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Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs, Oregon
August 3, 1995 5
Time spent in Korea creates life-long struggle for Yahtin
by Robert Medina
Chesley Yahtin was born December
8, 1930 in Simnasho to Cecil Yahtin to rest, a cold drink of water and some
and Hazel Queahpama Tewee. hot food to eat in this same spot."
Chesley doesn't recall his father very Because of Chesley's upbringing by
well because he spent little time with his grandparents, he also learned to
him. But, his mother,
Hazel seemed to keep
herself busy working
odd jobs here arid there
mostly picking berries
and sometimes picking
potatoes in the fields.
Besides working, Hazel
would also care for her
other children,
Chesley's sisters Viola
Govenor, Amelia
Tewee, Nellie Spino
and step-sister Ruth
Tewee. Two of
Chesley's brothers
drowned at HeHe
during the Army Camp
days, says Chesley. "I
was younger than them
so I don't recall them
too well. I remember
one was named Evert,
they were between six
and seven years old."
Some years later
Chesley's mother was
hired as a postal carrier
saving, "I'll be back in three days. On Portland, were shipped to Japan. In Chesley could
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games, Lnesiey received an urgent nisiastworas
message from home that changed his were,
life. His Grandfather had died and the "Chesley
family wanted Chesley to attend the please don't
funeral back let me die."
home. From that day
Chesley's on, after
commanding loosing his
officer grandfather
assured him
that he
would be
flown home
to attend his
grandfather's
funeral, but
for unknown
reasons, the
Army
and loosing
his best friend,
Chesley
swore he
would never
get close to
anyone else
ever again,
this vow
included his
changed own family.
In 1950, Chesley was a Medical Aide in Korea.
their minds
and Chesley
was unable
to attend the
funeral. All
Chesley
could think
of was his
grandfather
waving
In early
November
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they had long since
ceased to worry that
they might be next to
fall from enemy
bullets. Too much
exhaustion and pain
and death had been
their companions.
"We no longer
thought or cared,
because we were the
walking dead. We
passed the last
Chinese ambush
recalls Chesley
where lay crumpled
the men soon to be
given places on other
trucks and trailers
farther back in the
column the men
never to freeze,
worry, or go hungry
or march again,
at Simnasho and she kept that job for respect them and would always meet
many years, recalls Chesley. As a his grandfather's wishes. Chesley
young boy, Chesley recalls, he spent wanted his grandfather to be proud of
most of his time with his him.
grandparents, Frank Queahpama, Jr. At the aee of ten, some people came
and Minnie Yahtin, also of Simnasho. by horseback and took Chesley away Korea just below the 38th parellel near
Chesley's mother would worry and from his grandfather and returned the Hiro Chon Reservoir, "we got an
feared that some day, Government him to his mother. His mother was
people would come and take Chesley instructed to enroll Chesley in school
away and she would never see her at Simnasho where he only attended
son again, that's why she would rather for a short while before being
him be with his grandparents who transferred to the Warm Springs
Chesley now lives in Warm Springs
1950, the battle of the Chosin Reservoir recalls Chesley.
in North Korea began to get worse "I am one of The Chosin Few, I'm
says Chesley, General MacArthur very proud to say," says Chesley.
announced, "We will finish this war "Whatever me and my buddies were
to the end." We kept pushing north in that frozen iong-ago and whatever
until the Chinese thought we were we are now, we are bound as one for
getting too close, recalls Chesley. They life in an exclusive fraternity of honor,"
hit us with everything they had. We says Chesley quoting a war-related
good-bye to were sitting ducks in that Reservoir, publication. "The only way into our
him in rront there were Pullets nying rrom an ranKsistonavepaiaineuuehciLinn-c
of the old Administration building. directions toward us, soldiers were and valor of being there. 1 he cost or
Some how, Chesley, and the friend dropping all around us, and all we
he met in Portland, ended up in Korea,
together. On June 2, 1950 at about
three in the morning, while in South
artillery and mortar attack from the
Chinese communists in Korea.
could do was wait... Wait in the 30-40
below zero weather for death to take
another one of us. It was either one of
those bullets that were coming down
like rain or freezing to death, so the
men walked. They walked with necks
bent, shoulders hunched, eyes almost
Chesley was resting in back of an closed to a kind of cold against which
Army jeep when bomb fragments there was no protection in which no
began flying in all directions. The clothes had warmth. As a U.S. Army
lived away from the small community Boarding School. Because Chesley did attack woke Chesley just in time. He medic, "I was unable to tend to alot of
ot bimnasho. Lhesiey aiant mind not know the hnglish language, other
being with his grandparents; they
were traditional people and he liked
learning from his grandfather.
His grandfather taught Chesley
how to ride a horse and how to fish
kids would make fun of him. He could
not understand, and it would make
him mad, so he didn't want to be there
even after thev brought in an
interpreter. At the age of 17, Chesley including his best
without hooks or any other fishing tried diligently to get enlisted in the friend who, was
equipment. He also learned how to Army, but they would not accept him supposed to have
hunt. Being with his grandparents without his parent's signature. His gone back home on
meant learning the ways of life for mother refused to sign in fear that she
Chesley. would never see him again. As soon
Chesley enjoyed riding horses and as Chesley turned 18, he walked all
going hunting up in the mountains the way to Bend, over 50 miles, where
with his grandfather. the Selective Service office was located.
He liked going to Jefferson Creek He signed up and told them he wanted
and Mt. Jefferson area where his to leave right away. Chesley was taken
grandfather would submerge him in to Portland that same day and given
cold mountain water before a nice seventy five dollars plus two weeks to
say good-bye to all his family in Warm laving in a pool of
Springs. blood with a large
From basic training in California, gash on his head.
