{"id":5212,"date":"2020-11-30T00:00:24","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T05:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=5212"},"modified":"2020-11-29T15:45:16","modified_gmt":"2020-11-29T20:45:16","slug":"dvids-shoshone-bannock-tribes-accept-special-flag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/11\/30\/dvids-shoshone-bannock-tribes-accept-special-flag\/","title":{"rendered":"DVIDS: Shoshone-Bannock Tribes accept special flag"},"content":{"rendered":"\"U.S.\r\n
A special U.S. flag, in honor of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, was presented to the tribal council in Fort Hall, Idaho, on November 2, 2020. The flag was flown through the skies over Afghanistan one night during the Idaho Air National Guard\u2019s recent Southwest Asia deployment. Photo by Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur \/ U.S. National Guard \r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
U.S. flag flown over Afghanistan dedicated to Shoshone-Bannock Tribes<\/div>\r\n
Monday, November 30, 2020<\/div>\r\n
By Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur<\/div>\r\n
124th Fighter Wing, U.S. National Guard<\/div>\r\n
DOD DVIDS<\/div>\r\n
dvidshub.net<\/A><\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nA U.S. flag, in honor of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, was presented on November 2 to the tribe council. This special flag was flown through the skies over Afghanistan one night during the Idaho Air National Guard\u2019s recent Southwest Asia deployment.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe \u201cWarrior Spirit,\u201d an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft dedicated to the tribes several years ago by the IDANG, participated in several night missions throughout the deployment.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nCapt. Mike Shufeldt, 124th Fighter Wing pilot, remembers the night of June 18, 2020 vividly. He was flying the Warrior Spirit and situated next to him, near his lap, was the special U.S. flag honoring the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\"U.S.\r\n
A special U.S. flag, in honor of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, was presented to the tribal council in Fort Hall, Idaho, on November 2, 2020. This special flag was flown through the skies over Afghanistan one night during the Idaho Air National Guard\u2019s recent Southwest Asia deployment. Photo by Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur \/ U.S. National Guard )<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nHe recalls taking off as the sun was setting, climbing above the mountain peaks off to his west. He saw a flash of light on the ground near a known allied checkpoint location. He immediately realized the checkpoint was under attack by what appeared to be grenades and gunfire.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nHe spent the next three hours defending the checkpoint from the air in the Warrior Spirit against the enemy ground forces. Although he received fire several times throughout the altercation, the enemy was unsuccessful in hitting the aircraft.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cThe Warrior Spirit kept me safe and granted me the ability to protect the friendlies,\u201d said Shufeldt. \u201cBe it luck or fate, the Warrior Spirit and I were at the right place at the right time that night to save lives and affect the fight.\u201d\r\n

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