Code Talker waiting on medal, dismayed
Jim Snyder
The (Farmington) Daily Times
BLOOMFIELD, N.M. (AP) — He's in the winter of his life. Time
is the only thing that marches now for Navajo Code Talker David
W. Tsosie, 78, of Bloomfield.
The Navajo Nation and the Marine Corps bypassed the Purple Heart-awarded
World War II veteran for a Congressional Silver Medal for Navajo
Code Talkers. More than 200 Code Talkers received the medal in
front of 3,000 people during a Nov. 24 ceremony
in Window Rock, Ariz. Tsosie's invitation was taken back just
days before the
ceremony, because his Code Talker service was unconfirmed, according
to the Navajo Nation.
Recently, Tsosie said he didn't care anymore, looking down while
he sat in his wheelchair at the Bloomfield Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center.
Dawn Callen, an administrator at the center, told a different
story. She said Tsosie's eyes lit up when he was informed in a
Navajo Nation letter dated Oct. 26 that he was going to Window
Rock to receive the medal. Then the invitation was taken back
in a phone call by the Navajo Nation Nov. 19, an act Callen called
abuse, considering Tsosie's service to his country and his age.
She now wants Tsosie's medal awarded to him in person by at least
one Congressman and one Navajo Nation official.
Loraine Bigman with the Navajo Veterans Office in Shiprock, said
that the Navajo Nation was not responsible for Tsosie and the
others not getting their medals.
"It's up to the Marine Corps," she said last week.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who authored the legislation
giving the medals, wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld on Dec. 19. He described how he had asked the Marine
Corps to investigate and verify the service records of Code Talkers.
"But, this is a daunting task even for the Marine Corps,
as World War II records have proven to be incomplete or even non-existent,"
Bingaman wrote.
"Adding to the problem, and due to the very nature of this
sensitive operation, I understand some of these veterans may have
been given military occupational specialty designations other
than that of a Code Talker," added Bingaman. He wrote that
Tsosie and four others may fall into this category and that an
investigation beyond a simple records check may be justified.
"A Code Talker's designation, duties or assignment may possibly
be confirmed, for example, through interviews with other verified
members of this venerable group," Bingaman wrote.
Bingaman's letter also asks the Marines to investigate the service
records of Johnnie Alfred, Howard Nez, Thomas Singer and Enock
Smith.
Tsosie has received cards and letters of support from as far away
as Canada, Washington, Tennessee and Alabama.
"I didn't even know they were thinking about me," he
said. He keeps the cards in his room.
Two fellow Code Talkers, Samuel Sandoval of Shiprock, and Wilfred
Billey of Farmington, heard about Tsosie's plight and said it
was wrong that Tsosie has not received his medal.
They should know, since the three young men went to Farmington
Mission High School together, volunteered for the Marine Corps
together in 1943 when they heard Navajos were needed, went to
boot camp together in San Diego and then went to Code Talker School
in Camp Elliot and then Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Billey also produced a class picture of 60 Navajo Marines in their
Code Talker class, taken before they were all shipped to the South
Pacific. Billey, Sandoval and Tsosie are in the picture. Tsosie's
sister, Fannie Yazzie of Shiprock, also knows.
Yazzie has Tsosie's Marine Corps separation document, given to
him when he was honorably discharged in 1945. His military job
is listed as "Radio Operator."
All Navajo radio operators were Code Talkers, Billey said.
"If he was a radioman, he was a Code Talker, even if it doesn't
say Navajo. They were called radio men. The name Code Talker didn't
come about until 1971, when the Code Talkers Association was formed
in Window Rock," Billey added.
Tsosie doesn't say much these days. During his first interview,
he never brought up the fact that he was hit by a Japanese mortar
shell on Mt. Tappichau during the battle for Saipan. In another
interview, he said he had no warning of the explosion.
"Can't hear nothing. They don't make a sound, they just strike,"
he said. "They gave me a shot and took me to the beach where
they worked on me. Boy, was I sick then."
