News-Info-Alerts

Re: Piestewa May Be Eligible For POW Medal Family Briefed

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: July 31, 2003

"MH couple visit Piestewa family

By SHARON MILLER - Bulletin Staff Writer

Gannett News Service File Photo

Lori Piestewa's children visit her grave and sometimes talk to their mother who died when her U.S. Army unit was ambushed by Iraqi soldiers March 23.

"Sleep well, Mommy," Brandon, 4, told her during one of those visits. "Don't have any bad dreams."

The children, Carla, 3, and Brandon, now live with Lori's parents, Terry and Percy Piestewa, both employees of the Tuba City (Arizona) School District. John and Laura Waters, of Mountain Home, who formerly taught Lori and her siblings at Tuba City, just returned from a trip out West during which they visited the Piestewa family.

Although Lori's children have support from their grandparents, extended family and even from people all across the nation, Percy is concerned about the children of other servicepeople who were killed during the war, Mrs. Waters said, especially those who lost the main or sole breadwinner in the family. She's afraid the $250 per month per child allotment won't be enough in today's economy and thinks the government should do more. Mrs. Waters said Percy talked to lawmakers about the issue during a trip to Washington, D.C.

It's typical of Percy to think of others, Mrs. Waters said. During their visit, the family gave her and John an appreciation gift that has a Hopi prayer and a picture of Lori on it. It's signed "John and Laura, Thank you for your love and friendship. The Piestewa family."

The photo was taken at Fort Bliss before Lori, 23, and her roommate there, Jessica Lynch, left for Iraq. During their stay at Fort Bliss, Percy would visit often, taking homemade treats for the roommates and allowing Lori's children to visit her. During that time, Lynch became like part of the family, Mrs. Waters said.

Lynch was injured and captured during the same attack in which Lori was killed. After Lynch was rescued and eventually returned to a U.S. hospital, Percy visited her. Lynch has been unable to remember much about the attack other than riding in the Jeep with Lori and waking up in the hospital. "Percy told Jessica her mind was probably holding that back for a reason and not to worry about it," Mrs. Waters said.

Lynch does remember a pledge she and Lori made to each other. They promised that if one or the other didn't return, the survivor would take her belongings back to her hometown.

"When they visited her in the hospital, Jessica asked if they wanted Lori's things," Mrs. Waters said. "Percy said, 'No, I'm going to hold you to your promise. When you're up to it physically and emotionally, we want you to come to Tuba City and bring her things.'"

Mrs. Waters said the family recently had returned from a briefing on what had happened during the ambush. Lori was driving the Jeep, and was hit by mortar fire. She already had received several honors from the Army, but new information qualifies her for Prisoner of War awards as well. Mrs. Waters said she evidently was not killed immediately but died later at the Iraqi hospital after being captured.

The family also learned that being where she was with her unit was Lori's choice. "They had asked her if she wanted to stay back behind the lines, but she said, 'No, I should stay with my sergeant,'" Mrs. Waters said. Her sergeant also was killed.

The Piestewa family feels fortunate to have gotten back almost all of Lori's personal effects -- her billfold, wedding ring, dogtags and some religious medals she wore. The only thing that seemed to be missing, Mrs. Waters said, was a 14K gold Sacred Heart of Jesus ring that Percy had given her.

She said many of the families were unable to recover any personal items from loved ones who were killed.

The Piestewa family is appreciative of all the support they've received, including suggestions about how to honor Lori, Waters said. She and her husband hand-delivered some letters written by clients at the Baxter County Day Service Center in Mountain Home. They also took the family video of the Cinco de Mayo activities at the Southwest City Missouri School where Mrs. Waters teaches. The program was dedicated to Lori's memory.

Mrs. Waters was surprised when Percy asked if she wanted to visit Lori's grave. Tuba City is part of an Indian reservation, and in the Hopi culture, the dead are buried in secret, and survivors don't return to the grave except to leave food and water for the loved one's journey.

But Percy, who is Hispanic and Catholic, called a family meeting to discuss what was to happen with Lori's remains. They agreed to bury her in a nearby cemetery, and the people of the village were OK with that, Mrs. Waters said. She said, Terry, a Hopi, has accepted the Catholic attitude of visiting the grave and even helps tend the plants at the site.

Mrs. Waters believes that changing the name of "Squaw Peak" in Phoenix to "Piestewa Peak" was a good way to honor Lori's memory.

©2003 The Baxter Bulletin"