Gore Veteran Among Those Honored

Richard Monholland of Gore was one of three veterans honored at the Cherokee Nation’s October council meeting. At the presentation are, from the left, Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, Tribal Councilor E.O. Smith, U.S. Air Force veteran Richard Monholland, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker and Tribal Councilor Bryan Warner.

The Cherokee Nation honored three military veterans with the tribe’s Medal of Patriotism during the October Tribal Council meeting.

Richard Monholland, 79, of Gore, Billy Smith, 70, of Jay, and Charley Crittenden, 68, of Briggs were recognized by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker and Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, acknowledging their service and sacrifice to their country.

Master Sgt. Monholland was born in May of 1939 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in October of 1961. Monholland completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and was later transferred to Amarillo Air Base in Texas, where he received training to become an aircraft maintenance technician. In 1969, he was deployed to Thailand, where he served for one year before returning stateside to serve at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. Within six months, he was assigned temporary duty in Korea and was later reassigned to Texas and then to Alaska. He received several medals for his bravery and service. In 1986, Monholland retired and received an honorable discharge.

“I just want to say thank you to the Cherokee Nation for this award and for everything that they do,” Monholland said.

  

Each month the Cherokee Nation recognizes Cherokee service men and women for their sacrifices and as a way to demonstrate the high regard in which all veterans are held by the tribe. Native Americans, including Cherokees, are thought to have more citizens serving per capita than any other ethnic group according to the U.S. Department of Defense. To nominate a veteran who is a Cherokee Nation citizen, please call 918-772-4166.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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