Considering Manifest Destiny And The Passing Of American Hero : Jimmie Begay

Bill Smith: People who have and do serve honorably in the military living up to their Oaths and remembering "Duty, Honor, Country" are heroes in my book. However, some deserve special mention in their passing. The mentioning is not because they would consider themselves better than others but because some stand out to their fellow heroes due to some uniqueness of choice, dignity and a willingness to "bear the crap of their generation."

Within the United States, it is easy to forget that we are a country containing nations. Yes, we pledge to the United States our loyalty in saying "One Nation Under God." But in fact, there are nations who have stood within the matrix of our expansionist history. Within the United States, there are people who are both fellow citizens but who are also member of nations bound by treaties to the United States government - the American Indian Nations.

Although not part of the following tribute, the treatment of the peoples within the Indian Nations bear evidence of the failures of Big Government. The history of treaty failures should serve as a reminder that the Federal Government is far from being capable of administering today's massive liberal social programs. The Federal Government has enough responsibility addressing its legitimate Constitutional requirements - National Defense, internal treaty requirements, responsibility to those serving and to those whom have served, military retirees and disabled veterans.

These responsibilities have often proven to be beyond the capability of the Federal Government let alone its impetuous continued bureaucratic expansionism into the areas clearly defined as those of its member states or the rights and personal choices of the individual citizen. Manifest Destiny formerly defined the desire of the Unites States to expand its borders and thus its control from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Presently, intellectual liberal socialism has established its own manifest destiny for Big Government: The control of all Americans from pre-birth to the grave.

Today, I join in honoring the passing Jimmie Begay, an American, a member of The Navajo Nation, a U.S Marine, and a WWII "code talker," and a veteran.  New Mexico blogger and conservative friend Cindy at The Pink Flamingo has detailed the following:

Sgt. Jimmie Begay 86 years old from Sawmill, Arizona 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion February 1, 2012

The Navajo Nation has lost another "code talker". Sgt. Jimmie Begay passed away Wednesday night at Tsehootsoi Medical Center in Fort Defiance at the age of 88 from a head injury he sustained after a fall. Sgt. Begay enlisted in the Marines in 1942 when he was 17 years old. Sadly there isn’t much information on Sgt. Begay, but you can read more about him on The Navajo Times.

Added - From The Navajo Times: The Navajo Nation has lost another code talker.

Sgt. Jimmie Begay passed away Wednesday night at Tsehootsoi Medical Center in Fort Defiance at the age of 88.

During World War II, Begay served in the 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, Saipan, and Tinian.

Begay enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1942 when he was 17 years old, according to the president's office.

From Fort Wingate, N.M., he boarded a bus for Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he completed boot camp before transferring to Camp Elliot to train as a code talker.

After completing his service in the Marines in 1945, Begay received an honorable discharge. He then finished his schooling at Santa Fe Indian High School.

He worked as a guard at the Army Depot-Japanese Internment Camp in Leupp, Ariz. He competed in boxing before starting work at Navajo Forest Products Industry in Navajo, N.M. He retired from NFPI in 1985.

Begay earned numerous commendations for his service in the Pacific theater, including the Congressional Silver Medal in 2001.

Begay is survived by his son, Thurman Begay of Sawmill, Ariz.; grandchildren, Jacquelyn A. Begay and Janelle R. Begay of Sawmill, Scott Begay and Rhonda Roan of Albuquerque; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sophie Begay; parents, Carl Begay and Nazbah Blackgoat; brothers, Kenneth M. Begay and Kee Begay; sisters, Ruth Stewart and Lottie Randall; and son, Perry Begay.

. . . President Ben Shelly has ordered the Navajo Nation flag to be flown at half-staff from Thursday through sundown on Sunday in honor of Begay.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look Check out: Wednesday's Hero.

This tribute is also shared at Findalis' "Monkey in the Middle" blog.

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