Samuel Nathan Blatchford or Sammy as his friends called him is, to date, the most decorated native American in the military history of the United States of America. His life story reads like a movie script. He came from a long line of Navajo warriors. His mother Pauline Manuelito was the great granddaughter of the Navajo warrior Manuelito who fought Kit Carson in the Navajo wars. Despite the history of mistreatment of his people Sammy

was fiercely patriotic and joined the army air-corps as a 17 year old at the entry of the US in the second world war. He was a radio operator-gunner on a B-17 in Europe and was shot down 4 times. On his last flight his plane was blown in two by enemy flak. Sammy was wounded and blown clear of the aircraft and only just managed to pull his rip cord before losing consciousness. He was saved by a French farmer who hid him from German troops and nursed him back to health. Sam was very thankful to the French families who saved him and when well enough began working with the local French resistance fighters. During one operation, however, Sam was captured by the Gestapo. They were convinced that he was working with the resistance because he certainly did not look French and he didn’t look like an American flier as Sam insisted. They interrogated him for weeks and tortured him by pulling his teeth and his fingernails but the Gestapo had never met a Navajo warrior. Sam didn’t break and kept the names and locations of the resistance fighters secret. Finally, the Gestapo ordered him to die by firing squad. In Sams own words, he anticipated when the soldiers would fire and fell intentionally into the mass grave that had been dug for him and several other “criminals”. As the bodies of the others fell on top of him, Sam laid there until the Germans had left. As soon as he could, he climbed out of the grave and escaped. He knew he could not go back to the resistance because he would immediately be recognized by the Germans. His plan was to go to the coast and somehow catch a boat to somewhere to rejoin the allied war e􀆯ort. Soon afterwards, however, he came upon a group of downed American fliers and was re-captured along with them. Sam managed to convince the Germans that he was part of one of the crews and he was taken to Stalag 17B in Krems Austria where he would be held until the end of the war.

 

During his time at Krems, Sam became close friends with a very young Alvin Roberts. As the two men struggled to survive the freezing winters and the brutal treatment by the Germans, they kept each others spirits up with stories of what they would do and what they would eat when the got home. Sam confided in young Alvin that he was going home to marry a beautiful native girl. He told Alvin that this girl also had a sister and they should marry the sisters and become brothers. After the war, Sam was true to his word and went home only to discover that his native girl had been told he was killed in action and she had married someone else and was with child. Alvin went home also and met the sister as promised. They married and had four children together. Afterwards Sam re-enlisted in the Army air-corps (soon to be Air Force). He continued to serve his country in Korea and Vietnam. He also married and had several children and grand children. Fifty years after the war and after his first wife’s death, Sam heard through an acquaintance that his childhood love had lost her husband. One evening, Sam got her number and called her on the phone. When she answered he said only – “This is the love of your life” to which she responded “Sammy???”. They spent hours on the phone that evening and eventually reunited and married. They lived the rest of their lives happily together in Lander Wyoming until Sams death at the age of 81.

 

During his military service Sam was awarded 28 medals including The Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, four Purple hearts, six Air medals, and the POW medal. He was also awarded the French Freedom Medal and an honorary French Citizenship medal by the French Government. Samuel Nathan Blatchford was interred at Arlington

National Cemetery on April18, 2006 with full military honors. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the family requested that Richard Greeves perform the “Eagle Call” as a final tribute. To the awe of the family and the friends present, an American Bald Eagle responded to the call and flew over Sams grave. A fitting end to an incredible life. Samuel Nathan Blatchford – Navajo Warrior and American Hero. Immortalized forever in bronze by Richard Vernon Greeves.

 

Richard Greeves came to know of the story of Sam Blatchford through his second wife, Stephanie Roberts. Stephanie was the youngest daughter of Sam’s fellow POW Alvin Roberts who had married the sister of Sams sweetheart. Mr. Greeves spent many hours listening to the stories of Sam’s life and experiences in preparation for the creation of this artwork.