"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokees Honored for Military Service

Rogan Noble of Tahlequah (center) was among four Cherokee citizens honored at the Cherokee Nation’s November Tribal Council Meeting for their military service. He was awarded the Cherokee Warrior Award by Principal Chief Chad Smith (left) and Deputy Principal Chief Joe Grayson, Jr. (right).

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Four Cherokee citizens who are also employees of the tribe were honored for their military service during the Cherokee Nation’s November Tribal Council Meeting. Honorees included Richard Allen, Larry Ketcher, Ben Stevens and Rogan Noble.

“We need to stop and pause and begin to understand the blessings of freedom,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “The Cherokee Nation understands the sacrifices and contributions of our military service men and women. We are proud to honor all veterans, especially our Cherokee warriors.”

Dr. Richard Allen was born in Tahlequah and grew up in the Briggs community. Allen attended Tahlequah High School and graduated in 1965. After completing a semester at Northeastern State University, Allen chose to enlist in the Marin Corps with his lifelong friend James Hair. Allen attended boot camp in San Diego, California. Later Allen attended Personnel and Administration School at Camp Del Mar, California and went on to be assigned to the Marine Wind Service Group 27 at the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, North Carolina. Allen completed the United States Army Intelligence School and was trained as a Photo Imagery Interpretation Specialist. In 1967, Allen was assigned temporary additional duty for six months at the Fleet Intelligence Center, European Naval Forces, at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. Allen went on to complete Riot Control School. In August of 1968, Allen received orders to deploy to Vietnam. Overseas, Allen was assigned to the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade in Okinawa before going to Vietnam in 1969. Allen was then assigned to the Special Landing Force “Bravo,” an amphibious force that provided ship to shore combat operations. Allen returned to the United States later that year and was discharged on November, 6, 1969. The Department of Veterans Affairs appointed Allen to serve on the department’s Veterans Education Advisory Committee in 1996, a post that Allen held until 2002. Today, Allen is the Veterans Committee Chair for the National Congress of American Indians. During Allen’s military service he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Rifle Sharpshooter Badge and the Pistol Sharpshooter Badge.

“One of the most difficult things to do is to go home and take off that uniform for the last time,” said Allen. “I’m proud of my military service. I’m proud to have served as a marine, and I’m proud to be a Cherokee veteran.”

Larry D. Ketcher was born Tahlequah and is the son of the late Reverend Key Ketcher and Anna (Fourkiller) Ketcher. During his childhood Ketcher attended school at Sequoyah Elementary School and Maryetta Elementary School. Ketcher graduated from Stilwell High School and went on to attend Northeastern State College where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1972. In September of that same year, Ketcher was selected to enter the U.S. Army, where he served in the 2nd/5th Artillery with the USAEUR Division in Europe. Ketcher worked as a Computer Operator and Maps Draftsman for the Headquarters Operation in his division. In 1974, Ketcher began his employment with the Cherokee Nation.

“I have m any words to say, but I will keep it short,” said Ketcher. “We are the land of the free because of the brave. Thank you for this award.”

Ben Stevens was born in Muskogee and lived at various times of his youth in Tahlequah, Proctor, New Mexico and Tulsa. After high school, Stevens attended the Air Force Academy and graduated in 1968. Stevens worked as a pilot in the Air Force and flew C-130s in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia. After Vietnam, Stevens worked as an instructor pilot at the Air Force Academy and was honorably discharged in 1976. After a career in the corporate world, Stevens began working for the Cherokee Nation in 2000. Stevens is currently the Program Director of Cherokee Elder Care, the first Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program in Oklahoma and the first PACE program sponsored by an Indian tribe in the United States. Stevens resides in Tahlequah with his wife of 40 years, Karrel, and has two grown children.

“It is an honor to serve in the military for the United States, but a great honor to represent the Cherokee Nation in the military,” said Stevens.

Rogan Noble was born in Lawrence, Kansas, and is the son of the late Clayton and Cynthia Snell Noble. Noble graduated from high school in 1966 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1968. Noble received training as a radioman in San Diego, California and was assigned to Marine Base Camp in Lejeune, North Carolina. Noble participated in the Marine Expeditionary Brigade in the Caribbean and received Jungle Warfare Training in Panama. Noble was then assigned to the third Marine Division and served a tour in Vietnam with Task Force “H.” Noble also served in Okinawa, Japan and Subic Bay in the Philippines. Noble was honorably discharged in 1972 and is now employed by the Cherokee Nation as the Tribal Veterans Representative.

“It was an honor and privilege to serve in the armed forces on behalf of the citizens of the Cherokee Nation and an honor to serve the veterans of the Cherokee Nation now,” said Noble.

“Each of these men is a patriot of two governments, the Cherokee Nation and the United States,” said Smith. “I commend each of them for their service to both of these great nations.”

If you know a veteran who is a Cherokee citizen and would like them to be recognized by the Cherokee Nation, contact Paulette Thomas, phone: 918-453-5541.