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Samuel Nathan Blatchford died December 23, 2005. Born June 23, 1924, he led a full and remarkable life. He was a Navajo Indian born at Fort Defiance, AZ. Born of the Mud Clan. After a boyhood spent on the reservation and an education in mission schools, he first enlisted in the 7th Cavalry in 1941. He later transferred to the Army Air Corps where he served as a radio operator on a B17 Flying Fortress in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. During WWII he was shot down three times, the last time over Brittany, France. He was rescued by the French Resistance (French Underground) and stayed with them for three months, assisting in subversive activities despite being wounded. He was captured by the Gestapo as he was trying to make his way back to England and was a Prisoner of War interned at Stalag XVII-B for 18 months until he was liberated by the 13th Armored Division of Patton’s 3rd Army. Despite his ordeal, he went on to serve in both the Korean Conflict and the Viet Nam War.
His military career lasted until his retirement in January 1977 during which he received 28 medals including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, four Purple Hearts, six Air Medals, and the Prisoner of War Medal. In 1990 he was adopted by the Sioux Nation and was given the Yellow Eagle Feather, the highest honor a Lakota warrior can receive.
Following his military service, he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering his Master’s degree in Business Administration and served as a site manager for Boeing Services International at a USAF installation in Turkey. A highly patriotic man, he remained active throughout the rest of his life in both the military and the Native American communities. While still in the military, he returned to France and reunited with his dear friends in the French Underground. He was honored several times by both the Underground and the French government.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cecelia Blatchford, his daughter, Natalie Russo, and husband, Garth, of Athens, Georgia; his step-son Wayne Damba and wife, Carlene, of Greensboro, NC; his sister, Edith Sakiestawa and husband, Victor, of Window Rock, AZ; his sister, Ruth Cope of Stockton, KS; his brother, Robert Blatchford and wife, Shirley, of Phoenix, AZ; his sister, Irene Corbett of Scottsdale, AZ; sister Dorothy Ann Blatchford of Phoenix, AZ; and brother, Benjamin Blatchford of Bell Garden, CA. He was predeceased by 2 brothers, Herbert Blatchford and Paul Blatchford and by 2 sisters, Mary Gorman and Ephy Blatchford.
A memorial service will be held at Holy Rosary Church on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 11 AM. He will later be interred at Arlington National Cemetary in Washington, DC. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Wyoming Catholic College Fund, PO Box 750, Lander WY 82520.
His military career lasted until his retirement in January 1977 during which he received 28 medals including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, four Purple Hearts, six Air Medals, and the Prisoner of War Medal. In 1990 he was adopted by the Sioux Nation and was given the Yellow Eagle Feather, the highest honor a Lakota warrior can receive.
Following his military service, he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering his Master’s degree in Business Administration and served as a site manager for Boeing Services International at a USAF installation in Turkey. A highly patriotic man, he remained active throughout the rest of his life in both the military and the Native American communities. While still in the military, he returned to France and reunited with his dear friends in the French Underground. He was honored several times by both the Underground and the French government.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cecelia Blatchford, his daughter, Natalie Russo, and husband, Garth, of Athens, Georgia; his step-son Wayne Damba and wife, Carlene, of Greensboro, NC; his sister, Edith Sakiestawa and husband, Victor, of Window Rock, AZ; his sister, Ruth Cope of Stockton, KS; his brother, Robert Blatchford and wife, Shirley, of Phoenix, AZ; his sister, Irene Corbett of Scottsdale, AZ; sister Dorothy Ann Blatchford of Phoenix, AZ; and brother, Benjamin Blatchford of Bell Garden, CA. He was predeceased by 2 brothers, Herbert Blatchford and Paul Blatchford and by 2 sisters, Mary Gorman and Ephy Blatchford.
A memorial service will be held at Holy Rosary Church on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 11 AM. He will later be interred at Arlington National Cemetary in Washington, DC. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Wyoming Catholic College Fund, PO Box 750, Lander WY 82520.
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