A SusanvilleStuff Photofeature
by Jeremy Couso
Sometimes a simple ‘thank you’ is far, far too long in coming. For Native Americans who served our country with honor and distinction during the Vietnam era there was often little or no gratitude shown them when they returned home. It is a sad, tragic truth – but this year, in a large ceremony held as part of the annual Pow-Wow at the Lassen County Fairgrounds, the Susanville Indian Rancheria set about making up for that apathy on the part of the American public.
The yearly Pow-Wow has always been dedicated to the honor of the ‘elders and veterans for all of the sacrifices they made so that we may live’ but this year the ceremony was made more poignant as Susanville Indian Rancheria Tribal Chairman Brandon Guitierez officially welcomed home, and thanked, Native Americans who fought for our country during the Vietnam War.
Guitierez read a proclamation passed by the Tribal Business Council on May 3rd welcoming home all Vietnam Veterans and recognizing their contributions and sacrifices.
“WHEREAS, The Vietnam War was hard fought in the jungles, air, and muddy waters of the Republic of South Vietnam by brave American men and women from 1961 to 1975;
“WHEREAS, The Armed Forces of the United States provided direct military support to defend South Vietnam from the Communist threat of North Vietnam;
“WHEREAS, The Troops deployed in Vietnam ranged from 80,000 in 1965, to a peak of 543,000 in 1969;
“WHEREAS, More than 58,000 American men and women lost their lives during their service in the Vietnam War, and more than 300,000 American men and women were wounded;
“WHEREAS, 2,086 Americans remain classified as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, their families, friends, and fellow veterans still endure the pain of their loss without closure;
“WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans who returned home were not greeted by their Country with open arms, and the political division in the United States made the Vietnam Veterans subject to abuse and wrongful criticism by American citizens for the policy decisions of four presidential administrations;
“WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans bravely and faithfully discharged the orders they were given, and after over 40 years since the last combat forces left the Republic of South Vietnam, this Country has failed to deliver a proper welcome home;
“WHEREAS, Those men and women who answered their Country’s call deserve the recognition befitting the recognition afforded to Veterans of other wars;
“NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The Susanville Indian Rancheria Tribal Business Council officially welcomes the Vietnam Veterans home, and dedicates the 2016 Susanville Indian Rancheria Veterans Pow Wow to all Vietnam Veterans;
“NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Susanville Indian Rancheria Tribal Business Council honors and recognizes the contributions and sacrifices of those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during the Vietnam War;
“NOW THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, The Susanville Indian Rancheria Tribal Business Council strongly encourages the people of the United States to recognize that the Vietnam Veterans are honorable warriors, and that those Veterans deserve love and admiration from the American people.”
Guitierez read the resolution in front of a line of more than 40 distinguished men and women who had been invited to attend the event. Participants of nearly every single armed conflict of the 20th century were on hand for a roll call of local veterans.
One Vietnam era veteran told me that in 40 years he had “never felt so honored” – and that of course was what the day, and the ceremony, were all about.
American Indians have given distinguished service in all branches of the military over the course of the last 150 years.
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.
Here are a gallery of photos from the May 21st ceremony. Make sure to scroll down the page for an honor roll of local Native American veterans along with a list of those who were honored at the event.
An Honor Roll of Our Local Native American Veterans
photos courtesy Susanville Indian Rancheria
Kosovo, Operation Joint Guardian 11-2000 to 5-2001
Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom 6-25-2005 to 6-20-2006 Awarded Bronze Star
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
US Army Generator Mechanic
1970 – 1975, Deployed to Germany
Inducted 4 23 41 separation 10 1 45 Sgt. US Army 17th infantry
Clarence Potts brother to Willis Potts, saw action in the Pacific battles Attu Island Kwajalein Atoll Lette Island and the capture of Okinawa.
Clarence was awarded the bronze star and was also called Doc for helping the wounded and taking care of his men.
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
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
Corporal USMC
World War ll, 1943-1946
4th Amphibious Corps
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
PFC, United States Army
Guided Missile Crewman
Good Conduct Metal
(Korean War Era)
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
USMC 1954
1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division
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.
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
US Army 82 Airborne Division
Korean War Era
1943-1946 WWII
Good Conduct Medal
US Army 1942 – 1945
WWII
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.
Squadron 2nd Air Depot Group
European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon
US Army 1961 – 1964
Vietnam
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.
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.
Army National Guard
1962 – 1970
US Army Korean War Era
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
USMC
Served from 1995-1999
Lance Corporal
1st FSSG, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Bravo Company
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.
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
1968-1970
Army, Specialist 5, Vietnam Two Tours
1942 – 1945 WWII
Asiatic Pacific American Area
European African Middle Eastern
Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal
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
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
Second Lieutenant, Army 99th Infantry Division
Battle of the Bulge, Silver Star, Bronze Star
Navy Corpsman
1969-73
Vietnam service medal
Co. L. 363, Inf. 91 Div.
1917-1918 WWl
First Susanville man to be killed in combat during WWl
SGT. USMC
Korean War Era 1953-1957
4th Amphibious Corps
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
The following men and women were named and honored at the May 21st Ceremony
[column-group]
[column]US Navy Robert Aguilar
US Navy Francis T. Allen
US Army Roy Barnum
US Marine Corp Randy Brown jr.
US Army Harold Dixon
US Marine Corp Lester Dixon
US Navy Bill Evans
US Army Johnny Evans
US Navy Mervyn Evans
US Army Clyde Northrup
US Army Felix Guitierez
US Army Robert Guitierez
US Navy Leo Guitierez
USMC/USN Brandon D. Guitierez
US Marine Corp Edward Jackson
US Army Kenneth Joseph sr.
US Army Leonard Lowry
US Army Stanley Lowry
US Army Mike Lowry
US Navy Nicolas J. Padilla
US Army Benjamin Padilla
US Marine Corp Jack Madero Harrison
US Marine Corp Robert McElrath
USMC Radley Shipes jr.
US Navy Patricia Webber
US Army Tommy Marino
[/column]
[column]US Army Dewayne Morales
US Army Chris Cobian sr.
US Army Earl Morales
US Marine Corp Richard Morales
US Army Ron Morales
US Army Dennis Morrison
US Navy Eugene Newman
US Army John Peconom
US Army Leo Peconom
US Navy Gene Ryan
US Army Leroy Spencer
US Army Hugh Timmons
US Army Thomas Tucker
US Army Albert Valdez sr.
US Marine Corp Glen Wasson
US Marine Corp Sharon Wasson
US Army Herman Williams
US Marine Corp Randy Marino
US Marine Corp Vernon Johnson
US Marine Corp Wesley Burch sr.
USAF Sean O’Roake
US Navy Stephen A. Lawson
US Army Gilbert Calac
Army National Guard Marvin L. Benner
US Army Kenneth Benner
[/column]
[/column-group]
