TAHLEQUAH, Okla. —The Cherokee Nation honored four veterans with the Medal of Patriotism in August.
Raymond Eugene Kating Jr. of Chelsea, Oklahoma; George Michael Sequichie of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Jimmie Dale Curran of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Warren Deane Huggins of Baton Rouge, Louisiana were recognized for their service and sacrifice to the country.
Kating joined the United States Navy in November 1967. He was deployed to the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Caribbean. He was last stationed at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas, where he served for one year. Kating was Honorably Discharged on November 1, 1971. During his career, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.
Sequichie entered the United States Army on November 5, 1965. Sequichie was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina from January to June 1996 for his Advanced Individual Training where he specialized in communications and small arms repair. In June 1966, his unit was deployed to Vietnam to the Third Corps Area, War Zone 3, in the Iron Triangle. Their mission was to support all units in the area by maintaining and repairing weapons and communications equipment to ensure they remain operational. Sequichie was Honorably Discharged on August 7, 1967. He has been honored with the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal.
Curran entered the United States Army Reserve in November of 1981, while still in high school through the Delayed Entry Program. In November of 1990, he was placed on active with the 309th Maintenance Company in preparation for mobilization during Operation Desert Shield. In February of 1991, Curran deployed with his unit to Saudi Arabia serving as the NBC NCO and Security Reaction Force team leader at both Log Base Echo and Khobor Military Medical Complex until July, 1991. He was Honorably Discharged on August 4, 1991.
Over his career, Curran received the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (2nd Award), the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal W/ 2 Bronze Service Stars.
Huggins turned 99 years old on August 21. Huggins entered the U.S. Navy July 28, 1944. He served in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Barnstable (APA-93), where he rose to the rank of Motor Machinist’s Mate, Third Class. He witnessed the devastation in Hiroshima after the first atomic bomb was dropped. He received several medals including Victory Ribbon, American Area Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Huggins was Honorably discharged on June 18, 1946.
Each month, the Cherokee Nation recognizes service men and women for their sacrifices and 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, call 918-772-4166.