Veterans of War

At 3 Generations we work to honor and share the stories of the incredibly diverse group of Americans who have served this country and whom we collectively recognize on Veterans Day. This Fall much of our focus has been on Native Americans. In September we visited the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota and learned that Native Americans currently serve in the U.S. Armed Forces in higher numbers per capita than any other ethnic group in the United States.  

According to the 2010 U.S. Census estimates, there were 156,515 American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. The Pentagon estimates that well over 22,000 American and Alaska Native active duty personnel currently serve across the Armed Forces. The number of female American Indian/Alaska Native veterans is twice the national average.

Native Americans have served the U.S. military for the past 200 years.  They heeded to the call of duty during the American Revolution, famously contributed as code breakers during World War I and World War II. They served in Korea, Vietnam and are Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans too. They served in the First World War when they were not yet classified as citizens, and again in World War II when they did not yet have the right to vote. (That right was not granted until 1965). And yet they served and honorably.

Today American and Alaska Native veterans face as many, and arguably even more difficulties than veterans of other ethnic groups, for they have the lowest median income of any veteran group.

As we mark another Veterans Day we honor all our Veterans but want to give a special shout out to Native American Veterans, a vital minority group who don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Look for upcoming interviews with Native veterans.

Follow 3 Generations on Facebook on Veteran's Day as we publish a host of materials on Veterans' challenges and triumphs!