"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Honors Citizens

***"Cherokee Nation Color Guard standing in front of the Cherokee Warrior Memorial at the tribal complex south of Tahlequah, Oklahoma."***

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation recently honored 11 citizens for their military service and the sacrifices they have made for the Cherokee Nation and the United States. The tribe will be hosting a memorial ceremony on Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. at the tribal complex.

“We appreciate so much the dedication and the commitment the all of our service men and women have provided to our tribe and county,” said Chad Smith Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “It is important to recognize these individuals for their dedication to the Cherokee Nation, our country and citizens. I commend each of these soldiers for the service that all of them have provided to us and congratulate them on all of them for their military accomplishments.”

Individuals honored were Lloyd P. Miller, Sr., Lloyd P. Miller, Jr., Gloria Miller Jones, Glen Miller, David L. Miller, Stephen A. Miller, R. Andrew Holt, Jr., Tania Sue Holt, Joseph Fourkiller, Cleo Deerinwater and Bobby Rogers.

Lloyd P. Miller, Sr. attended school in Tulsa and graduated from Central High School. In 1942, Lloyd enlisted in the Army Air Force and served with the 9th Air Force European Theater of Operations with the 439th Troop Carrier Group 94th Squadron, which was a glider operation. Lloyd was honorably discharged from active duty in 1945.

Lloyd P. Miller, Jr. graduated from McClain High School in 1965. The following year, he joined the United States Army. Immediately following basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, he served in the 103 RD Signal Brigade in South Vietnam. His last six months of service was in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. “During my second year in Vietnam, I met up with my cousin Sammy,” said Miller. “His camp was only about 25 miles west of my location at that time. Not long after, I heard that my brother Glenn was in Vietnam and he was able to call me one day by radio. I am proud to have served my country for three years.”

Gloria Miller Jones graduated from McClain High School and attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman until she enlisted in the Coast Guard. In 1979, she went on to enlist in the United States Navy and attained the rank of Chief Petty. Today, Gloria is employed as a public health nurse at the Indian Health Care Resource Center in Tulsa.

Glen Miller attended school in the Tulsa area and joined the US Marine Corp while still in high school. He served in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart. He is a very active member in the powwow circle and is a straight dancer. Glenn is also a rifleman in the Tulsa Color Guard and is active with the Tulsa Shriners.

Sergeant Major David L. Miller entered the United States Army Delayed Entry Program in 1979. He completed Basic Combat Engineer Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and volunteered for active duty and was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1989, he volunteered for Airborne and Special Forces and completed his training in 1990. From 1990 to 2006, David served as a Special Forces Operator. He completed several overseas tours in the Republic of Korea, two tours in the Federal Republic of Germany, Washington and Puerto Rico. David is currently serving in Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he serves on a special staff as a United States Army Special Operations Command Assistant Inspector General. His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. In 2008, David will retire after 29 years of honorable service where upon he will be awarded the Legion of Merit and receive a letter of appreciation from the President of the United States.

Private Stephen A. Miller attended Eufaula Boarding School. After high school, he entered the United States Army National Guard in 1980. Stephen attended Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was given an honorable discharge and went on to graduate from the Tulsa Career Institute for drafting and design.

SPC. R. Andrew Holt, Jr., attended school in Tulsa. He joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 2001 and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he completed Basic Training. He then went on to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to study Advanced Individual Training and graduated in November of 2001. Andrew was ordered to active duty with the United States Army in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He was then transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Andrew has been stationed in TQ, Ramadi, Fallujah, Bagdad, Alasad and Kuwait, where he was in charge of inventorying all ammunition and sensitive items. His decorations and medals include: the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Andrew is currently waiting for his orders to serve his second term.

PV2 Tania Sue Holt graduated with her GED from Tulsa Job Corps in 1996. In 2003, Tania heard the call of duty and enlisted in the United States Army. She was stationed at For Jackson, North Carolina, where she completed basic training. Tania trained extensively and became the squad leader of the 2nd squad.

Joseph Fourkiller enlisted in the Navy upon turning 18 years of age. Serving all of his time in the South Pacific Ocean on the U.S.S. Altamaha CVE 18 aircraft carrier, Joe received the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star, the Navy Occupation SVC Medal with Asia Clasp, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and the Honorable Service Lapel Button. Joe was honorably discharged in 1946.

Cleo Deerinwater enlisted in the Navy in 1954 and attended boot camp in San Diego, California, and was later shipped to the Island of Guam where he operated with the Marine Corps. Cleo joined the Navy Sea Bees after his duties in Guam were completed. Deerinwater also patrolled the waters of Taiwan, Formosa, Okinawa, Japan and China. In 1960, Cleo spent two months at sea on the shores of Cuba and was discharged in 1962.

Bobby Rogers enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952. Rogers was assigned to the Hospital Corpsman School and was later transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he completed Operating Room School. Bobby left for Oran, North Africa in 1954. He went on to work at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Pennsylvania where he helped teach students the techniques of working in an operating room. He later received training that enabled him to serve aboard a ship without a doctor and graduated from the program in 1959. In 1966, Bobby was assigned to the USS Aeolus ARC 3, which was a cable lying ship that worked to keep an early defense system running. Bobby went on to serve in Vietnam and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his work there. He retired from the Navy in 1971 after 20 years of military service.

“The Cherokee Nation is pleased to honor our service men and women,” said Smith. “It is a privilege to honor our Cherokee citizens for their commitment and dedication to the armed services. I commend each of these individuals for their dedication to the military.”