Honoring Vietnam veterans
MHA Nation veterans, auxiliaries take part in Hawaii event
Submitted Photo Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation representatives, the majority of them veterans and auxiliaries, shown in this photo by Malvina Baker, pose for a photo while in Hawaii for the Vietnam Veterans Day Parade and program.
Austin Gillette, left, was a guest speaker at the program held during the Vietnam Veterans Day Parade at Waikiki, Hawaii, on March 29, shown in this photo by Malvina Baker. Gillette served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.
Submitted Photo Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation representatives, the majority of them veterans and auxiliaries, shown in this photo by Malvina Baker, pose for a photo while in Hawaii for the Vietnam Veterans Day Parade and program.
Austin Gillette, left, was a guest speaker at the program held during the Vietnam Veterans Day Parade at Waikiki, Hawaii, on March 29, shown in this photo by Malvina Baker. Gillette served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.
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On an invitation from the Historic Programs in Hawaii, 117 representatives of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation on the Fort Berthold Reservation traveled to that state to take part in the Annual Vietnam Veterans Day Parade on March 29.
The majority of those making the trip were Fort Berthold veterans and auxiliary members. The Three Affiliated Tribes business council paid for the trip for the veterans and auxiliary members. Others financed their own trips.
"It was really meaningful," said Sissy Fox of the trip and activities the group participated in while in Hawaii. Fox, an Army veteran, is senior veteran service officer with the MHA Nation Veterans Affairs Department.
Fox planned the trip with Gerrilyn Yellowbird of American Legion Younghawk/Bear Post 253 Auxiliary president.
Fox said Yellowbird volunteered to do all the travel arrangements.
"She put in volunteer hours to make sure our travel was planned out to the 'T.' All post commanders/auxiliary presidents took charge of their own personnel and helped to ensure a safe and honorable trip. So it took a small army for us to attend," she said.
Those taking part in the trip included Fort Berthold Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9061 and Auxiliary, Drum Group Shylo Baker and Sons of Mandaree, American Legion Younghawk/Bear Post 253 and Auxiliary of White Shield, American Legion Myron B. Johnson/Nathan Goodiron Post 271 of Mandaree and Auxiliary Unit 300 of New Town.
On March 29, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the North Dakota group took part in a program followed by the parade.
Austin Gillette, a veteran who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, was a guest speaker at the program held at Kuroda Field at Fort DeRussy in Waikiki, Hawaii. Gillette, of White Shield, is a former tribal chairman and former councilman of the Three Affiliated Tribes.
While in Hawaii, the group visited Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri.
Previously, VFW Post 9061 representatives were invited and participated in a Pearl Harbor ceremony in December 2022.
Another trip for MHA Nation Veterans and Auxiliaries is in the planning stages, according to Fox. That trip is being planned for Normandy, France, for the D-Day observance on June 6.