Our Veterans

Maidu, Washoe, Paiute & Pit River Tribes

American Indians have provided distinguished service in all branches of the military. The Susanville Indian Rancheria proudly honors its veterans and shares their photos and stories with gratitude.


Willow Creek, SIR ancestral Tribal land
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Maidu

Our Native American Veterans

Native Americans have provided distinguished service in all branches of the military. The sense of camaraderie remains a strong memory for many of those who have served with distinction. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Defense, 22,569 enlisted service members and 1,297 officers were of American Indian heritage on active duty in 2010. While the U.S. population was recorded as being nearly 1.4 percent American Indian, the military population was 1.7 percent Native, representing the highest per capita commitment to defending the United States of any ethnic group. This photo gallery is dedicated to our local heroes who have bravely fought for our country.

Thank You For Your Service.


Dugan Aguilar - US Marine Corps, 1968-1970. Vietnam War Veteran.

Dugan Aguilar
Robert Dugan Aguilar -Lance Corporal, 27th & 11th Marines, attached to the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division US Marine Corps, 1968-69, Vietnam War. Ribbons: National Defense, Vietnam Service, Combat Action, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit, Meritorious Unit Commendation. Awards: Vietnam/RVN Gallantry Cross, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Rifle Expert Badge. Photo from Vietnam Memorial, Sacramento by Elizabeth Aguilar.

Robert Aguilar
Francis T. Allen Jr. - US Navy, BMC Diver 1943 – 1972, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal 3 Awards, WWII Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation 2 Awards, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Francis T. Allen Jr.
Kenneth Benner - US Army 1961 – 1964, Vietnam.

Kenneth Benner
Marvin L. Benner - Army National Guard, 1962 – 1970.

Marvin L. Benner
Wes Burch Sr. - SGT. USMC. Korean War Era 1953-1957. 4th Amphibious Corps.

Wesley Burch Sr.
Gilbert V. Calac - US Army, 25th Infantry, 165th Signal. Tour of Duty 1968-1970. Stationed at Cu Chi & Tay Ninh. Awarded the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

Gilbert V. Calac
Alex Chavez - Helicopter base duty Long Bien, South Vietnamese river boat base for Swiftboats and PBR’s. Received Vietnam Service Medal, 2 Bronze Stars, National Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and recognition as a sharpshooter.

Alex Chavez
Chris Cobian Sr. - Private First Class, US Army Generator Mechanic, 1970 – 1975. Deployed to Germany.

Chris Cobian Sr.
Harold Oudie Dixon - US Army 1945-1947.

Harold Oudie Dixon
Lester Dixon - Enlisted at the age of 16 in the United States Marine Corp. Duties called him to Iwo Jima, where he was assigned the duty of moving deceased bodies off the beach. He heard his name called. ” Hey Chunk!” and was surprised when he heard Glen Wasson call him by his nickname. Glen was shot in the leg and was floating near the beach. Honorable Discharged and returned home in 1945.

Lester Dixon
Johnnie J. Evans - US Army 1942 – 1944, Squadron 2nd Air Depot Group. Received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon.

Johnnie J. Evans
Mervin R. Evans - US Navy, Seaman, 1942 – 1945 WWII, Asiatic Pacific American Area, European African Middle Eastern. Received Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

Mervin R. Evans
Brandon Guitierez - Infantry, Sergeant USMC, PN3 F/A-18 Plane Captain US Navy 1998–2007. Operations: Southern Watch, Determined Response USS Cole Bombing, Noble Eagle/Iraqi Freedom. Medals: Navy & USMC Achievement(2) and Good Conduct (2), USMC & AF Expeditionary, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary. Awards: Navy Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Battle E 2.

Brandon Guitierez
Emilio 'Leo' Guitierez - Leo Guitierez – Served for 4 years in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Grapple, ARS-7 during the Korean War. Enginemen 3 RD Class (EN3) in charge of all the spare parts to the engines. If they broke down, he made sure a part was ready to replace and keep it going.

Emilio Guitierez
Felix Guitierez – Served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War era.

Felix Guitierez
Robert Guitierez - US Army, Korean War Era

Robert Guitierez
Frederick Gusman - U.S. Army 1966 – 1968, U.S. Army Alaska, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. Attended Lassen Jr. College, 1965. Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of California, 1971.Master of Education, University of Nevada, 1981. 31 Years of Federal Service, retired 2008.

