{"id":9935,"date":"2021-04-07T15:42:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T19:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=9935"},"modified":"2021-04-07T15:49:25","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T19:49:25","slug":"cronkite-news-veterans-help-bring-supplies-to-navajo-nation-amid-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/04\/07\/cronkite-news-veterans-help-bring-supplies-to-navajo-nation-amid-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: Veterans help bring supplies to Navajo Nation amid COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\"nativeveterans\"
Volunteers deliver supplies to the Navajo Nation to help veterans living on the reservation. The efforts were coordinated by a new group called Native American Sustainability for Veterans and Those in Uniform. Photo courtesy of Native American Sustainability for Veterans and Those in Uniform <\/figcaption>\r\n
Group steps up to get supplies to Navajo veterans during pandemic<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, April 7, 2021<\/div>\r\n
By Claire Spinner<\/div>\r\n
Cronkite News<\/DIV>\r\n
cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nPHOENIX \u2013 It started with chain saws and a will to serve.

<\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen COVID-19 first struck the United States, the Navajo Nation was hit hard. Within months, infection rates across the reservation were the highest in the country, and death rates \r\nskyrocketed<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nAmong those affected: about 5,000 United States veterans who live on the reservation, which covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

<\/p>\r\n\r\nLast March, when Tom Eisiminger and Bob Dalpe heard of the struggles facing Navajo veterans amid the pandemic, they felt it was their duty to help. Only later would their \r\neffort<\/a>\r\ncome to have an official name: Native American Sustainability for Veterans and Those in Uniform.\r\n

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The Native American Sustainability for Veterans and those in Uniform (NASVU) project will be orchestrated from the Veterans Medical Leadership Council (VMLC) www.arizonavmlc.org. A substantial part…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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<\/p>\r\nEisiminger, of Mesa, was in the Army for 26 years, while Dalpe, of Chandler, served in the Air Force for 14 years. Both are members of the Veterans Medical Leadership Council, a Mesa organization that connects veterans to medical and mental health resources.

<\/p>\r\n\u201cWe are veterans,\u201d Eisiminger said. \u201cWe hear that other veterans are in trouble, we roll up our sleeves and we get to work.\u201d

<\/p>\r\nAfter enlisting the help of friends and connecting with Hope MacDonald LoneTree, a former member of the Navajo Nation Council and daughter of former Navajo Nation Chairman Peter MacDonald, who\u2019s one of the last living Navajo code talkers, they formulated a plan.

<\/p>\r\nMacDonald LoneTree joined with Army vet Pete Tsinnijinnie, the commander of his local veterans organization in Chinle, to provide guidance on how others could most help.

<\/p>\r\n\u201cI called Pete and asked, \u2018What is it that you need up there?\u2019 and he told me \u2018Chain saws,\u2019\u201d Eisiminger said. \u201cIt absolutely floored me.\u201d

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