Cherokee Nation Honors Veterans Tahlequah -The Cherokee Nation honored three veterans with the Cherokee medal of patriotism at its june tribal council meeting, media release states. Indian artist Donald Vann and Jake Andrew Stopp, 30, Both of Tahlequah,and Steven Morales, 28 of Dermott Arkansas, received a medal and plaque from principal chief Bill John Baker and Deputy chief Joe Crittenden on June 10, acknowledging their country. “ A lot of veterans feel like citizens forget about us,because they dont understand the things that we been through,” said Morales , who served in Iraq. “ So it means everything that my tribe was able to Honor us and make me feel like there are still people out there that appreciate us. It makes it all worth it.” Vann was born and raised near stilwell . Vann volunteered in June 1968 for service in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam Army and was assigned to the first Calvary Aviation Division. He served as a door gunner dropping off and evacuating soldiers in helicoptors. In November of 1969 his helicoptor crashed landed in the field .only Vann and his crew chief servived. He was awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense,good conduct,Vietnam Campaign and the Republic Of Vietnam Campaign Medals. 1.Stopp was born in Stilwater and raised in Tahlequah. In November 2004 he married Nicole Barnard and joined the U.S. Army. He deployed to the Babil Province Iraq in October 2005. He wad awarded the combat infantry badge and a Army Accommodation Medal, and was promoted to the rank of specialist. In August 2008,Stopp was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He served his second and final tour to Iraq from October 2009-10 . Stopp and his wife have two children,Dylan and Haley . Stopp plans to pursue higher education at Northeastern State University. Morales was born in Lake Village , Arkansas , and grew up in Hubbard Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school and attended basic training at Fort Sil and airborne school in Fort Benning.He deployed to Haiti for eight months and Somalia for six months. He deployed to Afghanistan for thirteen months and later to Iraq for eighteen months while in Iraq,He sustained injuries when one of his soldiers stepped on a pressure plate IED. Because of his injuries and jumping over forty times from aircraft,he retired from the Army after eight years with the rank of staff sergeant. His awards include the Purple Heart, achievement, Army good conduct, National Service Defense and several other medals. Morales lives in Dermott with his wife and fellow Veteran,Joyce, and there children, Kristos, 10, and Eleina,3. Each month Cherokee Nation recognizes Cherokee Service Men and Women for their sacrifices and as a way to demonstrate the high regard in which all Veterans are held by the tribe Native Americans, Including Cherokees,are thought to have more citizens serving per capita than any other ethnic group, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.to nominate a Veteran who is a Cherokee Nation Citizen,call (918)453-5541 0r (800)256-0671,Ext. 5541.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 03:56:13 +0000
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