Geronimo's great-grandson says codename 'slap in the face'

Thursday, May 5, 2011  

A great-grandson of Apache warrior Geronimo is upset by the use of his ancestor's name in the U.S. military mission against terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Joseph Geronimo grew up hearing stories about the famed warrior, who was born in present-day New Mexico. "The only thing my grandfather did was protect his family and protect the land," he told KOAT-TV.

Geronimo's family has continued to defend the U.S., Joseph pointed out. Three generations have served in the military so the use of the codename was all the more insulting.

"That was a slap in the face of my family. There's no way you can compare Osama bin Laden to my grandfather," Joseph Geronimo told KOAT-TV.

Get the Story:
Geronimo's Family Reacts To Bin Laden Codename (KOAT-TV 5/4)
'Geronimo' and Osama bin Laden: What goes into a code name? (The Christian Science Monitor 5/4)
Bin Laden, Geronimo link angers Native Americans (Reuters 5/4)

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Fort Sill Apache Tribe to President Obama about 'Geronimo' (5/4)
Seminole Tribe letter to President Obama about 'Geronimo' (5/4)
Navajo president's statement on 'Geronimo' as codename (5/4)
SCIA to address use of 'Geronimo' as codename at hearing (5/4)
NCAI statement on use of 'Geronimo' for Osama codename (5/4)
Steven Newcomb: US still treats Indian people like terrorists (5/4)
Lise Balk King: US drops bomb with 'Geronimo' as codename (5/4)
Military use of 'Geronimo' codename was apparently recent (5/4)
Onondaga Nation leaders criticize military use of 'Geronimo' (5/4)
Fort Sill historian doesn't think 'Geronimo' use is a big deal (5/4)
Opinion: Geronimo back in the news with Osama bin Laden (5/4)
Opinion: US slanders Geronimo's name with Osama mission (5/3)
Rep. Pearce: White House crowd celebrates Osama's death (5/2)