[cody evans]

Congressman says Ft. Bliss soldier sacrificed herself to save other unit members

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=125...02&nav=AbC0FZXe

(AP) Army Pfc. Lori Piestewa fought "tooth and nail" to give others in her unit time to escape an Iraqi ambush, a
congressman said.
"What's in my craw is to make sure the truth about this woman's valor and courage is told. Her last stand was fighting
with all her might, defending her own people. She fought with courage and valor," said U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi.
A Hopi Tribe member from Tuba City, the 23-year-old is the only American servicewoman to die in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. She is thought to be the first American Indian woman to die in combat as a member of the U.S. military.
The single mother of two was a soldier with the 507th Maintenance Company from Fort Bliss, Texas, a unit of cooks,
supply clerks and mechanics.
Renzi, whose district includes Tuba City, said Pentagon officials have informed him of some details of the ongoing
military investigation surrounding the ambush of Piestewa's unit near Nasiriyah on March 23.
According to Renzi, Piestewa was driving a truck which carried her roommate and friend Jessica Lynch, the
senior-most noncommissioned officer of the convoy, a master sergeant, and other unit members.
Lynch was later rescued from an Iraqi hospital.
As the convoy was ambushed, Renzi said Piestewa and her leader fought to save the rest.
"It's her and the master sergeant having to fight and defend, in order for their comrades and brothers and sisters in
arms to get out of the vehicle," Renzi said.
"She fought back with her weapon and she was involved in one of the fiercest portions of the fight. She did not flee,
nor do I know that there is any evidence of cowardice of any of the people on the ranks."
Piestewa and eight other soldiers died as a result of the incident while other members of the 507th became some of
the war's best-known soldiers and prisoners of war.
Pentagon officials have said they are preparing a comprehensive "after-action" report about what happened. But that
report has not been completed or released.

[FIREMAN]

Tragic though the loss of these people is, I am glad to see some other others getting some of their story told. I'd guess Jessica herself would like the word to come out about her friends as well.

RIP, Lady and Gentlemen.

[cody evans]

http://www.californianonline.com/news/stor...ews/297742.html

Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Attorney remembers niece killed in Iraq

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hopis believe that when one dies they become "a cloud person." They float across the sky
and bring moisture to the earth below.
That's what happened the day they announced that the niece of Salinas attorney Robert
Ames had been killed in combat in Iraq.

The April skies over Lori Piestewa's hometown of Tuba City, Ariz., turned gray.

A snow began to fall.

"It was her way of saying, 'I'm coming home,'" Ames said.

In practice in Salinas since Oct. 15, 1955, Ames is the first Hopi to be a lawyer and the
first American Indian to graduate from Stanford University Law School.

He was also chief tribal judge for the Hopis, commuting by air once a month for 18 years.

His niece is Army Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa (pie-ESS-tay-wah), a 23-year-old Hopi and
single mother of two. Caught in an ambush March 23 in Iraq, she is believed to be the first
American Indian woman killed in combat in the nation's wars.

When her body was returned to Tuba City, the media sent the story around the world.

Ames keeps several photos of his niece, including one taken on her first trip to Salinas.
She was 5 then. Ames' daughter got married, and Piestewa, in traditional Hopi garb, took
part in the ceremony.

At Tuba City High School, Piestewa excelled in softball and volleyball and commanded
the Junior ROTC. Her mother, Priscilla or "Percy," and her father, Terry, work for the
school system.

"As a woman, Lori was barely 5 feet tall, but aggressive and determined," Ames said. "She
didn't know the word 'quit.'"

At Fort Bliss in Texas, Piestewa roomed with Jessica Lynch, and the two became friends.
They served in a maintenance unit.

Somehow, as American military might rolled into Iraq, part of that unit took a wrong turn
near Nasiriyah. An ambush and firefight followed.

Lynch was captured and then rescued by U.S. special forces, which also retrieved
Piestewa's body.

Ames went to his niece's burial, held high in the rolling desert hills.

Tuba City perches on the 4,500-foot Colorado Plateau and is named for a 19th century
Hopi leader from whom Ames and Piestewa are descended.

Five thousand people, including the governor of Arizona and the leaders of several Indian
nations, attended the public services.

Then an Army honor guard carried Piestewa's casket to edge of the Hopi burial grounds, a
sacred area. Tribal elders sprinkled ceremonial cornmeal.

The honor guard folded the flag and placed it in Percy's hands. Hopi men carried the
casket to its final resting place.

Prompted by Piestewa's death, the state renamed Squaw Peak near Phoenix "Piestewa
Peak."

Last week, Ames went to a powwow put on by the Stanford American Indian
Organization. An honor guard carried a picture of his niece.

A Memorial Day service at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C., will honor women in
the service and will pay special tribute to Piestewa.

Ames and his family, meanwhile, are left with to deal with sadness and memories.

"I was talking to a woman who lost a son in Vietnam," Ames said. "You know, you never
get over losing a young person.

"It just doesn't happen."

[cody evans]

Piestewa remembered in ceremony

http://www.shobannews.com/archives/april_1...3_national.html

[atomeye]

Good article.

[cody evans]

Piestewa family to meet with President Bush, might visit Pfc. Lynch

WASHINGTON - Parents, children and other relatives of U.S. Army Pfc. Lori Piestewa have been invited to visit President and Mrs. Bush at the White House on Memorial Day morning, the start of a day of tributes for the fallen Hopi soldier.
The family also will take part in unveiling an exhibit honoring Piestewa and five other American Indian women at the nation's Women in Military Service for America Memorial and other ceremonies there. That memorial is located at Arlington National Cemetery within view of the Capitol.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/5_21...03piestewa.html

[cody evans]

Lori Piestewa is promoted posthumously to specialist


http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/l...piestewa23.html

[cody evans]

Pfc. Lynch visited by family of Piestewa


In a bittersweet and intensely private reunion, Pfc. Jessica Lynch was visited Saturday by the mother, father and two young children of her fallen friend and comrade, Army Spc. Lori Piestewa.


But when asked whether Jessica spoke to her about her Lori, Priscilla grew somber.

"No, I won't go there," she responded.

"Private stuff. Private stuff. I won't even go there."


http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/n...wa-lynch25.html

[cody evans]

Native American Veterans Honored Today


http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1343

[cody evans]

Piestewa family give their thanks

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/o...3frilet135.html

QUOTE

Flags honoring vets will fly at powwow American Indian killed in Iraq to be honored

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/061303/n...030613015.shtml

[atomeye]

thank you for the links !!!