Francis Whitebird, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe who served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War, returned to the country for the first time to observe the 30th anniversary of the end of fighting.

Whitebird was a combat medic in the U.S. Army. His friend Paul Critchlow says he was "absolutely fearless" in times of battle. "No question, he saved a whole bunch of lives under fire," Critchlow told The Sioux Falls Argus Leader. "I saw him save a lot of lives.''

Whitebird said the return trip was "very healing."

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Lakota medic returns to Vietnam (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/31)