Frederick Gusman
Edward Jackson - Corporal USMC, World War II, 1943-1946, 4th Amphibious Corps.

Edward Jackson
Jeff Law - US Army 1989-1993, 8th Infantry Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment. Wildflecken, Germany, 1st Armor Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment. Dexheim, Germany, 7th Infantry Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment. Ft. Ord, CA.

Jeff Law
Stephen Albert Lawson - Navy Corpsman from 1969 to 1973. Received the Vietnam Service Medal.

Stephen Lawson
LTC Leonard Lowry - May 16, 1920 – Aug. 17, 1999. WWII, Korea, Vietnam. Achievements / Honors: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star (2), Purple Heart (5), Legion of Merit, World War II Victory Medal. LTC Lowry served in the famous Second American Infantry Indian Head Division during the Korean War. He was the most decorated Native American to serve in World War II.

Leonard Lowry
Mike Lowry - 1968-1970. Served as a Specialist 5 in the US Army and fought two tours in Vietnam.

Mike Lowry
Stanley Lowry - Second Lieutenant, Army 99th Infantry Division. Fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Silver Star and Bronze Star.

Stanley Lowry
Harris Joseph Monroe - Served as a Private First Class in the United States Army and was a Guided Missile Creman. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal during the Korean War era.

Harris Joseph Monroe
Eugene Newman – was a Seaman in the US Navy between 1943-1946 during World War II and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.

Eugene Newman
Clyde Northrup - 1942-1945, Technician 4th Grade 35th Tank Battalion Normandy, Bastone, Battle of The Bulge. Awarded the Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Badge, European-African Eastern Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal

Clyde Northrup
Sean Aaron O’Roake - United States Air Force, Airman 1st Class, Aircraft Armament Systems Journeyman. 2014-Present Cannon AFB. Currently on assignment in Iraq as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Sean Aaron O'Roake
Benjamin Padilla - Staff Sergeant in the US Army Infantry 1993 – 2011. He fought in Kosovo during Operation Joint Guardian 2000-2001 and then in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

Benjamiin Padilla
Nicolas J. Padilla - Signalman 3rd class (SM3). February 28, 1966-October 28, 1971. U.S.S. Prichett DD 561 San Diego, CA. West Pac Deployment June 1966. West Pac Deployment November 18, 1967 – May 26, 1968. U.S. Naval Support Activity DA Nang, Vietnam. September 14, 1968 – September 10, 1969 YFU-55.

Nicolas J. Padilla
Clarence Pasqua

Clarence Pasqua
Gene Pasqua - USMC 1954, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

Gene Pasqua
Clarence Potts - inducted on April 23, 1941, separated on October 1, 1945. He was a sergeant in the 17th Infantry and fought in the Pacific Campaign as a heavy machine gunner in D Company. Nicknamed 'Doc,' he helped the wounded and took care of his men. Awards: two Bronze Stars, Philippines Liberation Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal. He and his brother, Willis Potts, returned and enjoyed full, happy lives.

Clarence Potts
Willis Potts-(inducted 4/3/43, separated 10/16/45) was an AS s2/c in the US Navy. He served on the USS Maryland and the USS Pennsylvania during the WWII Pacific Campaign. Fought in the battles of Leyte Gulf, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Honorably discharged with the Purple Heart, Battle Stars, and Presidential Citations.

Willis Potts
Radley T. Shipes Jr. – USMC. Served from 1995-1999. Lance Corporal, 1st FSSG, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Bravo Company.

Radley T. Shipes
Thomas Tucker - Co. L. 363, Inf. 91 Div. 1917-1918 WWI. First Susanville man to be killed in combat during WWI.

Thomas Tucker
Raymond C. Valenswela - United States Army, March 1962 – June 1965. Served as a Paratrooper with the 18th Airborne Core at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This photo was taken in San Jose, CA. while on Leave after the Cuban Crisis

Raymond C. Valenswela
Patricia Gusman Webber - Personnelman U.S. Navy, Washington, DC (1965-1967). Retired from the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office 2004, with 38 years of federal government service. Government service included Bureau of Naval Personnel, U.S. Forest Service, IRS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Patricia is a SIR Tribal Member of Paiute descent.

Patricia Gusman Webber
Herman Williams - US Army, 1942 – 1945. WWII.

Herman Williams