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Tom Leno
HONORING WARRIORS
Each month we try to profile a tribal member veteran in
the "Smoke Signals". This is our way of bringing honor
and recognition to these men and women who unsel-'
fishly gave of themselves in duty to our country.
Many people know Tom Leno as the Chairman of the
Hunting, Fishing and Gathering Committee, or the guy
who is never too far away from his girls, wife Sheila,
daughters Tara, Lisa and Lacey. A strong family man
active in Tribal affairs.
At one time Tom Leno was as member of the A Com
pany 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry family, commonly
known as "The Big Red 1". Headquartered in Dao
Tang, Republic of Viet Nam. This company has been
listed in the books as having the highest kill and capture
rate during the Viet Nam conflict. Tom was an ammo
bearer for an M-60 gunner. "We would go out in the
bush for three and four weeks at a time, re-supplied by
choppers", said Tom.
"We would watch for the Captain's stash, he would get
onions, oranges and special spices, and we would take an
onion or part of the spices. One time we got carried
away and took everything, the captain got pretty mad
that time." Tom recalls two of the best things the re
supply choppers brought were the duffel bags full of ice
and pop, and the mail. "We always like getting the mail
from home."
For six months during 1969 and 1970, Tom Leno
distinguished himself doing duty with the Infantry. He
learned that infantry men stick together and look out for
each other. That you build a great deal of trust and
admiration for the men in your unit. You shared
everything with each other whether it was mom's banana
nut bread or trouble with the M.P's.
During a fire-fight attack on Dao Tang, Tom was
wounded. "All I remember was a flash and I was on my
back, he recalls." For his wounds sustained in action,
Tom received a purple heart commendation medal.
Tom spent the last few months of his Viet Nam duty as a
supply specialist 4 in the cavalry. "Nobody messes with
the supply man," he remembers.
At the end of his tour, Tom caught his "freedom bird"
in the middle of a monsoon rain storm to come home.
During a stop over in Hawaii, his first breakfast was
ham, eggs, bourbon and coke. While shopping for gifts
to bring home, Tom relates getting lost in the airport
and just about missing his plane. "We looked like O J.
Simpson running through the airport in the television."
One thing is evident, Tom Leno never lost his sense of
humor in Viet Nam, but then neither did Uncle Sam.
Tom finished his enlistment of two more years in
Alaska. Going from the heat and humidity of Viet Nam
to Alaska in the winter, as a member of a communica
tions supply unit.
Today, Tom Leno lives in Willamina with his wife Sheila
and daughters Tara, Lisa and Lacey. He works in the
timber industry and is an active supporter of the Tribe.
Instead of M-60's he carries a fishing pole and can be
seen helping groups of Tribal kids dig clams.
Unlike the protesters Tom encountered the first day
back, we would like to express our thanks and show
Tom how proud we are of him. When asked if he would
do it again, and after a long thoughtful pause, you see
that endearing little grin Tom has and he says, "I sure
wouldn't go to Canada and hide, yes, I'd go."
ENROLLMENT REPORT
Dear Fellow Tribal Members and Friends;
Our tribal membership now totals 2351. Since January I
have been updating and computerizing the enrollment
records. I am happy to report that the general member
ship as been outstandingly cooperative. Over 34 of the
update forms mailed out have been returned. My
thanks to all of you who have responded. If you have
received an update form, please complete it and return
it to our office.
A part of my job is to provide statistics to the Tribal
Council and the General Manager. These statistics are
used to determine the need of tribal programs and
services. I also provide the existing tribal programs with
statistics. If my records are inaccurate or incomplete,
there could be a chance that some services may not be
provided. The information from the completed update
forms is entered into the enrollment computer program.
This current information provides the accurate statistics
needed.
The mail to the following clients has been returned to
this office. If your name is listed, please call or write to
me to update your address. JOYCE CASTLE, TOM
COONEY, EILEEN QUENELLE, FAWN COUl
SON, GENE DAVIDSON, HOWARD DAVIS,
FRANCES DUGGAN, LEANN MARSHA DRUM,
VONNIE DOMPIER, HOWARD DAVIS, ROMAN
CATABAY, UNA BIRCHUM, KIM COTHREN,
JULIE CONWAY AND JEFF COONEY.
If you need an enrollment application, vital statistics
record order form, or information for name change, or
blood quantum adjustments, please call or write to me
in care of this office. Next month's article will feature
update regulations and information dealing with enroll
ment issues.
Sincerely,
Margo George
Enrollment Director
PAGE 7
FISH AND WILDLIFE
The Tribal Subsistence Program and the Fish and
Wildlife Committee conducted their first Hunter Safety
Certification course during the week of September 26
30. Students who earned their certificate were Leland
Hofenbredl, Adam Loerts, Bobby Mercier, Christi and
Ryan Saunders, Travis Stewart and Rebecca White.
Congratulations to these hunters! Thanks to Richard
McKnight and Riley Porter for their help in teaching the
course.
Thank you to the people who helped with the salmon
cleaning and distribution. These folks included: Jim,
Wilmadene and Cindy Butler; Russ and Merle Leno,
Ray Mcknight, Candy Robertson, Ruth and Mark
Mercier; Jim Thompson, Tina Clark, LaDonna Norwest,
Yvonne Grout, Celeste Smith, Lonnie Logan and Rick
McKnight and Joann McClary. Special thanks to John
Fink for the use of his facility.
The next SALMON DISTRIBUTION is set for October
9, 1988 following the General Council meeting. The
distribution will be at the tribal office.
HUNTERS!!! Please remember to return your tags, "
report kills and lost tags! Failure to do so may result in
the loss of hunting and fishing privileges for next year.
Below are the deadline dates:
BOW ELK October 11th
FIRST SEASON ELK November 17th
BOW DEERGENERAL DEER November
23rd
SECOND SEASON ELK December 9th
GENERAL BEAR December 14th
MUZZLELOADER DEER . December 26th
Tags must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on the date due. If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact Greg
Archuleta at 879-5211.
Congratulations to Monte Ring who got an elk and
Richard Grout who got a deer during the bow seasons.
GOOD LUCK HUNTERS!!!
SMOKE ALARMS CAN
SAVE LIVES
Smoke alarms are life savers. Make sure you have them
installed and working properly as the home-heating
season begins this fall.
In the event of a fire, a properly installed and opera
tional smoke alarm can give you early warning and
provide you with additional seconds or even minutes of
evacuation time.
The warning by a smoke alarm may give you time to
save your children, your parents, or even yourself in the
event of a fire.
A smoke alarm is one of the best investments you can
make for your family's future. There is no other
investment that can give you as much in return.
For $10 or less you can get an adequate alarm that will
give you an early advantage if fire strikes.
Please, don't put it off any longer, the wait can kill you.
Dave Bailey,
Housing Program