The Marines nicknamed Saipan "Death Valley," because
of the high number of wounded and killed.
Tsosie had shrapnel in his leg and hip. When he woke up, he was
on a ship going home. He later received a Purple Heart in the
hospital.
Billey couldn't understand why Tsosie was left out.
Former Navajo Chairman Peter MacDonald, who spent the 1990s in
a federal penitentiary before having his sentence commuted by
President Clinton last January, walked onto the stage and received
his silver medal Nov. 24.
Billey said that MacDonald should never have received a silver
medal because he disgraced the Navajo tribe.
"I've known Peter MacDonald all my life. He's a good friend
of mine. But all he did was go to China to bring back some prisoners
after the peace. He did not see any action and they give him a
medal," he said. "Here's Tsosie, a guy wounded at Saipan
and he doesn't get the medal. That's what burns me."
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Suspect's shoes held explosives
BOSTON (AP) — Airport security is being turned up yet another
notch after a man with a one-way ticket walked onto an
American Airlines jetliner with explosives in his shoes and tried
to ignite them during the flight.
Preliminary FBI tests discovered the explosives in the man's sneakers,
officials said Sunday. He was charged with the federal crime of assaulting
a flight crew, and the FBI said more charges were likely.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday ordered U.S. airlines
and airports to be more vigilant in detecting passengers boarding
planes with explosives in their shoes.
The FAA order follows a similar one issued Dec. 11 warning that hijackers
might try to smuggle weapons in their footwear, and it posses a challenge
for U.S. airports.
In the United States, the current generation of walk-through machines
that screen passengers for weapons can't detect plastic explosives,
and most airline passengers and their carry-on bags aren't checked
for explosives by other means, such as bomb-sniffing dogs.
A potential tragedy was averted on Saturday's flight when two flight
attendants and at least a half-dozen passengers aboard the Boeing
767 jetliner grabbed the man and used belts to strap him into his
seat while two doctors used drugs from the airplane's medical kit
to sedate him.
The hulking suspect's identity remains unclear. He was listed in court
papers Sunday as Richard C. Reid, 28, the name on his British passport,
and officials at Scotland Yard said they believed the suspect was
a British national. But French authorities identified him as a Sri
Lankan named Tariq Raja.
Reid was charged in a federal criminal complaint with intimidation
or assault of a flight crew causing interference with their duties.
He faces a maximum 20 years in prison if convicted.
An initial court appearance was set Monday morning, the FBI said.
Reid was being held under constant watch Sunday in a jail in Plymouth,
according to Mike Seele, spokesman for the Plymouth County Sheriff's
Department.
Officials at the British consulate in Boston have arranged to meet
with Reid before Monday's hearing, a consulate spokeswoman said. Authorities
have been unable to connect him with any terrorist organization.
Passengers said they had noticed the tall, ponytailed man standing
alone and stone-faced before boarding.
"He had a blank look," said Nicholas Green, 27. "The
people who had seen him remembered him."
During the flight, the suspect, who was sitting behind the wing in
the coach section, lit a match, but put it in his mouth when confronted
by flight attendant Hermis Moutardier, according to an FBI affidavit.
She told the captain and returned to see Reid with a match held to
the tongue of his sneaker, then noticed a wire protruding from the
shoe. She tried to grab the sneaker, but Reid allegedly pushed her
to the floor, and she screamed for help.
Another flight attendant, Cristina Jones, intervened and the 6-foot-4
Reid bit her, authorities said.
"He bit Ms. Jones on the thumb and Ms. Moutardier threw water
in his face," FBI agent Margaret G. Cronin said in the statement.
That's when passengers reached Reid and subdued him. The plane, carrying
183 passengers and 14 crew members, was escorted to Logan Airport
by two F-15 fighter jets.
French police are probing how Reid eluded increased security measures
at Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris, where Flight 63 originated.
