Native History Month

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From an entire population of less than 350,000 Native Americans, a staggering 44,000 Native Americans served in World War II. Today, there are 140,000 living Native American Veterans. It is only fitting during Native American History Month this November, that G.I. Junk Removal highlights the extraordinary heroics of some notable Native American Veterans whose enduring and distinguished services in war show truly inspiring heart and spirit.

Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble

Known as Woody, Master Sgt. Keeble was a full-blooded Sioux who served as U.S. Army National Guard in World War II and the Korean War. He has been awarded with the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later upgraded to a posthumous Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. 
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As a kid, Keeble excelled in baseball, winning 10 straight victories for the Wahpeton amateur team which he was part of. He would have been part of the Chicago White Sox baseball team which was recruiting him had his U.S. Army National Guard unit not been called to serve in World War II in 1941. 
 
His baseball skills, however, served him well in the war. He was known to accurately hurl hand grenades with his pitching arm. With the same accuracy, he mastered the Browning Automatic Rifle. He was gaining such a popularity for his courage and skill that one soldier who fought alongside him claimed that "The safest place to be was right next to Woody.” As part of the North Dakota 164th Infantry Regiment in World War II, Keeble participated in ultimately leading to the defeat of the Japanese. As part of the 24th Infantry Division in the Korean War, Keeble showed extraordinary heroism and leadership by single-handedly attacking three machine gun nests despite his badly injured condition and the heavy enemy fire coming down on him.
 
In explaining his experience in combat, Keeble wrote, “There were terrible moments that encompassed a lifetime, an endlessness, when terror was so strong in me, that I could feel idiocy replace reason. Yet I have never left my position, nor have I shirked hazardous duty. Fear did not make a coward out of me.”

Colonel Louis Gonzaga Mendez Jr. ​

Louis Gonzaga Mendez, a Mexican American, Spanish and Navajo Indian, was a highly decorated United States Army officer of the 82nd Airborne Division.
 
This citation in his Distinguished Service Cross award reads: “For extraordinary heroism in combat during the period 6 June 1944 to 7 July 1944, while commanding a battalion of a parachute infantry regiment. One instance of particular note was on 20 June 1944, near Pretot, France, when Lieutenant Colonel Mendez personally led an assault on the town of Pretot through a withering concentration of observed mortar, timed artillery and machine gun cross-fire. In their first attempt to win their objective, the two assault companies were pinned to the ground by a devastating artillery barrage and suffered heavy casualties. Appreciating the danger of delay, Lieutenant Colonel Mendez crawled to a position in front of his men, leaped to his feet and led the charge which drove the enemy out of the town. 

By his calm disregard for personal danger and his ability to act quickly and aggressively under fire, he turned imminent catastrophe into a victory.​​ Lieutenant Colonel Mendez's courage, calmness, judgment and devotion to duty were directly responsible for the achievement of his battalion's objective and were in keeping with the highest traditions of our armed forces."
 
He was also awarded three Bronze Star Medals for his dynamic and inspiring leadership and unyielding determination which got his unit through the difficulties of war.
 
In 2002, the people of the village renamed its main square "La Place du Colonel Mendez" in honor of his memory.

Ira Hayes

Ira Hayes hailed from the Pima Native American tribe which occupied an oasis in the Arizona desert. He volunteered in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and fought in the Bougainville and Iwo Jima campaigns in the Pacific War.
 
In his pre-war years, Hayes became the first Pima in history to receive his paratrooper wings, much to the thrill and pride of his friends and family back home. In war, Hayes resilience helped secure Iwo Jima which was vital to the U.S. strategy in the Pacific. He is also best known to be one of six U.S. servicemen to raise the flag on top of the mountain at Iwo Jima, supplying a much-needed inspiration to the other soldiers still engaged in war at the lower parts of the mountain.  Hayes was one of five Marines remaining from his platoon of forty-five men including their corpsmen.
 
Hayes became a popular subject in media including articles, film, and movie. Most notable, however, is Johnny Cash’s recording of “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” written by Peter La Farge.

In honor of several Native American Veterans, G.I. Junk celebrates Native History Month. We appreciate your service and recognize your contributions. 

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​We provide service within the following parts of Portland Metro Area: NE Portland, Fairview, Troutdale, SE Portland, Gresham, Happy Valley, Clackamas, Boring, Damascus, Milwaukie, Jennings Lodge, Oak Grove, Gladstone, Oregon City, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, Canby.