PHOENIX — It’s been 20 years since Lori Piestewa, a U.S. Army Specialist, was killed during combat in the Iraq War. But the grieving process is still a daily process for Lori’s mother, Priscilla “Percy” Baca Piestewa.
“Some days are good, other days, you just… you just pretend to be doing what you need to do,” Percy said.
Lori was the first woman in the U.S. Military to be killed in combat during the War in Iraq. She was the first Native American woman to die while serving in the U.S. Military.
But Lori was also a daughter and a mother.
Her son Brandon Whiterock, was just shy of four years old when he lost his mother.
On March 23, 2003, three days after the War in Iraq began, Lori’s company was traveling in a convoy through Iraq. The convoy became lost in the desert and was ambushed in Nasiriyah, Iraq. Lori and members of her company were taken prisoner, but Lori died from injuries sustained in the attack.
Brandon described learning about his mother’s death as “difficult” and “confusing,” not fully learning the truth until high school.
“I pushed away my family,” Brandon said. “And so it was just a hard time to try to cope with those feelings. And I didn't really understand what was going through.”
This week, Gold Star Families and Tribal organizations recognized Lori and honored her sacrifice. It’s events like these that Brandon said helped him grow and look at life from a different perspective.
“All these POWs coming every year to relive this tragic day too, as well as with me, and they've been through so much more than I have,” he said. “And it's crazy because they come year after year after year. And I'm just saying that's so much love and support I have from them.”
In the years since her death, many honors have been bestowed upon Lori and her family.
Piestewa’s name is synonymous with one of the most prominent peaks in Arizona, Piestewa Peak, posthumously named after the fallen hero.
But it’s the quiet moments, like connecting with other people, that helped the family keep their faith, and find their purpose.
“Few of us, so few of us ever figure out what our purpose in life is,” Percy said. “But we, as a family feel her purpose in life, was to do just that. Bring people together and peace, harmony and love.”
