Misty Dawn
Warren
A
member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Misty was born in
She
was athletic, involved with sports as well as many other school
activities. She is described
as “a person who wanted to do everything and she did.”
Misty
enlisted in the Navy in January, 1998 and attended basic training at the
In
October 1998, she attended
Misty
was only the eighth female to achieve designation as Naval Test
Parachutist. (I suspect the
first Indian woman to achieve this distinction.)
On
her 75th jump Misty experienced an equipment failure during a
routine jump. Misty died in
service to her country.
She
was buried with full military honors.
She was described by her comrades as tenacious, persevering,
serviceperson who died doing what she loved. At a final Memorial Service,
at the Naval Air Weapons Station in
This
does not tell the full story of Misty’s life and passion for her job
(which I am sure she did not see as just a job), but by sharing her story,
Indian people have another heroine of which we can be proud.
While
we will never be able to repay Misty for her sacrifice, let us vow that we
shall never forget it.