French authorities said Reid had tried to board the same flight a
day earlier but was turned away after raising suspicions. They said
the suspect — who also has gone by a third name, Abdel Rahim
— was given permission to board after intensive questioning,
but by then had missed Friday's flight. He had only one small bag
with him and said he was traveling to Antigua to visit relatives,
police said.
While U.S. airlines have a congressionally mandated deadline of Jan.
18 for having a system in place to inspect all checked baggage for
explosives, walk-through devices that could detect them on passengers
are still in the development stage.
"It's a hole that needs to be looked at," said Capt. John
Cox, executive air safety chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association.
Airline experts say the only way to prevent a passenger from bringing
an explosive on board is singling out potential terrorists through
computerized profiles and then calling in bomb-sniffing dogs or conducting
body and clothing searches.
"Profiling is the key," said David Stempler, president of
the Air Travelers Association, an advocacy group. "Security is
composed of two parts. The first is who are you and the second is
what are you carrying."
Associated Press reporters John Solomon in Washington and Pamela Sampson
in Paris contributed to this report.
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Navajo ethics panel reschedules the
Lukachukai, Whippoorwill hearings
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The tribal Ethics-Rules Committee Friday rescheduled
hearings for two former Chinle Agency chapter officials from late
January to early February.
When the committee originally slated a one-day hearing for Teresa
Thompson of Lukachukai Chapter and a two-day hearing for Ella Mae
Lee of the Whippoorwill Chapter, the panel believed the Navajo Nation
Council's winter session would be held Jan. 21-25 despite that Monday
being the King holiday.
But delegates actually will be in session Jan. 28-Feb. 1.
The committee also scheduled the weeks of Jan. 7 and 14 to visit the
other 11 standing oversight committees to lobby for changes in the
council's rules of order that then could be presented at the winter
session.
Thus the panel decided on Feb. 7 for Thompson and a one-day hearing
on Feb. 8 for Lee, both to begin at 9 a.m. in the Office of Ethics
and Rules conference room on Morgan Avenue in Window Rock.
The committee also moved its regular Jan. 4 meeting to Jan. 8 since
the council will be in a special two-day study session Jan.
3 and 4 in Gallup, probably at the Holiday Inn, about the proposed
$277 million Public Law 93-638 contract for a non-profit corporation
to take over the Navajo Area Indian Health Service medical operations.
Committee members received drafts of the proposed changes to the 25
council floor rules, with the first proposed change to be for the
speaker to "make reasonable efforts" to get the council
to begin on time, at 10 a.m.
Delegates are notorious for keeping Speaker Ed T. Begay with less
than a quorum for up to an hour and a half. The current 19th Council
has never started on time since taking office in January 1999. The
proposed change includes the speaker using the sergeant-at-arms to
round up errant delegates.
Another change would require all resolutions to be in delegates hands
at least 15 days before a regular session begins.
Exceptions would be emergencies as "defined by law" and
special sessions.
Currently delegates swell the agenda that the Ethics-Rules Committee
approves, usually two weeks in advance, even with the requirement
for 59 of the 88 members to vote in favor of adding a resolution or
report after the initial agenda is approved on the floor.
A third proposed change would require the council to skip a resolution
if the sponsor or a designated substitute is not present when the
council wants to take up the matter. It would then automatically be
placed on the next special or regular session's agenda.
Some of the other proposed changes aim at cutting down on long debates
through the use of procedural motions and limiting rearrangement of
the agenda to one resolution at a time.
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Area sports
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
FT. DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Roberta Haskie's quickness caught everyone
offguard Saturday night.
After an inauspicious start, including several traveling violations
called on her for moving her pivot foot too quickly, Haskie exploded
for 26 points to lead the Window Rock Lady Scouts to a 62-53 victory
over the Monument Valley Lady Mustangs in a 3A North contest at the
Ft. Defiance Fieldhouse.
"She's dangerous even when she does that,"Window Rock girls
basketball coach Cindy Parravano said referring to Haskie's turnovers."She
just needs to settle down."
