My reflection about "The Original Patriot"

I have always had an interest in WWII and I often have the pleasure of hearing many stories from veterans through my work, so when I heard about this book I was immediately interested. Chag Lowry’s book about Native American WWII veterans is an interesting book that is well worth reading. Informative, well written and a true treasure, Chag’s book revealed accounts by a population often forgotten and rarely acknowledged. The stories told in this book were fascinating and truly inspiring. The men and women in this book fought bravely for a country who destroyed their way of life, massacred their ancestors, and repeatedly exploited they’re people. The stories are a true example of resilience and perseverance. The attitudes depicted in this book are inspiring and difficult to truly comprehend. When I think about everything the Native American’s went through, I am amazed that some of these men and women chose the path they did. To answer this question Jimmy James stated it best, “We are people who live in a nation. We have our nation inside another nation. We live with our laws and abide by their laws” (Lowry, 2007). After reading this book I researched Native American Vietnam veterans and found evidence of higher rates of PTSD. I assumed I would find historical trauma to be a factor in the higher rates of PTSD however I did not find a lot of supporting information. It is estimated that over 42,000 Native American servicemen were stationed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. This means that per capita, nearly three times as many Native Americans served as non-Natives. What long-term impact would this leave on an already wounded people? According to statistics reported by the National Center for PTSD, Native American Veterans are significantly more likely to suffer the effects of combat-related trauma than are most other veterans. There may be many reasons for this finding. The first reason for this variance may be the way that Native American cultures view war. Traditionally, the warrior in these cultures has been honored; seen as a person who has sacrificed his physical and spiritual well-being for the better of the community. Warriors were often honored upon their return from combat through the use of herbal remedies and traditional healing ceremonies that were used to cleanse and heal the spirit of the warrior prior to re-entering the community. During the Vietnam War, high levels of political and racial tensions in our local area prevented this from happening. Warriors were often returned home one at a time and were faced with hiding their veteran status for fear of attack or retaliation by those who were not in support of the war. Alcohol is a second factor that has made it difficult for most veterans to recover from their combat-related traumas. Alcohol plays a strong role in the culture of military life. Often equating with status, bravery or manhood, in the context of the war, many soldiers began using alcohol as a form of numbing and self- medication. According to the, Report of the Working Group on American Indian Veterans, Native American Veterans faced high levels of racism within their own units and they were often believed to have keen senses and an innate warrior spirit (Shore H. Jay, 2004). This misconception let to a disproportionate number of Native American veterans being placed in highly dangerous positions in the infantry. On returning home, veterans, who had been forced to use alcohol as a tool for survival and protection from their peers, re-entered tribal communities who were already struggling with their own alcohol-related issues. This made for a dangerous, and sometimes deadly, combination, resulting in an alarmingly high level of abuse, violence and suicide. In the video, “Wounded Spirits, Ailing Hearts, PTSD and the legacy of war among American Indian & Alaska Native American Veterans,” by the National Center for PTSD website, they point out difference in treating Native American Veterans with PTSD (National Center For PTSD). This video is very helpful when working in Native Populations as a non-native. Along with western medicine treatments they state that traditional medicine is the best and most effective treatment. In April of 1998, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs reached a memorandum of understanding with the Navajo tribe. The report they had received in 1992, clearly demonstrated that some of the reasons that Native American Veterans gave for not utilizing VA services were as follows:

• High levels of distrust

• Too much red tape

• They wanted to solve their own problems

• Their issues weren’t serious enough to seek treatment

• Didn’t believe the dominant medical model of treatment would work

• Didn’t know services were available to them
• Didn’t know if they were eligible for VA services

• Geographic/ transportation barriers which limited access to services

In response to these findings, the VA forged an agreement with the Navajo tribe to reimburse them for a portion of the costs associated with the use of traditional healing for their Veteran’s. This is monumental, in that the recognition was made on a formal level that there are many ways in which healing can begin to happen for our warriors. I have always enjoyed hearing stories from the past. Being invited to listen to people tell their stories from the past is a honor and a gift. The stories told in ‘Original Patriots’ are powerful accounts from people who were proud to fight for their country, for their land and their dead. For those of us who are not Native the true magnitude of their sacrifice can never fully be understood.

To purchase Chag Lowry's book please visit his website:  http://www.originalpatriots.com/

Bobo, K., Kendall, J., & Max, S. (1991). Organizing for Social Change: Midwest Academy Manual for Activists. Santa Ana, CA: Seven Locks Press.

Wounded spirits, Ailing hearts: PTSD and the legacy of war among American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. American Indian Vietnam Veterans Project. Retrieved November 13, 2005 from   http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/wsah_bopklet/ws_video.html

Lowry, C. (2007). The Original Patriots. Eureka: Chag Lowry.

National Center For PTSD. (n.d.). Retrieved 2 28, 2009, from Is PTSD different for Native Veterans?: http://www.ncptsd.va

Shore H. Jay, M. M. (2004). The american Indian Vteran and Posttramaunatic Stress Disorder: A Telehealth Assessment and Formulation. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry , 231-243.