The reason Army helicopters are named after native tribes will make you smile - Navy to name a new class of ships after the Navajo Nation
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The reason Army helicopters are named after native tribes will make you smile
The Army's helicopters have a number of names you recognize immediately: Apache, Black Hawk, Kiowa, Lakota, Comanche. They are also known as the names of Native American tribes. This is not a coincidence.
According to GlobalSecurity.org , this was originally due to Army Regulation 70-28, which has since been rescinded. Today, while the regulation is gone, the tradition remains, and there is a procedure to pick a new name. The Bureau of Indian Affairs keeps a list of names for the Army to use. When the Army gets a new helicopter (or fixed-wing aircraft), the commanding officer of the Army Material Command (the folks who buy the gear) comes up with a list of five names.
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Now, they can't just be any names. These names must promote confidence in the abilities of the helicopter or plane, they cannot sacrifice dignity, and they must promote an aggressive spirit. Those names then have to be run by the United States Patent Office, of all places. There's a lot more bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo to go through, but eventually a name is picked.
An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter from the 1st Infantry Division takes off on a mission from Forward Operation Base MacKenzie, Iraq. It is armed with an AGM-114 Hellfire and 7 Hydra 70 rockets. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Then comes something unique – the helicopter or aircraft is then part of a ceremony attended by Native American leaders, who bestow tribal blessings. You might be surprised, given that the Army and the Native Americans were on opposite side of the Indian Wars – and those wars went on for 148 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Three UH-60 Black Hawk (Blackhawk) helicopters prepare to touch down next to the Point Salines Airport runway during Operation URGENT FURY. (SUBSTANDARD)
Don't be. The fact is, despite the 148 years of hostilities, Native Americans also served with the United States military. Eli Parker, the only Native American to reach general's rank, was a personal aide to General Ulysses S. Grant. Most impressively, 25 Native Americans have received the Medal of Honor for heroism.
Gen. Abidin Ünal, Turkey's Air Force Chief of Staff, waves during takeoff in a UH-1N Iroquois at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 6, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ryan J. Sonnier)
In other words, the Army's helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft bear names that reflect fierce and courageous warriors who also have fought well as part of the United States Army. That is a legacy worth remembering and honoring with some of the Army's most prominent
systems.
On April 4th, 1969, the Army released a regulation called the AR70-28. It dictated that all Army aircraft should be named after either Native American tribes or chiefs. Since then the order has been lifted, but this long standing tradition still lives on as it is very popular with both the people serving and Native Americans themselves.
The name should appeal to the imagination without sacrifice of dignity, and should suggest an aggressive spirit and confidence in the capabilities of the aircraft.-Army’s “naming suggestion survey” from 1977.
When looking back at the reason the order was given in the first place, we look back at an interview Crispin Burke of WarIsBoring conducted with Bob Mitchell , the curator for the U.S. Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker in Alabama.
According to him, General Hamilton H. Howze, who’s considered the mastermind of the modern concept of air mobility, envisioned our air power to be “fast, stealthy, agile and deadly.” He wanted the names of the Army’s air power to reflect that and eventually came up with the idea to name aircraft after Native American tribes and chiefs as they embodied that spirit.
NAVAJO NATION ANNOUNCES NEW CLASS OF NAVY SHIPS
Published March 13, 2019
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation proudly announces that Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has named the new class of U.S. Navy Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ships Navajo. The class is named in honor of the Navajo people’s storied contributions to the American military, who have served in the armed forces for decades at a higher degree than the national participation rate.
“Throughout our history, the Diné people have always been the caretakers and protectors of our land in every branch of the armed services so we are very grateful that our people are being recognized through this historic announcement from the Navy,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. “I also want to thank all of the past leaders who advocated and supported this initiative over the years.”
“The Navajo people have fought and served our armed forces with honor and valor in nearly all major conflicts since the birth of our nation, so it is fitting and right to name a new class of ship in their honor,” said Secretary Spencer. “The Navajo class of Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ships will serve our nation and continue the legacy of the Navajo people, and all Native Americans.”
During World War II, the Navajo Code Talkers, Marines Corps service members under the Department of the Navy, fought in the Pacific Theater transmitting top secret messages. By the war’s end, over 400 Code Talkers were trained for this essential service.
In the invasion of Iwo Jima alone, Code Talkers sent over 800 messages without error. Major Howard Connor, who was the Code Talkers’ signal officer at Iwo Jima, said, “Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.”
The new class of vessels will be based on existing commercial towing offshore vessel designs and will replace the current T-ATF 166 and T-ARS 50 class ships. The first ship of this class will be named USNS Navajo and designated T-ATS 6.
Each additional ship in the class will be named in honor of prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes.
The late Senator John McCain (AZ), who retired from the Navy with the rank of captain, strongly supported the effort to name the ship class in honor of the Navajo People.
“John worked hard to ensure the Navajo Nation’s contributions to our security and culture were recognized by the U.S. Navy in the manner in which it traditionally pays tribute to important American communities. I’m so pleased, and I know John would be very gratified, that the Navy has now officially named a United States Naval Ship Navajo, a deserved and overdue honor,” Cindy McCain, the late Senator McCain’s wife of 38 years, said in statement.
After Senator McCain’s passing, Senator Martha McSally (AZ) carried forward the effort in coordination with the Navy.
“The Navajo People have an incredibly rich legacy of military service and deserve to have a class of U.S. Navy ships named in their honor. Arizonans are proud of this recognition of the Navajo Nation which was fought for and secured by Senator McCain. This is yet another example of how his legacy will live on,” Senator McSally said in a statement.
