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Ira Hayes fought for our freedom

Posoh John,

This week is the 69th anniversary of the death of Pima Indian Ira Hayes, who was one of six U.S. Marines captured in the iconic, Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of the raising of the American flag during the battle of Iwo Jima, Japan, during World War II. 

Besides worldwide fame, the Marine received many awards for his service, including the Medal of Honor and his life was captured in popular music and film. In fact, the photo of the marines raising the American flag became the best-selling American postage stamp of all time.

Portrait of Ira Hayes

However, Ira Hayes’ newfound fame proved too difficult for him to bear. He suffered from PTSD, which was a combination of survivor's guilt and the shock of seeing death. He died tragically at the age of 32.

I grew up hearing about Ira Hayes from my father, Hilary “Sparky” Waukau, a former U.S. Marine who also served in World War II.

Like Ira Hayes, Dad had life-changing memories from his time of service, including when his division landed at Nagasaki two weeks after the atomic bomb was dropped. Dad described the shadows of bodies etched into concrete sidewalks and buildings. He saw people maimed and dying from radiation sickness.

The memories lasted his entire life and fueled his fight to protect the environment, especially the Wolf River.

Portrait of Hilary Waukau

At public hearings and rallies, my dad often said, “I saw with my own eyes the devastation of nuclear war and what it can do. Over my dead body will that be allowed to be put into the ground to harm my people for this generation and the next seven generations.”

Ira Hayes was buried in 1955 with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Dad was buried in 1995 with full military honors on the Menominee Reservation. 

These experiences my dad and Ira Hayes went through were to serve our country – and to make a better world for Native people. Like so many other soldiers and veterans, they fought for our sovereignty and freedom. 

Because of them, we now have the freedom to live how we want, speak up for the issues we care about, such as protecting Mother Earth, and to vote. In honor of our veterans and our ancestors, use your voice to continue their work to advocate for the freedom of our future generations.

You can register to vote at myvote.wi.gov. There are upcoming elections on Feb. 20 and April 2. Find all the voting information you need here.

Wāēwāēnen (thank you),

Anne Egan-Waukau

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin

Urban Native Vote Organizer and Communications Manager

Wisconsin Conservation Voices

Wisconsin Conservation Voices
133 S. Butler Street Suite 320
Madison, WI 53703
United States

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