Warrior's homage
Smith Lake Chapter salutes World War II veteran

Harry Yazzie was honored during a ceremony at Smith Lake chapter house that his service in World War II. Yazzie recieved a Lapel Pin in honor of his service. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

SMITH LAKE — The Smith Lake community saluted one of its oldest veterans for being honored with a Freedom Team Salute lapel pin and certificate of appreciation for his service in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Harry Yazzie, 95, was the recipient of the honor for serving in the 11th Airborne Division, where he was well-known as a long-distance runner among his comrades.

The award bestowed to Yazzie “symbolizes the partnership between our Army, her soldiers, their families, and veterans — a partnership as old as the nation itself.”
Celebrating veterans

New Mexico Department of Veterans Services Secretary John Garcia said that by celebrating even one veteran, the community was celebrating all veterans.

“Mr. Yazzie represents this rich legacy. This is a rich legacy that needs to be preserved,” Garcia said. “There’s no question that Navajo Americans helped to build this country.”

He added that Native Americans serve at a higher rate than any other ethnic group in the country.

“Yours is a legacy that goes back to the formation of this country — even further than that,” he said.

He noted that 44,000 Native Americans served in World War II.

“There are stories of bravery that go unrecorded,” Garcia said. By celebrating Yazzie’s accomplishments, they were preserving the legacy of veterans, he said.

“In the midst of our community, we sort of don’t realize that this is happening. When you go home, try and look for someone like that to be recognized,” said Ray M. Joe, commander of Smith Lake Veterans Organization. In the letter to Yazzie announcing the award, Casey and Geren wrote, “America has always called up the Army to do the hard jobs and her Army has always answered the call.”
Veteran’s daughter tells his story

Yazzie was accompanied by his wife Lola, his brother Joe, 93, who is also a veteran of World War II, and his daughter Betty Dixon, who gave a brief history of her father’s service in the Army.

“All this started September 2007 when dad received a letter from George W. Casey, U.S. Army general and chief of staff, and Pete Geren, secretary of the Army, notifying him he was chosen to receive recognition for his military service for his country,” Dixon said.

She explained how her father’s faith helped him to have the courage to serve in the war.

“On April 22, 1945, in the northern part of the Philippine Islands, Luzon, the 11th Airborne Division, Company E was given the task of setting booby traps up ahead of the Japanese troops,” she said.

The soldiers had been running short on ammunition and medicine, and after completing the mission, they waited to be located by planes to drop off supplies.

“Thick clouds covered the mountains around them and rain was pouring down,” Dixon said.

When the skies finally cleared, the plane was able to drop supplies behind enemy lines.

“They made every effort to reach those packages but couldn’t get past enemy fire,” she said.

During that time, shooting could be heard from the area where the supplies had been dropped and where the 3rd Platoon had last reported. However, it was impossible to locate the platoon because of the steep mountain slopes, dense foliage and rain.

“After several failed attempts to make contact, the Commanding Officer asked for a volunteer and he raised his hand,” Dixon said.

Strength found with faith
It was at that time that Yazzie’s faith in a higher being helped him. He remembered the previous Thanksgiving when the division was temporarily stationed in Midora. The evening before the first combat mission to Leyte, Yazzie wondered how he would find the courage to encounter the enemy. He took a walk and found a pocket-size New Testament on the ground.

“It brought back memories of the Crownpoint Boarding School chapel services where Reverend Boat, Christian Reformed Church, spoke about Christ,” Dixon said. “His lessons didn’t mean anything at the time but they now brought peace within and he knelt down and prayed for strength”

With the newfound strength, Yazzie was able to locate the platoon but as he fell to one knee to communicate, he was shot in the left forearm by a Japanese sniper. A fellow soldier pulled him into a ditch where his arm was hastily bandaged.

“He quickly radioed in their location and asked for a mortar barrage to make a smoke screen to aid in their escape,” Dixon said.

The soldiers waited for the smoke to clear before he was able to rejoin his platoon. He was evacuated to the nearest medical facility in Manila. Yazzie returned to the United States and was honorably discharged on Oct. 10, 1945.
As a civilian, Yazzie worked for a number of law enforcement agencies. He was a police officer for 21 years.

In a statement, Yazzie said that he lives his life as an example for his family and neighbors.

“I’ve participated in serving my community, preserving life and maintaining peace,” he stated.

Teacher and mentor
Council Delegate Larry Anderson, Fort Defiance, called Yazzie “a great person” and said, “You are a teacher and you are a mentor for many of our generations.”
The certificate of appreciation awarded to Yazzie for outstanding service states: “Your legacy is today’s Army and the values soldiers exhibit while fighting the global War on Terrorism.”

Jackson Gibson, master of ceremonies for the event, noted that Yazzie is “well known as a brave person” and was nominated by people from other parts of the country.
In a September 2007 military publication that was on display at the ceremony, editor Jerry Davis remembers Yazzie and the 5-mile races that the two competed in at the same time.

“I can’t say together because the only time we were together was at the start. All the rest of the time I was looking at his back while he was a quarter to half a mile ahead of me,” Davis stated.

He further wrote that he didn’t think he was ever in a race that Yazzie didn’t win.

The Camp Toccoa long-distance race in particular was a highlight for Yazzie. He ran the 7-mile course with a time of 38 minutes. After winning the race, Yazzie took a 10-day furlough, returned home and married Lola on Sept. 3, 1943. They now have four daughters — Carol, who was Miss Navajo in 1966, Betty, Thelma and Wanda.

Anderson was joined by other members of the Human Services Committee veterans subcommittee including Young Jeff Tom, Elbert Wheeler and George Apachito.
Chapter President Bobby J. Willie said that the next time the community celebrates its heroes, it will be done in the new veterans center which is under construction.