Former Navajo Nation Council Speaker LoRenzo Bates coordinated the naming project during his speaker administration. He passed on the project to current Navajo Nation Council Speaker Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Lichíí’, Rock Springs, Tsayatoh) when he assumed office.
“I extend a strong ahéhee’to the efforts of Secretary Spencer and the late Senator McCain to advance this effort. Our Navajo people, including several council delegates, have a strong tradition of defense of this land. I would also like to recognize the current Navajo service members around the world protecting freedom and delivering humanitarian aid,” said Speaker Damon.
Gulf Island Shipyards was awarded $63.5 million contract for the detail design and construction of the T-ATS. The T-ATS will serve as open ocean towing vessels and will additionally support salvage operations and submarine rescue missions. The first ship in the class will be built at the company’s shipyard in Houma, Louisiana and is expected to be completed in March 2021.
NO POLITICS
A bit of history and the naming of a new class of ships. The first of them will be named the Navajo. Additional ships will be named after an Native American tribe of a prominent Native American..
My choice would be Commander Ernest Evans of the USS Johnston. Medal of Honor recipient and the first to turn his ship into an overwhelming Japanese force at the Battle of Samar...Many historians have called this battle, "The Navy Finest Hour''....
It would be best if a destroyer was named in his honor...Since that was what he was commanding at the critical battle of Samar.
NO POLITICS
This brings a smile to my face. My grandfather (Thunder Water) fought in the last of the battles of the Indian wars.
The Battle of Sugar Point, Leech Lake MN. 1898....The Ojibwe vs the 3rd U.S. Infantry...We won
And yes, I talked to my grand father many times about this and other battles of the Indian Wars.
He was born somewhere around 1878, give or take a few years.
Love to hear some of those stories.
You are right.
IIRC, some years ago the History Channel did an animated reenactment of the battle, sans much of the personal details.
Maybe I can find it.
That would be great, dave.
This may be it Kavika. I do not understand the dates on this, as i know I saw it when my daughter was young.
I'll be watching it tomorrow, dave...Thanks for finding it.
Just finished watching the video...Excellent and thanks for finding this video, dave.
You are welcome Kavika.
I am glad you appreciated it.
Actually, I watched a segment the other day on AHC about Taffy 3 at the Battle of Samar and the exploits of the Commander Evans and the USS Johnston and the other destroyers involved. Evans most definitely earned the Medal of Honor that day. Thanks for posting this Kavika.
Hi Doc,
A while back I posted a whole article on just the Battle of Samar with a lot of detail.
I remember that. Enjoyed that very much also.
Your wish is about 65 years late Kav. Already been done.
From Wikipedia:
She was decommissioned in 1973. Maybe the Navy will name another for him.
Hi TTGA,
I was aware that there was a destroyer named after him and that it was dicommissioned. There is a move to name a new destroyer after him...Hopefully it will be successful.
Excellent. I too hope they succeed.
Got to head out for the night. I can barely see the screen. The weather has really messed with my sinuses. Also, little Levi had a cold last week and passed around free samples. I really didn't want my sample but who can refuse a Levi hug.
Not anyone that I know...LOL
So, I sure as heck hope no one confuses the Choctaw UH-34 helicopter with the Choctaw T-ATS (when it comes out). But, then again, a wise 'ol Indian once said that there are more planes in the water than there are ships in the sky.
Congratulations U.S. Navy - in my opinion - good job.
Indeed it is.
I would say we were screwed. Myself spiritually 91% Irishman coming from Consohocken, Nockamixon, & Lahaska PA , and speaking on my bride's behalf, coming from Colorado and Chihuahua, mostly AI with some Spanich, lol.
Every effing instrument of war should be named after native tribes instead of fat old white men like my distant cousins........
In my Humble Opinion.
LOL, ok I'll go with that.
True story, very early on in our relationship. We had to make salads for a baby shower or some such thing.
We just came back from shopping and unloaded groceries, and she's in the kitchen and says "I can't find the pickles".
I say they're in the garage on the counter.
She says I need to get chopping.
I say, no need to, there are some in the garage, I'll get them.
She say's NO I need to get CHOPing. Understand?
I said OH, SHOPPING, yes I'll be glad to go get whatever you need from the store......
I think it's called white man's hearing syndrome.
Lucky for me she thought it was funny as all get out.......
Still calls me Pan Dejo though, lol
After six seasons in Yuma, we're finally taking beginners' Spanish... but Google is always ready!
You only need to learn the curses and bad words,
but I can retrieve slippers and the car keys without thinking about whether she asked in Spinach or Englich, lol
Yo como naranjas!
Hey! I said beginner ...
Too funny
She's my Sofia Vergara, lol.
and I am verrrrrrry lucky.
It definitely sounds as though you are, SP.
Another fine article.
Thanks, K.
Thanks Bob.
Nice bit of history I never knew before. Love learning new things.
Great News about the helicopters.
I can't wait to share this with Big Cheif! Indian and Navy all the way! He will be very pleased!
The first vessel will be the Navajo...The remaining ships will be named after another AI tribe or prominent Native.
I'll do my best to get one of the vessels named after Big Chief or his tribe....The Anishinaabe...
A very interesting and enlightening article Kavika. A really great way to honor our Native American Tribes.
Way to go Navy!
Yes it is, RW.
Interesting information - thanks. I was just wondering what military equipment might be called "Ojibwe Class".
Soon I hope, Buzz.
Dear Brother Kavika: Proportionately, no other group in the American population is as well represented as Native Americans.
That deserves to be respected.
E.
Thanks niijii.
Great article Kavika.
Thanks pat, I thought that it would be interesting to most members since I doubt if they are aware of the history of Native names for the military.
The new class of ships being named after NA tribes is another well deserved honor.