GRIC veteran is seeking photographs to complete special project

Emma Hughes

Gila River Indian News

 

Thousands of men fought in World War II from 1939-1945 and some of those young men were from the Gila River Indian Community. 

 

Gary Anderson Sr. is a GRIC veteran who spent 22-years in the U.S Army Special Forces.  Anderson is working on a special presentation project that recognizes the young men that gave the ultimate sacrifice during WWII, which will be presented during a Memorial Day and 75th anniversary of D-Day event.

 

Over the past four months, Anderson has been finding information of those Community members who lost their lives during WWII to give them recognition and show that they are not forgotten but needs some assistance in retrieving photographs for some of the men. 

 

If you have any information on any of the following names listed, you can contact Anderson by email: gander2174@aol.com

 

  • Josuha Morris USMC -Graduate Tucson Indian Boarding School (Esquela)

DOB: 10/02/1923       Gila Crossing, Brother Eugene Morris

KIA 7/26/1944

 

  • Anthony Jose from Bapchule. Mother Celestine Jose: 

DOB 07/26/1919 

KIA 12/15/1943

 

  • Antonio (Haskell) Osife from Blackwater: 

DOB 05/28/1908 

KIA 03/17/1944

 

  • Leander S. Shelde from Gila Crossing: 

DOB 2/14/1917 

KIA 06/18/1944 St. Johns Grad.

 

  • Robert E. Allison from Lower San Tan: 

DOB 05/28/1926 

KIA 07/21/1944

 

Attended Tucson Indian Boarding School (Esquela) Non-Grad

Mother Bertha Juan?

 

  • Richard N. Laws possibly from Blackwater. Attended Tucson Indian Boarding School (Esquela) Non-Grad

KIA 04/21/1945          Family Christine Laws (Widow)

 

  • Johnston Peters from Komatke. Son of William Peters

DOB     04/06/1919     Tucson Indian Boarding School (Escuela) Non-Grad 

KIA 04/30/1945          Brother Nathaniel Juan of Sacaton.

 

  • Willscott Anton from Komatke.

no information on Mr. Anton, his remains were returned to the US in 1949. Anderson believes he participated in the Normandy Invasion and was KIA.

 

  • Joe Terry from San Tan Village.

DOB  01/13/1920

KIA 08 09/1944

 

  • Harry Miguel from Casa Blanca.

Dob: Jan 12, 1931

KIA: Mar 16, 1951