Heroes Like All the Others:
Native Americans in the Military
Zac Beckham
Junior Division
Research Paper
1,522 words
In the United States Military, the highest percentage of any ethnic group serving is the Native Americans. Native Americans have served with distinction for over 200 years: the Revolutionary War to today’s war in Iraq. “The warrior spirit, courage, and determination that made them a formidable enemy made them a strong ally when they chose to fight alongside other Americans. There were 190,000 Native American veterans at the end of the twentieth century. Although few treaties made with the Native Americas has been kept, many Native Americans chose to serve in the American military exploring ways to break segregation …show more content…
Iwo Jima, which is located 750 miles southeast of Japan, was one of the last stepping stones in American’s march in capturing the Japanese home island. The Japanese had turned the tiny islands of eight square miles into an impenetrable fortress Twenty-one thousand Japanese dug themselves into trenches vowing to fight to the death. The Japanese had carved eleven miles of tunnels and caves in the island’s rocky and volcanic surface. The tunnels and caves were covered with thousands of destructive booby traps. A 550 foot mountain, Mount Suribachi, was honeycombed with caves and holes which were perfect for deadly snipers. American planes pounded Iwo Jima with deadly explosives for 75 days. They dropped 40,000 bombs in just three days. On February 19, 1945, 30,000 brave Marines swept ashore and one of the bloodiest battles in the war began. Many Japanese snipers hid silently underground often waiting until American soldiers were just a few feet away before they opened fire. The Americans countered with hand-held and tank –mounted flamethrowers, which poured out hot streams of burning liquid. Hand to hand combat raged on for many days. Then the soldiers’ bullets ran out, the opponents used knives and bayonets. It took the American three full days to capture a mere seven hundred yards of territory. “During the morning of February 23rd, a marine patrol fought its way to the summit of Mount Suribachi and raised the U.S. flag. One of those men who raised the flag was named Ira Hayes. Ira Hayes is a full-blooded member of the small Pima tribe in Arizona.” Many people used Hayes as a special celebrity to demonstrate wartime unity. Sadly, Hayes struggled for the rest of his life with that notoriety, and finally died, destitute and suffering from alcoholism at the age of 33 in 1955. The final death toll from Iwo Jima was very grim: 6,821 brave Americans killed, almost
Native Americans in the Military
Zac Beckham
Junior Division
Research Paper
1,522 words
In the United States Military, the highest percentage of any ethnic group serving is the Native Americans. Native Americans have served with distinction for over 200 years: the Revolutionary War to today’s war in Iraq. “The warrior spirit, courage, and determination that made them a formidable enemy made them a strong ally when they chose to fight alongside other Americans. There were 190,000 Native American veterans at the end of the twentieth century. Although few treaties made with the Native Americas has been kept, many Native Americans chose to serve in the American military exploring ways to break segregation …show more content…
Iwo Jima, which is located 750 miles southeast of Japan, was one of the last stepping stones in American’s march in capturing the Japanese home island. The Japanese had turned the tiny islands of eight square miles into an impenetrable fortress Twenty-one thousand Japanese dug themselves into trenches vowing to fight to the death. The Japanese had carved eleven miles of tunnels and caves in the island’s rocky and volcanic surface. The tunnels and caves were covered with thousands of destructive booby traps. A 550 foot mountain, Mount Suribachi, was honeycombed with caves and holes which were perfect for deadly snipers. American planes pounded Iwo Jima with deadly explosives for 75 days. They dropped 40,000 bombs in just three days. On February 19, 1945, 30,000 brave Marines swept ashore and one of the bloodiest battles in the war began. Many Japanese snipers hid silently underground often waiting until American soldiers were just a few feet away before they opened fire. The Americans countered with hand-held and tank –mounted flamethrowers, which poured out hot streams of burning liquid. Hand to hand combat raged on for many days. Then the soldiers’ bullets ran out, the opponents used knives and bayonets. It took the American three full days to capture a mere seven hundred yards of territory. “During the morning of February 23rd, a marine patrol fought its way to the summit of Mount Suribachi and raised the U.S. flag. One of those men who raised the flag was named Ira Hayes. Ira Hayes is a full-blooded member of the small Pima tribe in Arizona.” Many people used Hayes as a special celebrity to demonstrate wartime unity. Sadly, Hayes struggled for the rest of his life with that notoriety, and finally died, destitute and suffering from alcoholism at the age of 33 in 1955. The final death toll from Iwo Jima was very grim: 6,821 brave Americans killed, almost