"We just couldn't handle Haskie,"admitted Monument Valley
coach Robert Nash."She's got a quick step."
Haskie utilized her quickness to pick apart Monument Valley's defense
time after time, particularly in the second half. She proved to be
too quick for the Mustangs' taller post players, often driving around
them and drawing fouls. Haskie made 14-of-20 free throws. She just
missed her season average of 27 points per game despite going scoreless
in the first quarter. Haskie also utilized her speed to get into position
on defense to grab eight steals and outleapt the Mustangs to come
up with 14 rebounds.
The Mustangs capitalized on Haskie's 0-for-5 shooting and 12 Scout
turnovers - including a walk by Haskie which nullfied the Scouts'
only field goal - to take a 9-1 lead in the first period. The only
Scouts' point came on a free throw by Krystal Kontz at the 3:22
mark.
Crystal Yazzie hit the game's first basket, a three-pointer 2 1/2
minutes into the game and later added a basket off a fastbreak to
put the Mustangs up 7-1.
Sukki Littleben came up with a steal and took it in for a layup with
13 seconds left and the Scouts ended the period with a turnover as
they fell behind 9-1.
"I have no idea. I've never seen them do that,"said Parravano,
at a loss to explain her Lady Scouts first-quarter breakdown."They
weren't doing anything we couldn't handle."
Also scoring for the Mustangs in the period was Irene Bahe, putting
back an offensive rebound.
The Lady Scouts went on a pair of 5-0 spurts to get themselves back
into the ballgame in the second quarter. Jodelle Bitloy scooped in
a layup then Rochelle Hubbard sank a trey to bring Window Rock back
within two, 9-7.
After scores by Yvonne Lake and Tempress Freeman, Bitloy hit a pair
of free throws, Haskie went 1-for-2 from the free throw line, and
then came up with a steal and assisted Hubbell to make it a one-point
contest, 13-12.
A pair of putbacks off the offensive glass by Kontz put Window Rock
ahead for the first time in the game, 18-17, with less than a minute
in the half.
Freeman countered with another basket and Haskie closed out the half
with a basket and a steal for a 20-19 Scout lead.
Led by Lake's three-point shooting, Monument Valley managed to stay
close in the third quarter, trailing only 40-37 going into the final
period.
A 9-2 run by the Lady Scouts helped break the game open and a three-point
play by Haskie gave Window Rock its biggest lead of the game, 56-43
with 2:47 remaining.
For the game, Window Rock made 26-of-34 free throws. Monument Valley
was 6-of-11.
"If you put some team on the line that many times and they make
them, they're going to beat you,"Nash said.
The Scouts (14-3 overall, 2-1 in conference) shot only 33 percent
(17-of-52) in the game. Monument Valley (7-7, 2-2) made 21-of-45 field
goal attempts.
Also in double figures for the Scouts was Bitloy with 13 points.
Monument Valley had three double-figure scorers with Lake (15), Freeman
(14) and Bahe (10).
Both teams will be off until after the holiday break.
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'This Is Christmas,' New Mexico style
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — A woman who remembered Ann Edenfield from
happier times now was actually refusing her application for food stamps.
"It was unbelievable," Edenfield said.
It had gone like that: husband arrested, family assets seized, sudden
poverty — then, health insurance, car insurance canceled. And
the children had to wait hours in line to visit an imprisoned father.
But six special Christmases have been celebrated as a result, with
two trips to post-Soviet Russia helping light the way...
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Forty teens graduate from youth program
ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Forty cadets from the New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe
Academy stepped out of maroon graduation gowns and into the real world
Sunday.
"I'm nervous, but happy," said Pete Silva, 16, of Socorro.
Silva was among the teen-agers in the first graduating class from
the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program. Graduation was held at
Eastern New Mexico University's Roswell campus.
The 22-week program, managed by the National Guard, targets high school
dropouts who are between the ages of 16 and 18.
