>[source: NativeNews; Wed, 08 Nov 2000 10:02:29 -0500] > >From: "Carter Camp" > > WOUNDED KNEE '73' AKICITA > >On this Veterans Day I want to sent out my heartfelt thank you and >continuing respect to all those Indian, Viet Nam Veterans who rallied to >the defense of the Independent Oglala Nation at Wounded Knee in 1973. As >one of the chosen leaders of our Nation I was honored to fight alongside >proven warriors who had been to one war and came home determined to use >their skills to help their people survive. Because it was the only >honorable thing to do, you dug into positions from which there was no >retreat. You said 'the enemy shall not pass by' and he could not. Because >of the ring of steel you provided, for 73 days our people had a taste of >freedom, and that strong taste still lives in the hearts of the People. > >Strong Heart, Little California, Eagle, Crows Nest, Oklahoma, Oglala, Pine >Ridge, Strawberry Hill, Manderson, Big Church, Little Church and Star. >Roving Patrol. Places you can be pround of my brothers, all planned and led >by a Vet and manned by our People. > >You used to laugh when Stan and I issued you 30-30 bullets to fire in your >303cal. rifles, but they chambered and you fired them in deadly earnest. >Not one of you complained when I announced warriors rations were cut to a >meal a day, but all of you cussed when I said we were out of cigarettes >too! You were a diciplined fighting force in a proud, Indian way. You did >your duty, fought the enemy, stood guard in the cold, worked hard and did >not want to hear stuff or take shit from anybody. We truly were the Akicita >of Wounded Knee and the Independent Oglala Nation, (I.O.N.). > >In the end we lost two warriors whose memory we must honor. Frank >Clearwater was a newly arrived recruit, a volunteer from the Cherokee >Nation. He was killed on his first duty cycle. To we of the I.O.N. he >symbolized the gathering of the Nations to fullfill our dreams of unity and >common struggle. On behalf of all of us Wounded Knee warriors I still >visit his lonely grave, my brothers and I offer tobacco and prayers for his >sacrifice, his family, and his Cherokee people. > >The other warrior we lost was my "Ka-gay'-Ho" Buddy Lamont. Buddy was an >Oglala Viet Nam Veteran. The perfect example of a Lakota warrior, returned >home to protect the people and to stop the reign of terror. He did both. >Buddy was the only son of my adopted Mother, Agnes Lamont, who was herself >a powerful A.I.M. supporter and Lakota patriot. Together they symbolized >what our fight was and is all about...Generations of Indian people in a >five hundred year struggle for survival. > >Today Buddy Lamont is buried in Wounded Knee alongside the victims of the >1890 massacre. Many visit his grave, tourist and Indian, but few know his >story. We do, my veteran brothers, and one day that story may be told. But >for now Buddy lies in his grave as a symbol of what each of you risked and >what your families and Tribes risk to survive in America. > >Today , so many years later, technology has provided a way for me to tell >the warrior veterans of VietNam/Wounded Knee...Thank You, my Brothers and >Sisters, for a job well done. Ah-Ho, Weebla-Ho. > > Carter Camp, Ponca Nation > Oklahoma A.I.M., > Independent Oglala Nation Akicita
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