John Thune: Paying tribute to our tribal veterans in South Dakota
The following is the opinion of Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota).
South Dakota is blessed to have a rich history of Native American
culture and tradition. The tribes in our state have influenced our
culture and way of life throughout our entire history, and shaped who
we are as a people. In 1990, the federal government declared November
a month to honor our country's Native American heritage. Since then,
nearly every president has made a similar declaration each November,
providing a time for our nation to show gratitude for the remarkable
contributions that Native Americans have made to this great nation.
Coincidentally, Veterans Day falls each year in the middle of Native
American Heritage Month. This occurrence highlights one of the most
exceptional characteristics of our native citizens: Their dedication
to the safety and security of the American people and their
willingness to fight to protect freedom.
Earlier this year, I sponsored the bipartisan Indian Veterans Housing
Opportunity Act of 2010 with Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. Native
American veterans have often been disqualified in the past from
receiving federal housing assistance because of an inaccurate counting
method which often pushes veterans above the income threshold for
housing aid. Our legislation changed the practice of counting
veterans' disability compensation as income, allowing them access to
housing assistance. After passing both the House and the Senate, our
legislation was signed into law by the president last month.
Our state has a legacy of Native men and women serving above and
beyond the call of duty in the military. Master Sergeant Woodrow
Keeble was one such soldier. Master Sergeant Keeble was severely
wounded while voluntarily leading troops through three successful
assaults in the Korean War. While he was decorated with the
Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star, Master Sergeant
Keeble never received the Medal of Honor for which he was recommended
to receive. After working with the White House and others for several
years, I was elated when in 2008, President Bush posthumously awarded
the Medal of Honor to Master Sergeant Keeble.
Just this past June, South Dakota lost another one of our finest
veterans, Clarence Wolf Guts, the last surviving Oglala Lakota code
talker. Wolf Guts, a Lakota code talker during World War II, has been
hailed as a pivotal force in transmitting strategic military messages
in his native language that our enemies could not decode. With his
passing this year, we are especially mindful of the sacrifice Native
Americans have made in previous military engagements, and current, on
our behalf.
As we celebrate the Native American heritage this month, we are
especially thankful to our Native veterans like Woodrow Keeble and
Clarence Wolf Guts, who have so bravely served our state and county.
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