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Left to Right: Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief S. Joe Crittenden, Tribal Council members Buel Anglen and Don Garvin, Robert Estep, Tribal Council members David Walkingstick and Tina Glory Jordan and Principal Chief Bill John Baker. Estep was one of three Cherokee veterans honored by the tribe at its January Tribal Council meeting.

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation honored three Vietnam veterans, one who served in the Air Force and the other two in the Army, at this month’s Tribal Council meeting in Tahlequah. Deputy Principal Chief S. Joe Crittenden presented each of the men with the Cherokee Medal of Patriotism.

Taylor Whitmire was born on July 9, 1933, at the Claremore Indian Hospital and raised in Chewey, Okla. He attended several rural grade schools before going to Seneca Indian School in Wyandotte, Okla., from 1946 to 1950 and then attended the Haskell Institute Indian School in Lawrence, Kan., until 1952.

Whitmire enlisted in the Air Force in May 1953. He had his basic training in San Antonio and went to aircraft engine mechanic school at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.

“I got to work on airplanes, which I didn’t know I had the capability to do before I went in the Air Force,” said Whitmire. “I enjoyed that very much.”

Whitmire was stationed at various bases in the United States as well as overseas in Reykjavik, Iceland and Prestwick, Scotland. From 1969 to 1970 he was stationed in Nha Trang, Vietnam. He returned stateside to close out his 20 year military career at England Air Force Base in Louisiana, retiring as a tech sergeant in January 1974.

Whitmire then attended Northeastern State University until 1978 before going to work for Cherokee Nation Industries and retiring in 1996 after nearly 18 years. He now lives in the Spade Mountain community near Stilwell, Okla.

Next to be honored was Johnnie Shepherd. Shepherd was born in Liberal, Kan., to Noah and Elsie Shepherd on May 8, 1948. He grew up in Tahlequah, where he graduated from high school in 1966. In October 1967, Shepherd was drafted by the Army. He got his basic training in Fort Polk, La., and was sent to Fort Sill, Okla., for advanced infantry training. Shepherd was then assigned to artillery duty in Dau Tieng, Vietnam, from 1968 to 1969.

“I was the gunner on an eight inch howitzer that weighed 32 tons, 64 thousand pounds,” said Shepherd. “I was the gunner on it for a year over there and then got my orders that I could come back home, or I could re-up over there and stay two weeks and get completely out. I didn’t want to take that choice, because I had replaced two guys that had got killed there with their two weeks early out.”

Shepherd then reported to Fort Sill to finish the remainder of his service. His awards include the Good Conduct Medal, Marksman Qualification Badge and the Purple Heart.

Shepherd now lives in Tahlequah with his wife, Carol. The couple has two children, Shelia and Shaun, and five grandchildren.

The third veteran to be honored, Robert Estep, was born in Moline, Ill., Dec. 18, 1948, grew up in Muskogee and attended Hulbert High School for his senior year, graduating in 1967. Estep was drafted by the Army in January 1969, making him the third generation of his family to serve in the military. He went to Fort Polk for basic training and advanced infantry training. Estep then served as an air cavalry point man in Vietnam from June 1969 to June 1970.

On March 5, 1970, his unit discovered a 253 thousand pound enemy rice cache, one of the largest ever found in Vietnam.

“My unit found 253 thousand pounds of rice in 14 bins,” said Estep. “They were 200 pound bags of rice. We loaded those up on a Chinook (helicopter) with a net, and they hauled all of it to Kon Tum and distributed it to the Vietnamese.” 

On March 8, 1970, Estep was wounded by a mortar round. For his service, Estep was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Bronze Star for meritorious service, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Estep was discharged in October 1976. He then went to work for the Department of Justice with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in February 1977 at McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary in Washington before working in federal prisons in Lompoc, Calif., Atlanta and Miami. In January 1999, Estep retired as a federal prison system lieutenant after 22 years. He moved from Key Largo, Fla., to Fort Gibson in December 2000 and now lives on Fort Gibson Lake with his wife of 40 years and his son.

The Cherokee Nation honors Cherokee service men and women during regular Tribal Council meetings as a way to thank them for their sacrifices for their county and as a way to demonstrate the high regard in which all veterans are held by the tribe. Statistically and historically, Native Americans, including Cherokees, are thought to hold the highest record of military service per capita of any ethnic group, according to the Department of Defense.

If you know a veteran that you would like to see honored by the Cherokee Nation, please call 918- 453-5541 or 800-256-0671, ext. 5541, to nominate them. To be eligible for recognition the veteran must be a Cherokee Nation citizen.
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