The teens volunteer for the program and are matched with mentors and
given the opportunity to earn a general equivalency degree and vocational
skills...
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Arizona not expecting influx of Olympic visitors
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona tourism officials don't expect an influx
of visitors from Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Olympics.
Some tourism bureaus in Arizona say they don't have the marketing
dollars to try to lure some of Utah's international visitors to
sunny Arizona.
The Navajo Nation, however, is investing $1.75 million in a cultural
exhibit at the Olympic pavilion aimed at stirring interest in the
tribe, its people and heritage.
Tribal leaders hope it will pay off with increased tourism and economic
investment on the sprawling Navajo reservation...
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City wants back flights to Phoenix
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — City officials are trying to bring back the good ol'
days when business travel by plane was relatively inexpensive and
convenient.
The airport's new director, Steve Alta, said he is trying to convince
someoneeither Mesa Airlines which currently provides air service
to Gallup or some other small commuter companyto re-establish air
flights between Gallup and Phoenix.
Gallup had daily flights to Phoenix up until the mid-90s when Mesa
Airlines started providing airflights here. Before that, Frontier
offered flights to Phoenix and Albuquerque daily.
"The Phoenix flights were very popular with Gallup businessmen,"
said city manager David Ruiz, "because the ones to Phoenix
were very early in the morning and the flights back were in the
late afternoon so businessmen could get their business conducted
and be back in the same day..."
| Top |
Ideas considered in discouraging youths drinking
in Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Two southern Arizona cities stopped using
one approach aimed at dissuading people under 21 years old from drinking
in Mexico.
For years, Douglas and Nogales police would wait on the American side
of the downtown port of entry for Americans returning from bars in
Mexico, where the drinking age is 18.
Anyone under 21 years old who admitted drinking would be ticketed
for possessing alcohol — in their bodies.
But the courts didn't uphold the tickets when they were challenged,
said Nogales City Attorney Joe L. Machado. ..
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Gallup silversmith wins prize in latest lottery
game
Staff Report
GALLUP — A broken-down car with 300,000 miles didn't keep a silversmith
here from showing up to win a pick-up truck prize worth nearly $43,000.
Neil Paquin beat out nine other finalists from across the state to
win a new 2002 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4, the grand prize in the New Mexico
Lottery's "Trucks & Bucks 4" game.
Paquin claimed his red pick-up in Albuquerque on Friday after appearing
with nine other finalists selected from almost 37,500 non-winning
players. While the other finalists drove to the drawing, Paquin couldn't
and traveled some 140 from Gallup to Albuquerque by bus. Once he learned
that he was a finalist at Lottery headquarters, he walked and ran
several miles to Winrock Shopping Center where the truck drawing was
held. ..
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Deaths
Stanley Smith Jr.
GRANTS — Services for Stanley Smith, 82, were held this morning,
Monday, December 24,
at Grants Memorial Chapel.
Stanley died December 22 in Grants. He was born June 9, 1919 in
Clayton, NM. Stanley graduated from Farmington High
School in 1936. He served in Guam and Iwo Jima with the Third Marine
Division during World War II. He owned and
operated the Burntwater Trading Post in Arizona from 1948 until
his retirement in 1968.
Survivors include his wife, Jean of Bluewater; sons, Allan of Joseph
City, Bill of Springdale, Ark., John Clark of Gallup, and
Bryan of Seattle; daughters, Marian Parker of Camp Verde, Ariz.,
Melody Hamilton of Delta, Colo., Evangeline Yazzie of
Burntwater, Ariz., Tanya Williams of Phoenix and Valerie Smith of
Houston; sisters, Katherine Garrett of Delta, Colo., and
Retha Rice of Sacramento; 37 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren
and six great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Smith, Sr. and
Pauline Smith of Palisade, Colo.; brother, Billy Smith of
Farmington; and son, Ralph Marlin Smith.
Pallbearers were Craig Chapman, Bill Smith, Tad Clark, Ivan Williams,
Stanley Williams and Arlie Anderson.
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