MRFF Assists Native American Officer Infuriated by Demeaning Presentation by So-Called “History Expert” from Commander’s Church

Thursday Afternoon, August 15, 2024

MRFF ASSISTS NATIVE AMERICAN OFFICER

INFURIATED BY DEMEANING PRESENTATION

BY SO-CALLED “HISTORY EXPERT”

FROM COMMANDER’S CHURCH

“When I viewed one of the presented slides with my assembled military unit I became so outraged and sick to my stomach I

didn’t know what to do? I was just incredulous!

“This slide stated that during the 1870’s the main 3 missions of

the U.S. Cavalry stationed at our installation was to ‘(1) Fight

and defeat the Sioux Nation hostiles on the battlefield,

(2) Domesticate the Sioux Nation hostiles and, (3) Bring the Sioux Nation hostiles to the grace of Jesus Christ.’”

“After this power point and when the mandatory meeting was adjourned it all just got worse. I spoke with the senior officer

(whom I will refer to as my ‘sub-commander’) who had arranged this presentation ... My sub-commander just dismissed my complaint by telling me that it sounded as if I was a proponent of ‘Critical Race Theory’ and, further, was improperly trying to use DEI (‘Diversity, Equality and Inclusion’) as a weapon. He then said something I will never forget or forgive. He told me that he was well aware of my Native American heritage and that it was likely that my Native American heritage ‘helped’ me get an appointment to my alma mater, the United States (military branch withheld) Academy.”

— Excerpts from Sioux military officer and MRFF client e-mail

Group of U.S. cavalry officers from 1800s

MRFF OP-ED ON

DAILY KOS

Trending story on Daily Kos

Dehumanizing presentation by “history expert”

from commander’s church infuriates Sioux officer

By: MRFF Senior Research Director Chris Rodda

Thursday, August 15, 2024

In an astounding display of Christian nationalist bigotry, supremacy, and historical just-making-crap-up, a local so-called “history expert,” brought in by a military commander from his off-base evangelical megachurch to deliver a presentation on the history of the base, told a unit assembled at a mandatory gathering that the soldiers stationed at the installation in its early days were there to “domesticate” the Sioux Indians and bring them to Jesus.

Now, as you might imagine, this “history expert’s” presentation did not go over well, to put it mildly, particularly with one of the unit’s officers who happens to be a Native American and enrolled member of his Sioux tribe.

Describing the appallingly offensive presentation and the effect it had on him in an e-mail to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), MRFF’s client wrote:

“When I viewed one of the presented slides with my assembled military unit I became so outraged and sick to my stomach I didn’t know what to do? I was just incredulous!

“This slide stated that during the 1870’s the main 3 missions of the U.S. Cavalry stationed at our installation was to ‘(1) Fight and defeat the Sioux Nation hostiles on the battlefield, (2) Domesticate the Sioux Nation hostiles and, (3) Bring the Sioux Nation hostiles to the grace of Jesus Christ.’”

The history geek in me can’t help but interject here to tell Mr. local “history expert” that the primary mission of the soldiers stationed at this fort during that time period was to accompany and protect railroad surveyors and construction gangs until the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 and to patrol the railroad for a number of years afterwards. So, no, Mr. local “history expert,” their mission was not to “domesticate,” as you so demeaningly and dehumanizingly put it, the Sioux people or bring them to Jesus.

MRFF has often assisted Native American service members whose culturally boneheaded Christian zealot military superiors have seen nothing at all wrong with, for example, telling a Native American subordinate to wear his “best Indian clothes” for their traditional “Puritan” Thanksgiving event last year. (Because a Native American service member would of course have a closet full of “Indian clothes” that they wear to kick back in when they’re off duty.) And that wasn’t even an isolated incident. A few years earlier another commander at another base told a Native American in their unit to dress up like an “Indian” to add to the “historical” nature of their “Pilgrim Heritage” event.

But, despite having had quite a few Native American clients over the years, never have we at MRFF encountered anything as beyond the pale as what our Sioux officer client was subjected to when he dared to complain about the appalling presentation (emphasis added):

“After this power point and when the mandatory meeting was adjourned it all just got worse. I spoke with the senior officer (whom I will refer to as my ‘sub-commander’) who had arranged this presentation with this so-called local community ‘history expert’ civilian who lived off base in the adjoining town. I explained how enraged I was about what was written about my Sioux people on that particular slide. My sub-commander just dismissed my complaint by telling me that it sounded as if I was a proponent of ‘Critical Race Theory’ and, further, was improperly trying to use DEI (‘Diversity, Equality and Inclusion’) as a weapon.”

