b'By Bob Roloff,The Arizona DuuudeI n the USA, Veterans Day falls on November 11th, theof the English language, a language that many anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, whichPima never learned to speak. He learned to ended WWI and the hostilities between the alliedread and write by the age of four, and was a nations and Germany in 1918.Veterans Day is intendedvoracious reader. to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans.After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ira was determined to serve in the United I have picked just a couple of the many stories thatStates Marine Corps and he enlisted in the have a connection with Arizona to relay to you. ThereMarine Corps Reserve on August 26, 1942.Ira Hayes Monument, are so, so many similar stories of men and women thatAfter completing recruit training at Marine have sacrificed so much for their country. You\'ve heardCorps Base San Diego, Ira volunteered forSacaton, AZthe saying, All gave some, some gave all."With all theMarine Paratrooper training. He received available information on the internet, it can get veryhis silver Jump Wings" and promotion to overwhelming but at the same time, it is great to knowPrivate First Class on November 30th with his codehit the beaches of Guadacanal with 15 code talkers. that it is all there and easily available. Most importantly, itname, Chief Falling Cloud."On February 19, 1945, theThe deployment of the Navajo Code Talkers continued is keeping history alive for everyone.5th Marine Division landed on Iwo Jima. On Februarythrough the Korean War and after, until it ended in the 23rd, Marines from the 3rd platoon of Easy CompanyVietnam War. Frank Luke was borncaptured and raised an American flag on top of Mount May 19, 1897, inSuribachi at 10:30 am. Hayes squad leader was orderedLori Ann Piestewa was a United States Army Spc. Soldier. Phoenix, Arizona. Histo take three Marines to bring supplies up MountShe was the first known Native American woman to die in father had emigratedSuribachi and raise a larger flag on the summit in thecombat in the U.S. military, and the first female soldier to from Germany inearly afternoon. The raising of the second Americanbe killed in action in the Iraq War, on April 17th 2003. She 1874 and settled here.flag on Mount Suribachi was immortalized by APwas a member of the Quartermaster Corps. In her honor, Frank excelled inphotographer Joe Rosenthal and became an icon of theState Route 51 originally Squaw Peak, is now the Piestewa sports while growingworld war. Soon afterward, the two surviving flag-raisersParkway, and nearby is Piestewa Peak, the second-highest up, and worked inHayes and Gagon became national heroes. point after Camelback Mountain. copper mines, thereby supporting himselfIra attempted to lead a normal civilian life after the war.There are always those that will answer the call when their and helping theHe rarely spoke about the flag-raising; he talked morecountry asks for help. But, there are those that don\'t wait family. Frank enlistedgenerally about his service in the Marine Corps withto be asked, they see the need and don\'t hesitate to step in the Aviationgreat pride. In 1949 Ira appeared briefly as himself inforward and say, Reporting for duty sir. Section, U.S. Signalthe film Sands of Iwo Jima starring John Wayne. All this Corps on Sept. 25,fame caused unwanted attention. Ira found it hard to holdWhen you step into the military you put your private 1917. He was 20 years old. He was commissioned a seconddown a steady job and easier to turn to alcohol. Referringlife on hold. For most, it will be a temporary enlistment, lieutenant in March 1918, after receiving pilot training into his alcoholism, he said, I was sick, I guess I was aboutfor others a lifetime career. Depending on whether it is Texas and California. He was deployed to France and wasto crack up thinking about all my good buddies. Theypeacetime or wartime, and where your duty station is may assigned to the 27th Aero Squadron.were better men than me and they\'re not coming back."determine your fate. On the morning of January 24, 1955, Ira Hayes was found From September 12th to September 29th, Frank wasdead lying in a ditch near an abandoned adobe hut nearFor those that already have a successful private life going, credited with shooting down 14 German observationSacaton, Arizona. On February 2, 1955, Ira Hayes wasand then chose to put that on hold to serve their country balloons and four airplanes. Frank achieved these 18buried at Arlington National Cemetery. is why we say thank you for your service." When the victories during just 10 sorties in eight days. A feat thatstakes are high like in WWII and the need is great, with was unsurpassed by any pilot in WWI. This was just oneThe Navajo code is the only spoken military code neverno guarantee that the U.S. would survive a two-front war, year after he had enlisted. Sadly he was hit and woundedto have been deciphered. The idea for using the Navajoits all hands on deck. by a bullet from a machine gun on a hilltop during hislanguage originated with a civil engineer named Philip successful attack on three observation balloons. HeJohnston, who had grown up on the Navajo reservationMovie stars, sports figures, actors and actresses during managed to land in a field but weakened by his woundwith his missionary father. Navajo remained anthat time all did what they could, whether through active he collapsed while running from German infantry. Frankunwritten languagemilitary service, selling war died while emptying his Colt model 1911 pistol at hisat the time. It alsobonds, or volunteer work.Later pursuers. He was just 21. His final resting place is thepossessed extremelyon, I remember, Elvis Presley, the Meuse-Argonne American cemetery and memorial. Lukecomplex syntax andKing of Rock n Roll answering Air Force Base, west of Phoenix was named after Frank, asno alphabet. In tests,his countrys call at the peak of was Lukeville, Arizona on the U.S. & Mexico border.Johnston proved thathis career, saying he wanted no the code was not onlyspecial treatment; he was just a Ira Hamilton Hayes was born on January 12, 1923, inunbreakable but thatregular soldier. He would return Sacaton, capital of the Gila River Indian Community, inNavajo soldiers couldto pick up right where he left off, Pinal County. Ira was the eldest of six children born toencode a messagewith more great music.Nancy Hamilton and Joseph Hayes. Joseph Hayes wasin just 20 seconds. a world war one veteran, who supported his family byThe cryptographicThe Vietnam War was a huge subsistence farming and its cotton harvesting. Iras mothermachinery of the dayprivate life on-hold time. Far too Nancy was a devout Presbyterian and a Sunday schoolrequired 30 minutesmany never returned and for teacher at the Assemblies of God church in Sacaton. Ira\'sto complete the samemany others, it would leave open father was a quiet man, as was Ira from childhood totask. On August 7, 1942wounds and scars that still haunt manhood. Despite this, Ira displayed an impressive grasp1st Marine Divisionthem today. 58 November 2022'