Medal of Honor going to Native American soldier
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, February 23, 2008
WASHINGTON — A Native American soldier who fought in World War II and the Korean War will be posthumously honored with the Medal of Honor next month, White House officials announced Friday.
Retired Master Sgt. Woodrow Keeble, a South Dakota native who died in 1984, will be recognized for actions in North Korea in October 1951. According to Army records, he ignored life-threatening wounds to take out three mountainside enemy pillboxes which had pinned down a U.S. platoon.
Keeble was initially awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for those actions, but members of his state’s congressional delegation have pushed for Medal of Honor recognition for him for years.
Army records say Keeble displayed “extraordinary heroism and completely selfless devotion to duty” during his assault on enemy troops in Korea.
After seeing an advance platoon was pinned down by gunfire, Keeble rushed from his support unit to the front line. He then crawled ahead to take out three enemy positions with grenades, despite intense fire trained on him as he moved along the mountainside.
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http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52728
American Indian
ReplyDeleteThere’s only one real true American,
A human being here from the start,
Although existing of many tribes,
All nations made whole from each part.
Unlike the movies, the Indian never started the fight,
Only retaliating to save and protect property rights,
Now realizing profits from ventures on tribunal owned land,
Along comes the U.S. Government sticking out its hand.
Even going to court in a lawsuit the attorneys are prepared,
Claiming land that is non-taxable the tribes should pay a share,
Are the powers that be going to collect the monies for the needy?
Or like everything else distribute to the Washington Greedy?
Mike Brown is put in charge of FEMA because of what name?
The guy who was in charge of President Bush’s reelection campaign,
Was the Indian really thought of after the death Sitting Bull?
Taxes? When billions of dollars casinos on their land began to pull.
The President found himself between the rock & a hard place,
Feeling he had to back “Brownie” to somehow save face,
This always happens in politics so I kinda, sorta understand,
But the American Indian was born and raised on this land.
Land that was stolen because some prospectors found gold,
The value of which Indian tribes were never informed or told,
A government that feels it is constitutionally entitled, oh how bold,
Acres not returned to the rightful owner but illegally leased or sold.
I thought about this due to the fuss made about a certain prophet,
What idiot thinks it’s OK to make fun of Muhammad?
Millions in property damage and several lives have been lost,
And this form of idiotic behavior champions what type of cause?
Mel Gibson was arrested and unfortunately made headline news,
Not because he was drunk but for making insensitive remarks about Jews,
Now the man behind Lethal Weapon & Passion Of The Christ is screwed,
No amount of money or tea in China could get him out of crap filled shoes.
Why slight Islam or any other secular religious nation?
Whatever happened to hey, how be you, greetings, salutations?
Intentionally disrespecting others beliefs while slamming the door,
And you’re surprised sects are outraged seeking revenge through war?
Yes, there’s the knucklehead claiming it’s protected by free speech,
When I was growing up that’s not what the school system would teach,
You simply could not yell fire in a crowded movie theatre,
And you certainly can’t make fun of an Icon Prophet in any newspaper.
We celebrate Lincoln and Washington on Presidents day,
But it’s not right to honor Martin Luther King Jr. some still say,
How many Presidents have taken time to champion the needy?
Oh yeah, did early America ever honor any Indian peace treaty?
It was the Navajo Wind Talkers that turned the tide,
Without them World War II would’ve been won by the other side,
In American society all Indians were degraded and smeared,
Yet for this country in a war not theirs, they still volunteered.
American statesmen are honored on ones, twenties, fifties, fives and tens,
With the largest denomination being donned by Benjamin Franklin,
This is what puzzles me and I wonder if anyone really will know,
Why was an Indian's head only on a nickel more famous for the Buffalo?
We give millions to and praise athletes who are MVP,
Acting stars who make movies that our children can’t see,
Those in the know mostly hire unqualified next of kin,
When in the heck are we going to honor the American Indian?
Poems By Luke Easter
Thanks for the long comment. It must have taken you a while. It's very good.
ReplyDeleteI have respect for the Indians and their ways. I think the fact they also dealt with PTSD, there is a lot to learn from them on that as well.
What I can never figure out is, why don't Native Americans run for office?
Akaka was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Annie Kahoa and Kahikina Akaka.[1] During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including service on Saipan and Tinian. that's from Wikipedia. If he could become a high ranking senator, then why don't we see more natives running? They take care of the earth, care about the connection between mind, body and spirit and they sure fit the requirements for being president as natural born.