Navajo Nation lowers flags for soldier who had served in Iraq

Wednesday, October 12, 2011  

The Navajo Nation has lowered its flags to half-staff in honor of Nolan D. White, an Army soldier who had served in Iraq.

White, 28, was killed in a vehicle accident last Saturday. He leaves behind a wife and a daughter.

“Our Nation is deeply saddened to hear of Sergeant White’s passing; another brave warrior has departed our people,” Navajo President Ben Shelly said in a press release. “Sergeant White enlisted at a young age to serve our country and to protect our way of life. Sergeant White was a mentor to many people in his community- a good man with a big heart. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Alvina, daughter Jayanna, and family members.”

White was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, before he was deployed to Iraq for 12 months. He was assigned to train soldiers in the Iraqi Army.

After he returned from Iraq, Nolan helped families in our community who had a son or daughter serving in the Armed Forces,” Alvina White said. “He was a mentor to many young people and everyone in the community knew him as a friend. He was always happy, played basketball, rode horses, and loved mutton sandwiches.”

Get the Story:
Navajo flags ordered at half-staff for Iraq vet (AP 10/12)
Navajo president orders flags at half staff (KOB 10/11)