Chesley, and a young friend he met in There was nothing
raiseduponhiselbows,beganlooking my buddies, recalls Chesley. "There
around and wondered "what the hell were different occasions when I'd rush
was going on". Portions of the from one soldier to the next without
fragments flew by him causing no even thinking and find myself face to
harm to him, but killed 13 men face with the enemy.
I was forced
to kill or be
June 1, the day
before the attack.
Chesley, ' was
serving as a
Medical Aid Man
in the U.S Army.
He ran to the aid of
the wounded and
found his friend
long sweat. Sometimes Chesley s
grandfather would take him up to the
mountains and drop him off with only
a rifle. He recalls his grandfather
Vacation Bible School
at the Warm Springs Baptist Church
Monday - Friday, August 14-18
from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
For information call 553-1267 or 553-5226
House for
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Four-bedroom, two bath. All
appliances included. Well
maintained and landscaped
in Greeley Heights area.
553-1055
1949 he enlisted in the United States
Army at age 18.
Want to buy
Wanted-26 foot Teepee, in good
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Call 383-3316.
For sale
Quilts and quillows. Or can be
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Call Eraina at 553-3331.
killed."
During the
rest intervals
fires were built
alongside the
road. The fires
gave no heat, for
the hours near
morning were
so cold that
nothing could
break its grip.
Nor did the fires
cause concern
among the men,
joining, in short, is beyond all earthly
wealth".
"Coming home was no picnic either
after what I just went through in Korea,
I wasn't the same person anymore
and my family and friends could tell
right away." Shortly after his return
home,Chesley was married. However,
the marriage lasted only a very short
while. Two more marriages resulted
in 13 children, six of whom have
passed away. Chesley has many
grandchildren and they are very
important to him. He depends on them
to keep him going.
Over the years Chesley has
discovered he "was suffering from
Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I
would try to hide my feelings by
drinking alcohol. I got into a lot of
trouble. Day after day I would treat
others in a bad way," relates Chesley.
His efforts to hide his pain only caused
more pain for him and subsequently,
it has taken its toll. After years and
years of suffering, Chesley, within the
past four years, has come to realize
that he need not be alone in his fight.
He has sought and received help
through counseling. He has support
in the community. He is making
progress in his struggle for
"normalcy".
Engine crew members introduce themselves to community
The Spilyay Tymoo will
feature biographies of the
engine crew at Fire
Management so the community
may be informed of who they
are. These are the first three:
Tana Frank
I'm a Nez Perce and Klamath. I
grew up mostly in Klamath Falls,
Oregon.
This is my third year as a
firefighter. I worked one year with
Winema Hotshots in 1994.
This is my first year as an engine
operator.
To go to college is my future
goal.
John P. Miller
Hello, my name is John P.
Miller. I have lived here at Warm
Springs most of my life.
I worked for Fire & Safety for
one year and transferred over to
Fire Management. This is my
second year with the eneine crew.
I enjoy working outdoors and
having different challenges on the
job every day.
I'm not really thinking about
the future yet.
Tray Leonard
I was bom in Madras, Oregon
on October 28, 1969. 1 am Warm
Springs, Wasco, Yakima, Nez
Perce. I have four sisters and two
brothers.
I attended Mt. Hood
Community College for two years
for fish and wildlife, also to Central
Oregon Community College.
I have been employed with Fire Hotshot crew as the foreman, license. I have also been a
Management for the past eight Currently, I am the Assistant volunteer for Fire and Safety for
years. My first three years I worked Engine Director for the engine the past ten months,
on the Helitack crew as the crew. I will be going back to school
Assistant Foreman. I then I am in the process of getting this fall for fire science in structure
transferred to the Interagency my EMT-B and my private pilots fires at COCC.
Picnic was great Thanks!
John Miller, Tana Frank, and Tray Leonard pictured in front of one of their engines. The first three from the
engine crew to be featured in Spilyay Tymoo.
To the Editor,
The elder's picnic at Celilo, Or
egon has become a popular event.
July 20th marked the fifth annual
event.
The weather was nice. Many trav
eled far and near. It was a wonderful
sight to see our elders meet, share a
meal and share stories with one an
other. Our elders traveled from
Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla,
Nez Perce and our local Columbia
River elders came and joined us for
this wonderful event.
Each year the Senior Programs
meet and plan the picnic. The event
seems to get bigger each year. This
year, we had our elders from Nez
Perce Country join us. That made it
all the more special. A thank you to
our Nez Perce and Umatilla elders
for the gifts they brought to share
with all of our July birthdays.
This year the YIN LISTEN Pro
gram Youth council joined us. The
dancing and drum beat was a special
treat. It was a pretty good day to see
our younger generation and elders
come together.
At this time we would like to say
think you to the many different pro
grams and volunteers for their help.
With your extra help, the picnic was
a total success. A special thank you
for all program cooks; you did a
wonderful job!
Thanks to these people:
YIN Tribal Council; YIN CHR
and SYE volunteers, YIN Facility
Management staff, YIN AAOA Staff
and SYE volunteers, YIN LISTEN
staff. Warm springs AAOA Staff,
volunteers, Warm Springs Tribal
council for the salmon, YIN Youth
Council and members, Umatilla
AAOA staff, WTiite Swan Job Corps,
Nez Perce AAOA staff and volun
teers, Patrick Wcaslehcad, director
or research and development for In
dian Education, Vicki Ghosthorse,
Tina Antone, Wilson Wcwa, Chuck
Williams and Salmon Corps folks
from Umatilla and the Salmon Corps
folks from Goldendale.
Thanks again. We're looking for
ward to next year's event.
Picnic attendees from Yakama
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