Wake of an Indian Warrior

[Neecy]

"American Indians have the highest per-capita participation in the armed services of any ethnic group." - RockyMountainNews.com

A chilling slideshow in the Rocky Mountain News of the wake of a 22 year old Native American who was killed January 7th in Fallujah.





But Bush is 'sleeping really well'. This madman needs to be stopped and this killing ended!!!

http://multimedia.rockymountainnews.com/slideshow/slideshow.cfm?type=DEFAULT&ID=012006lundstrom&NUM=1

[aaronbees]

1. The photo of his cousin kissing his head while he lays in the casket...

:-(

Thank you for posting this .... it should be required viewing. So touching, and the very best of what photojournalism can do at times like this.

[xxqqqzme]

2. Thanks for posting this.

The slideshow is amazing.



Damn king george forever.

[Change has come]

3. That second picture breaks my heart

:cry:

[SweetGrass]

4. He was young - so he probably...

...enlisted after 9/11. Anyone who did knew there was a probability they would go to war.

In fact, the Navajo Code Talkers issued a proclamation after that date, indicating they were ready to go if the Commander in Chief needed them. These were men in their eighties.

Native American men are traditionally brave.

I, for one, appreciate this young man's service to our country, and I am grateful for his willingness to put himself in harm's way to protect and preserve my freedom. My deep condolences to his family.

[frogcycle]

5. thanks

these pictures are unbelievable

minor clarification - he was killed Jan 7 2006

makes it seem even worse somehow - a year later and a new set of deaths this jan 7 - and on and on

[Neecy]

10. oops

A friend of mine sent me the link to this last night, and I assumed it was January of this year. Thanks for the catch.

[frogcycle]

21. I only caught it

because I've been posting every one since Oct on my own small tribute website, reading and linking to obituaries. I was distressed at first that I must not have read the bio; then realized I didn't recognize the name.

There have been several Native American casualties. Back in October Nathan Goodiron's funeral got a little bit of national coverage when the tribal government passed a law banning the nutcase protestors. State Police were then more than happy to oblige to keep the scumbags at bay. On Dec 31 Pfc Alan Blohm was last casualty of 2006. His mother was a member of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe in Alaska. He was born and raised in Michigan, but from the time he was 14 spent summers in Alaska salmon fishing in the ancestral land. He was clearly proud of his heritage.

http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/010407/news_0104new004.shtml

Here is the link to my site if you're interested. There are links at the bottom to several of the bigger, more extensive sites. I mostly just link to them, try to find newspaper articles and photos if they don't have them.

http://www.dbc3.com/Fallen

I may select a photo from this set to add to my site. They are truly moving. Thanks again for posting.

[Tsi-noo]

6. Wake of an indian warrior

Death is just another part of the journey, and after some time he will be with those of his line who have passed before him... He apparently saw his duty to his people, his clan, and his homeleand, and made the ultimate sacrifice for his people's continued survival.

Regardless of whether you agree with the war, or not, doens't really matter. This warrior saw his duty, and he done it.

http://mfile.akamai.com/3178/wm2/muze.download.akamai.com/2890/us/uswm2/996/111996_1_01.asx?obj=v40427

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Tsi-noo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[northofdenali]

7. There are few rites more moving than a journey forward

for a Native American. It's not dying, it's moving toward the light.

God go with you, Cpl. Lindstrom, you will not be forgotten.

FUCK YOU GEORGE W. BUSH, I HOPE YOU ROT IN HELL ALONG WITH YOUR ASSHOLE ADMINISTRATION.

[aaronbees]

8. The stories are equally poignant...

This is the story of Cpl. Brett Lundstrom:

Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a lasting tribute - a name - to first tribal fatality in Iraq
By Jim Sheeler, Rocky Mountain News
January 21, 2006

KYLE, S.D. - Two miles from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation the car radio crackled, then locked onto the signal.

"I understand they are currently escorting Brett's body back," the disc jockey said. "There are several police cars, followed by the hearse and vans filled with Marines. We'll let you know when they are on the reservation."

Inside their rental car, two Marines from Colorado stared out at the road, winding through the rolling brown grass of the desolate Badlands. A few cars ahead, through the back window of the hearse, they could see the flag-draped casket of the first Oglala Sioux fatality of the war in Iraq.

A few minutes later, the disc jockey broke in again.

(Source and rest of story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4405009,00.html)



And this is the story of his brother, who chose to go back to Iraq:

Lakota Sioux mourn a son, pray for Eddy - a 'Fiery Star'
Nearly a year after brother dies in Iraq, only sibling chooses to go back to war
By Jim Sheeler, Rocky Mountain News
November 11, 2006

PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION, S.D. - The sweat lodge started just after midnight, with a nightmare that had already come true.

On a freezing, overcast night in the Badlands, a sun-bleached buffalo skull lay near the door of the small domed shelter supported by willow branches, covered by a heavy tarp. The Lakota Sioux man closed the flap on the door, leaving them all in deep darkness, except for the pulsing glow of the orange rocks sprinkled with sage.

Clad only in a pair of shorts, Marlin Under Baggage poured water on the rocks, filling the lodge with a pungent, steamy heat that all of them could taste.

"Before Brett left for Iraq, he told me he had a dream that he was going to be shot," Under Baggage said. "He was scared. He didn't think he was coming back.

(Source and rest of story: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5135682,00.html)

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. K&R... w/ touching grapics...

[Virginia Dare]

11. I found this very sad picture,..

and there was a very good thread on it..


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2773366

[itsmesgd]

12. I thank this brave warrior for his sacrifice.

Mitakuye Oyasin,
I do however question the reasons behind the large numbers of American Indians who have joined the military. Is this another example of those who come from backgrounds where they feel that they have little escape from poverty other than to join the military? I do not question this brave's actions. I support him and the thousands of others 100%. I do, once again, challenge and rage against this evil regime that continues to send our nation's troops into a war for profit.

D

[puerco-bellies]

14. No it's a warrior culture.

I, my cousins, uncles, grandfathers, etc have served in the military all the way back till the U.S. Calvary fought my Great-Great grandparents across New Mexico and Arizona.

[SweetGrass]

20. Exactly right.

Thank you for your service.

[LostinVA]

15. Oglala Lakota -- I know some

Jesus.

[undergroundpanther]

16. Sad

I hope this warrior finds his way back home.And his family and tribe know peace and get the respect they deserved and still deserve a billion times over..

[itsmesgd]

17. regardless of the motives of those behind the war, this warrior entered with a brave heart..

And he will be honored and rewarded for his effort and strength.
Many thanks and prayers to his family for their sacrifice. I will remember them and him in my smoke this weekend.

[LostinVA]

19. Yup

[warrior1]

18. I can't stop crying