TAHLEQUAH — More than four decades after returning from the jungles of Vietnam, Rogan Noble continues to serve his country and his fellow veteran.

Noble’s four years with the U.S. Marines, including a year in Vietnam, continue a tradition of service established by American Indians early in this nation’s history. Today, Noble is tribal veterans representative at the Cherokee Nation Office of Veterans Affairs.

“Pretty much since the War of 1812, we had Cherokees fighting for the United States,” Noble said. “Cherokee warriors have served in every conflict since then that the United States has been involved with.”

Six hundred Cherokees served as voluntary militia under Andrew Jackson, helping him win the Battle of Horseshoe Bend against the Creeks. One Cherokee chief saved Jackson’s life and, by many accounts, regretted that action later when Jackson became instrumental in driving Cherokees from their traditional southeastern homeland.

Nevertheless, Cherokees and members of other tribes continued to serve in the military throughout the years — in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf conflicts that continue to this day. Cherokee warriors are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the other bases the United States maintains around the world.

“We’re very proud of them, and what they are doing as warriors,” Noble said.

Two Cherokees, Noah Reese Jr. and Jack Montgomery, received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest honor. Billy Walkabout, another Cherokee, was the most-decorated Native American soldier in Vietnam.

The Jack A. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee was named for the soft-spoken and modest World War II veteran, who lived in Muskogee. Many local people knew and remember Montgomery.

Today, tribal color guards form an integral part of powwows, parades, and ceremonial activities conducted by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and other native gatherings.

“We hold our veterans in very high regard. In a lot of tries, their leaders are mostly veterans. You do get a lot of leadership through military training,” Noble said.

Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Joe Grayson is a Vietnam veteran, and other tribal officials have served in the military. Grayson presents the Cherokee Medal of Patriotism to select veterans during tribal council meetings.

  Noble, whose parents worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at various locations throughout the country, was in Utah when he enlisted in the Marines. He said he was a “recruiter’s dream” — he had left college, and with his 1A status, he was certain to be drafted, so he signed up, as did many young man in that era.

And, like so many others, he was sent to Vietnam.

“I was in what they call Northern I Corps, a little place known as Vandergrift Combat Base,” he said.

He was a member of Task Force Hotel, but the term referred to the letter assigned their outfit, not to their Hilton-style accommodations.

Noble doesn’t discuss a lot about what happened in Vietnam, where he earned a combat ribbon.

“You never knew from day to day what was going to happen,” he said. “You went from sheer boredom to sheer terror in a matter of seconds, then back again.”

When he was discharged, he worked at Chilocco Indian School. Then his wife got a job at W.W. Hastings Indian Medical Center, and they moved to Tahlequah. Noble attended Northeastern State University and taught junior high for eight or nine years during the 1980s, before going to work for the Cherokee Nation.

“When they started their veterans’ office, I was lucky enough to become their veterans’ coordinator,” he said.

During his time in Vietnam, the most important thing to Noble was his fellow soldiers, and what he could do to help them. He carries that respect for soldiers and that desire to help to his current position.

Noble is experienced with filling out all sorts of veterans’ forms and working with the different agencies that serve veterans. Those who may have difficulty getting through the paperwork and official language can find help at his office. He keeps up with the current rules, and is an accredited service officer with the VA.

“We can help them with anything they’re eligible for that they earned while they are in the service,” he said. “A lot of our guys don’t want to deal with the agencies, so we will deal with it for them.”

However, the individual veteran still must go for the medical exams or whatever other procedures are necessary to receive the benefits.

He receives inquiries about GI home loan guarantees and about medical care. Some veterans are still being treated for exposure to such chemical agents as Agent Orange in Vietnam, or to other substances in the Middle East.

“They’re still trying to figure that one out. They call it Gulf War Syndrome now,” Noble said.

“Right now, the veterans coming back from Iran and Afghanistan can use the VA hospital for five years without having to prove any kid of service-connected disability,” he said. “But the clock is ticking.”

After the five years elapse, they will have to prove they have a service-related condition to continue to receive care.

“We also do readjustment counseling here. Our counselor stays here, but he is employed by the veterans office in Tulsa. He is a federal employee,” Noble said.

They also plan to obtain a part-time female counselor for his office to help women who are veterans. That number is increasing, he said.

“Our main purpose is to help veterans cut through the red tape. These forms are rather confusing if you haven’t had to deal with them before,” he said.

Noble enjoys his work signing up veterans for the Cherokee Nation Warriors’ Memorial, dedicated in 2005.

“It was placed there to honor all our Cherokee veterans, living or dead,” he said. “We feel that if they didn’t do what they did for us and the generations to come, we wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing now. They’re the ones who made everything possible.”

It costs $25 for a brick honoring an individual veteran. They need not have seen combat to be honored. Forms to purchase the bricks are available from Noble and, after they are purchased, it takes a month or more to have them engraved and installed.

Benches honor each Cherokee Congressional of Honor recipient, and also Walkabout. Noble said at least three people have purchased bricks honoring Montgomery. A third Congressional Medal of Honor recipient is trying to prove his Cherokee ancestry and, if successful, also will be honored at the memorial.

So far more than 2,000 bricks have been installed at the memorial, just east of the main tribal complex, and Noble invites visitors to walk through the area and read the names.

The memorial is a piece of living history.

“We have some bricks that people have bought for their ancestors, who were in the Civil War,” Noble said. “If I remember correctly, someone even bought one for Dragging Canoe.”

The newest project for Noble and the Cherokee Nation is the Cherokee Veterans Center, to be built next to the Warriors Memorial.

“They’re starting to move utilities for it now,” Noble said. “It’s going to be what the chief calls a community project. He wants as much of the work done by the community as possible.”

He is seeking donations of time, money, labor, equipment and materials from community members to make the center a reality, in accordance with Principal Chief Chad Smith’s principle of ga-du-gi — everyone working together for the common good.

“That way everybody can say, ‘look what we’ve done for our veterans,’” he said.

As one who has served his country and is dedicated to helping other veterans, what will he think on July 4?

“I’m glad that we all take time out to honor this country,” he said. “Today a lot of things get pushed to the back, as far as the actual meaning of the holiday. It’s tie to stop and think about all the things you enjoy in life all the things that made all of this possible.”

 

Check it out

If you are a discharged veteran and need help with social services, veterans’ benefits, education or other areas, Rogan Noble can supply the information you need. Call him at 453-5695 to set up an appointment to visit him at his office in the Cherokee Nation Tribal Complex. Noble works with all veterans, not just Cherokees or other American Indians. Noble also welcomes inquiries from people wishing to purchase a brick in the Cherokee Warriors’ Memorial, or from people interested in volunteering their time, funds or materials for construction of the new Cherokee Veterans’ Center. Call him at his office.