ARCHIVE - MARINE - Beaumeister Departs for Iraq

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PRESS RELEASE POC: CRST Public Relations Rock LeBeau (605)964-8308 For immediate release August 02, 2005 MARINE - BEAUMEISTER DEPARTS FOR IRAQ “I will pray for you all, as you will pray for me,” said a young Marine Staff Sergeant on July 29, 2005, as he gathered among family and friends who honored him before he departs for Iraq. Staff Sergeant, Chip Baumeister, Nape Luta (Red Hand), is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He is currently stationed at Ft. Campbell until November of this year, and then he will be deployed to Iraq for a year. Baumeister is the 24 year-old son of CeCe Curley-JoJola and LaVerne Curley and the grandson of LeRoy Curley of Eagle Butte. His brothers and sisters include Lee Little Wounded, Lonna Baumeister, Just Bear Eagle, and Bruce Bear Eagle. Staff Sergeant Baumeister is a 1999 graduate of Takini High School. He enlisted in the Army after graduation and has been active ever since. Baumeister is the Staff Sergeant of the E6 unit. He is currently the only member of his family to enlist in the army. An honoring was held at the tree of yellow ribbons. An honor song was sung by Wakinyan Maza and a prayer was given by Baumeister’s grandfather, Leroy Curley, who spoke softly of his takoja (grandchild) as he addressed family and friends. With yellow ribbons flowing in the wind, Baumeister tied his ribbon next to the ribbons of other Lakota Warrior’s who have already been called to duty in Iraq. Also present were Cheyenne River Veterans who expressed their gratitude to the Lakota warrior. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s Vice-Chairman, Raymond Uses the Knife and Secretary, Colette Iron Hawk presented Baumeister with a Proclamation from the tribe. “You will always be in our prayers as you make your long journey,” said Vice-Chairman Uses the Knife.