CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, Japan --
Native Americans have served in the Marine Corps through some of the fiercest combat the United States and its ally nations have endured.
During World War II, Native Americans played a key role serving as code talkers and they continue to serve in the Corps today.
As Native American Heritage Month is observed, the Marine Corps said farewell to a proud tribe member and Marine Nov. 22.
Lt. Col. Steven Good Sky-Hertig retired from the Marine Corps after serving 28 years, with a salute to his culture and tribe, the Ojibwe, also known as Chippewa.
The Morristown, N. J. native graduated from Bayley Ellard High School in 1974 located in Madison, N.J. where he played football and wrestled.
He graduated from the Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture in Doylestown, Pa. in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry.
He joined the Corps through the Officer Candidates Class program at Cumberland Gap, Pa. and attended the Officer Candidates School in October, 1982.
In early 2006, Good Sky-Hertig met his wife Dianna, a realtor at the time and member of the Ojibwe, while working on the staff of Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
They were married officially by a justice of the peace in the backyard of their home in Chesapeake, Va. on March 3, 2007, but they consider June 6, 2007 as their wedding day when a traditional Ojibwe marriage ceremony was performed in Lake Vermillion, Minn.
Good Sky-Hertig, who is of Swiss and Irish descent, was given the chance to be part of his wife's tribe.
Bayzh Ahn Ah Kwid, which means Straight Cloud, was the name given to Good Sky-Hertig by Gilbert Smith during a ceremony in which he was adopted into the Caribou Clan of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa from Northern Minn.
Smith, a spiritual leader of Northwest Bay First Nation Reserve, came up with the name while driving and observed clouds forming a straight line across the horizon, but told no one of the name until the ceremony.
"(Smith) looked at me and said in English, ‘your name is Bayzh Ahn Ah Kwid'," said Good Sky-Hertig as he remembered the ceremony. "I like the idea of the thin band of clouds that sometimes precedes a storm."
The Bois Forte has the highest number, per capita, of tribal members who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces in the United States.
In the Ojibwe language, male warriors are called Ogitchiida and female warriors are called Ogitchiida-quay and are highly revered by the tribe.
"Our family is very traditional," said Dianna Good Sky-Hertig, his wife. "We also observe, as much as possible, the old way of (wellness)."
Traditions in the Ojibwe range from dancers to spiritual rituals to honor Mother Earth.
At gatherings, like the retirement ceremony, there are several types of dancers and every tribe is different. This style is from the Northern Ojibwe. There are traditional dancers who usually follow the old style of dance with the pounding their feet to the beat while the upper body movement is strong and the head is held high, said Dianna.
Besides his memories as a tribe member, Good Sky-Hertig said one of the fondest memories in the Marine Corps was being a member of two different electronic warfare squadrons over the first half of his career.
He recalled an instance of this time, when his commanding officer questioned his flight schedule; he was the operations officer for Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II MEF at the time and flight operations were conducted in support of Operation Deny Flight out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy.
He had a young pilot scheduled to fly a difficult sortie, a mission or attack by a single aircraft.
"I knew his abilities from flying with him and told the commanding officer that it would be fine," said Good Sky-Hertig.
"The commanding officer did not hesitate and said, ‘so let it be written, so let it be done'," said Good Sky-Hertig. "It was and it worked out uneventfully."
"It was good to be trusted by my commanding officer and supported by my (peers)," he said.
Good Sky-Hertig looks forward to pass on the knowledge and past experiences unto others.
He plans to retire to Chesapeake, Va. and enter the Old Dominion University's Special Education licensure program, pre-kindergarten through the sixth grade. He would like to teach special education students of younger grades.
"I'm not retiring, I'm just learning another job," he said. "I will carry the legacy of the Corps with me always."