Montana Warrior Honored

Leslie Horn Honored

By Ronald Fischer
bcj_fischer@yahoo.com

On Wednesday morning, August 30th, an honoring ceremony was held at the Fort Belknap Tribal Office for Specialist Leslie Horn of the United States Army. Friends, family and neighbors came from all corners of Blaine County to congratulate her and thank her for her service.



Leslie, a 2003 graduate of Harlem High School, is the daughter of Curtis and Ramona Horn. Grandparents on her father’s side are Gilbert Horn, Sr. and the late Liz Horn. Grandparents on her mother’s side are Harley and Caroline Brown.

 

Leslie entered the United States Army on October 22nd, 2003. She attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and graduated on January 15th, 2004. She went on to the Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for AIT, in which her MOS is Small Arms Repair. Upon completion of AIT in April 2004, she was stationed at Baumholder, Germany with the 47th Forward Support Battalion. In November 2005, Leslie was deployed to Iraq for one year. She was stationed at Camp Buhring in Kuwait for standby. In May 2006, she began serving at Camp Ramadi, Iraq. She is currently a gunner on a gun truck and goes out regularly on missions.

 

The ceremony began with an introduction by Loren Stiffarm, followed by the Flag Song, presented by Robert Ironmaker and Singers. After a very eloquent prayer by Gerald Stiffarm, Specialist Horn was introduced by Diane Perez.



Gilbert Horn, Sr. then presented her with an eagle feather and spoke a few words on the honor and tradition that his granddaughter was preserving. A World War II Veteran and member of the famed 5307th “Merrill’s Marauders” Army Ranger unit, Horn commented on the way that warfare has changed, but stressed that the basic mission of the American soldier has remained the same. “I am against this [current] war,” he said. I feel that the opposing leaders should get together and fight it out themselves. But the war we are fighting today is a different kind of war; a war where your enemy is hidden. When I was in the Pacific, we could see our enemy….But no matter what, we need to honor and respect our troops. They are fighting for our families and our freedom.”





Following the presentation of the eagle feather, Tribal President Julia Doney presented Leslie with a quilt, given on behalf of the Tribal Council. “When you use this quilt overseas,” she said, “remember who you are and where you are from, and how much we all love and honor you. It is thanks to you and your comrades that we are able to be free here at home.”

 

The ceremony closed with an Honor Song by Bobby Ironmaker and Singers, and friends and family lined up to congratulate Leslie as refreshments were served.



Leslie returns to Camp Ramadi today, September 6th, to complete her one-year deployment, which ends in November. She goes with the thanks and prayers of her family, friends and fellow Blaine County residents, who wish her Godspeed and a safe completion of her tour.