Copyright © 2004 NLThomas
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News from Cherokee Nation
Copyright © 2004 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Jon Ketcher, of Pryor, Okla., was honored at the July Cherokee Nation Tribal Council meeting for his service in Iraq. Ketcher is one of three Cherokee Nation Marshal Service employees currently serving with the National Guard. Ketcher, only 33 years old, has already seen two war campaigns. He began his military service with the Marine Corps in 1989 and was on active duty during the Gulf War. He is now serving with the National Guard in Iraq.
Marshal Jon Ketcher, pictured center, accepts the Cherokee Nation Seal in recognition of his military service from Deputy Chief Joe Grayson, on the left, and Principal Chief Chad Smith, on the right. Ketcher told the audience of his appreciation and shared a brief description of their work in Iraq. 
“The Cherokee Nation is extremely proud of all Cherokees who have and are now serving in the military,” said Principal Chief Chad Smith. “Jon shows great pride in his Cherokee heritage and his commitment to serve his people and the United States. It is an honor to pay him this tribute for his military service.”
Ketcher proudly accepted the invitation to attend the Council meeting. He is on leave for only two weeks and he is serious about spending time with his family and enjoying his R&R.
“I’ve promised my kids that we’d go swimming,” Ketcher said. “We can be back in time for the meeting, but I may not be in uniform.” Giggling children could be heard as Ketcher added that he may look a little rough too, since he is also taking a leave from shaving.
During the meeting, Principal Chief Smith presented Ketcher with an official Cherokee Nation seal and certificate in honor of his military service. Ketcher is a member of the National Guard’s 120th Engineer Battalion, Company B. He hopes to complete his current tour of duty within the next eight to ten months.
“I am very appreciative of receiving the seal,” Ketcher said. “My wife already has a wall picked out to hang the seal on. I love Cherokee Nation. I love working for the Cherokee Nation. I love the people that I work with and those that I serve. And, I am looking forward to getting back so I can get back on patrol.”
Ketcher is very proud of his Cherokee heritage and his family’s continued service in the military and law enforcement. The Ketcher family tradition goes all the way back to his great-great-great grandfather, who rode with Stand Waite’s Cherokee mounted rifles. Ketcher’s great-great grandfather, Johnson Ketcher, was one of the first full-blood Cherokee’s to serve as a Deputy United States Marshal and his great grandfather, Isaac, was an original Dawes Roll enrollee. While he didn’t see active duty, Ketcher’s grandfather was also in the military during the Korean War era. His most direct influence, his father, John D. Ketcher, Jr., was career Marine Corps, a Vietnam veteran, and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant.
Ketcher thinks it very interesting that his two dates of active duty have also been anniversaries of historic military events for the United States; the invasion of Normandy, also called D Day (June 6) and the bombing of Pearl Harbor (December 7). These two coincidences have reminded Ketcher of the importance of military service.
The other two Cherokee Nation Marshal Service officers serving with the National Guard’s 120th Engineer Battalion, Company A in Iraq are Shawnna Eubanks and Donald Childers, both of Tahlequah, Okla. Eubanks and Childers are Cherokee Nation dispatchers and reserve Marshals.
| Related contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |