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THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2003

Lori Ann Piestewa, the Hopi woman killed in action in Iraq, is the focus of worldwide attention for a number of reasons, The Arizona Republic reports.

One is her background: she is one of the few Native American women in the service. Another is that she was a young, 23-year-old single mother of two.

"People want to have some way to respond to all of this tragedy. And Lori, being a single mother, a Native American - in spite of everything she had to lose - went off and did everything she could do," observer Rep. Trent Franks, (R-Ariz.).

Piestewa is the first U.S. servicewoman killed in the Iraqi war and is believed to the be the first Native woman in U.S. military service to die in combat.

"She's a trailblazer," said Gary Laderman, a professor and author.

Get the Story:
Tuba City native is becoming an American icon (The Arizona Republic 4/10)
Piestewa's sacrifice prompts letters, cards, donations (The Gallup Independent 4/9)

Related Stories:
Reaction: 'One of the Fallen Heroes' (4/9)
How to Donate to Lori Piestewa Memorial Fund (4/9)
Editorial: Rename Ariz. peak in honor of Piestewa (4/8)
Column: Would anyone call Piestewa a 'squaw'? (4/8)
Piestewa death investigated as war crime (4/8)
Memorial set for fallen soldiers from Ft. Bliss (4/8)
Snow in Hopiland heralds return of Piestewa (4/7)
DoD confirms Piestewa killed in action in Iraq (4/7)
Indian Country mourns loss of Native soldier (4/7)
Hopi Woman Confirmed Dead (4/5)
Readers react to Piestewa tragedy (4/5)
Letters of Support Lori Piestewa and Family(4/4)
Piestewa: 'When is his mom coming home?' (4/4)
Rescued soldier has no information on Piestewa (4/4)
Military begins difficult identification process (4/4)
Rescued soldier watched unit members die (4/3)
Fellow Piestewa unit member rescued in Iraq (4/2)
Vigil held in Ariz. for missing Hopi soldier (3/27)
Hopi Tribe prays for return of missing soldier (3/26)
Piestewa Family Letter: Thank you for prayers (3/26)
Ariz. soldier reported missing (3/25)