Yep, it’s the MAGA boogeymen — CRT and DEI.

Think this commander couldn’t say anything worse than that? Think again …

“He then said something I will never forget or forgive. He told me that he was well aware of my Native American heritage and that it was likely that my Native American heritage ‘helped’ me get an appointment to my alma mater, the United States (military branch name withheld) Academy.”

As you’ll read in the e-mail below from MRFF’s client, the commander who made these abhorrently racist remarks as well as the unit commander have thus far received only slap-on-the-wrist punishments, but an investigation has been launched, and MRFF is assisting our client with filing both IG and EEO complaints.

MRFF’s client has no intention of letting this MAGA-infused, Christian supremacist affront to decency go unpunished, writing:

“I won’t let this unbelievably demeaning moment against my Sioux heritage go without a fight. And the MRFF is leading the way for us!”

Here’s MRFF's client's whole e-mail, detailing the entire revolting story:

From: (Active Duty Military Officer/MRFF Client’s e-mail address withheld)

Subject: Thanks MRFF from a Native American Military Officer

Date: August 14, 2024 at 8:21:24 AM MDT

To: Information Weinstein <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>

I am an active duty military officer in the United States (military branch name withheld). I am also a graduate of the United States (military branch name withheld) Academy. I am married with (number of children withheld) kids. Our family proudly follows my Native American spiritualist religious faith which is over 9,000 years old.

I very recently asked for help from the MRFF directly to Mr. Weinstein after suffering a humiliating experience regarding my Native American ethnicity at a mandatory gathering of my military unit a few days ago.

For the record I am an enrolled member of the (specific tribal name withheld) Sioux tribe and my military occupational specialty involves the direct oversight and use of nuclear weapons.

Within the last week or so our unit commander conducted a regularly scheduled "All-Hands" gathering which included a presentation by a local civilian “history expert” who gave a power point presentation on the history of our installation going back to the 1860’s and 1870’s.

When I viewed one of the presented slides with my assembled military unit I became so outraged and sick to my stomach I didn’t know what to do? I was just incredulous!

This slide stated that during the 1870’s the main 3 missions of the U.S. Cavalry stationed at our installation was to “(1) Fight and defeat the Sioux Nation hostiles on the battlefield, (2) Domesticate the Sioux Nation hostiles and, (3) Bring the Sioux Nation hostiles to the grace of Jesus Christ.”

After this power point and when the mandatory meeting was adjourned it all just got worse. I spoke with the senior officer (whom I will refer to as my “sub-commander”) who had arranged this presentation with this so-called local community "history expert" civilian who lived off base in the adjoining town. I explained how enraged I was about what was written about my Sioux people on that particular slide. My sub-commander just dismissed my complaint by telling me that it sounded as if I was a proponent of “Critical Race Theory” and, further, was improperly trying to use DEI ("Diversity, Equality and Inclusion”) as a weapon. He then said something I will never forget or forgive. He told me that he was well aware of my Native American heritage and that it was likely that my Native American heritage “helped” me get an appointment to my alma mater, the United States (military branch name withheld) Academy. He then asked me, if I had been of Japanese ancestry, whether I would have wanted to challenge Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s statement after Japan surrendered in World War 2 that he needed “1 million Christian bibles and 10,000 Christian missionaries to subdue and control the Japanese”?

I was just so stunned by his racist attitude and dismissiveness! I was literally speechless. I was flabbergasted!

That entire slide was so messed up and offensive! “Domesticate the Sioux Nation hostiles” sounded like the U.S. Cavalry viewed us as mere animals like “domesticating” feral dogs, cats or horses. And that statement about “Bring the Sioux Nation hostiles to the grace of Jesus Christ” was equally as offensive. All of it was wrong!

Other members of our unit came up to me and apologized for what had happened as most folks are well aware of my Sioux heritage.

I did some digging and found out that this “history expert” attends the same off base mega evangelical church as our unit commander. It seems likely that our sub-commander was trying to kiss up and curry favor perhaps with our unit commander by arranging this presentation but I don’t know for sure? I just know that I was completely humiliated.

I spoke with my wife who was also shocked. She agreed with my decision to ask for help from Mr. Mikey Weinstein and the MRFF. I was well aware of the MRFF from my days as a (cadet or midshipman) at the Academy.

Mikey shared our anger at what had gone down at that mandatory meeting. He immediately contacted our organizational commander and demanded punishment for what had occurred.

