gave them a message. Lori Ann Piestewa was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal and the Prisoner of War Medal and was promoted to her final rank of Specialist. Jessica Lynch was her roommate at the Army Installation Fort Bliss, Texas and they were also tent mates in Iraq. Lynch said, "Lori Piestewa was one of the greatest friends anyone could ask for. She had a smile that could light up a room and a personality that could fix any situation. She would often be my motivation to get through the hardest times.” At the military base White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, a bur oak tree was planted and dedicated in her honour. The tree stands in front of building 128, the post's barracks for enlisted soldiers. Piestewa's two children, her parents, and current and former members of the 507th Maintenance Company also attended, including Jessica Lynch. Range Commander Brigadier General Robert Reese commented: “This gives us a chance to think very deeply about the contributions that Native Americans make in our society today. And it reminds us that this land that we live on and do so much on was Native American land before any of the rest of us decided to come here." Her mother, Priscilla “Percy” Piestewa, said: "The Lord blesses us with children, and he blesses us with friends, however it's only on a loan basis. It's not on a forever basis, because we're not here on this earth forever. Regardless of our individual differences, we are all one: One family, one community, one nation and one world.” .
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