I know that an internal investigation has been launched and that I am supposed to speak with the assigned investigating officer soon. In the meantime I have learned that the sub-commander has so far received “verbal counseling” for his role in this as well as the statements he made to me about CRT, DEI and my appointment to the Academy. I also understand that our unit commander has to date received some sort of "written counseling" for what happened. I hope there is more punishment to come but there is no guarantee.

The MRFF is helping me file both IG and EEO complaints as well. I won’t let this unbelievably demeaning moment against my Sioux heritage go without a fight. And the MRFF is leading the way for us!

Mr. Weinstein and the MRFF, my whole family and I thank you for being there for me and my family in this terrible matter. Please do not release any information which might identify me in this situation as my wife and I do not want to be on the business end of any sort of military organizational retaliation.

(Active Duty Military Officer/MRFF Client’s name, rank, MOS/AFSC, assigned unit and installation all withheld)

Click to read on Daily Kos

Past cases of the degrading treatment of

Native American service members by

Christian nationalist commanders

11/13/23 – MRFF Helps Native American Service Member, Told to Dress Up Like an Indian, Stop Commander’s “Puritan Pilgrim” Thanksgiving Event

11/8/19 – MRFF Stops Pseudo-Historical Christian Proselytizing “Pilgrim Heritage” Thanksgiving Event

In Memoriam:

Enrolled Oglala Sioux Tribal Member,

MRFF Advisory Board Member

Eagle Man, Ed McGaa

(1936 - 2017)

Captain McGaa (USMC, Ret.) was an enrolled Oglala Sioux tribal member, OST 15287. After serving in Korea, he earned an undergraduate degree from St. Johns University, MN. He then later rejoined the Marine Corps to become a fighter pilot. Captain McGaa, returned from 110 combat missions to dance in six annual Sioux Sun Dances. A Bush Award recipient, he studied under two Sioux holy men; Chief Eagle Feather and Chief Fools Crow and the interpreter for Black Elk Speaks, Ben Black Elk. Ed held a law degree from the University of South Dakota and was the author of twelve books; three of which were published by Harper Collins. Ed’s book, Mother Earth Spirituality, was reprinted 50 times. His biography, Warrior’s Odyssey, was published by Amazon.

Captain McGaa was one of the very few to ever fly 5 combat missions in a row:

“It was probably about a 12 hour period or less. Afternoon off, hot pad on, getting close to midnight. A small airstrip, probably for Helio Couriers was the battle area. The downed Spad and Skyhawk A-4, managed to crash land there near the downed H-46’s. Major Tom Duffy, later KIA, and I had to fight all afternoon following the 3rd mission. While I was being re-armed and fueled for the 4th mission at darkness, the Squadron C.O. pointed out that a new pilot going into those mountains bearing 37’s and 51’s would have been a death sentence. We heard that 3 missions were the limit, and you were pretty tired by then anyway. A lot of adrenaline goes into a bombing mission under fire and repeated passes. I could have said ‘No’ but the Skipper pointed out those bombs being loaded were life or death for those Marine grunts on board each H-46. I didn’t have much choice. Dark Death was out there – no question. Both the Commander flight surgeon with my Colonel saluted me when the plane captain signaled start up of my 2nd J-79 engine. That is when I yelled at my Skipper, “Colonel, can I have a drink waiting IF I get back?” They both saluted me again and nodded affirmatively. I had no idea I would somehow be able to do a 5th attempt after finding out one chopper load was overrun. Later we found out all aboard were murdered in the High Lands – no POW list. I returned and they handed my drink up to me via the Plane Captain’s ‘cigar box’ on a pole, it had to be loaded. When we saw the Skipper and the high ranking Navy commander standing near the revetments by the loading area with what looked like a big canteen cup (My requested drink), I told my RIO (rear seater-no controls) that no way could I go back out. It had to be loaded with something. They did pass it up to me but I did not commit myself – not until about the 3rd long drink. Suddenly, miraculously I was full of energy and went back out. We saved the 2nd helo. Gun ships and two H-46’s got in. The enemy battalion was thoroughly mauled.”

Captain McGaa passed away in 2017.

MRFF Recommended Reading

THE GUARDIAN

Ex-US air force specialist with Christian

nationalist ties leads combat trainings

Michael Caughran’s history raises questions about extent to which

his far-right and survivalist activities overlapped with his enlistment

By: Jason Wilson

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

“A former US air force survival expert with militia and Christian nationalist connections is running survival and live-fire combat trainings in remote locations throughout the Pacific north-west, boasting on his website that the training incorporates trained law enforcement officers, “church security” operatives, and current and former US military members.”

Click to read on The Guardian