Named in Honor of Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa
December 14, 1979 – March 23, 2003
Lori was a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps soldier killed during the same Iraqi Army attack in which fellow soldiers Shoshana Johnson and Jessica Lynch sustained injuries. A member of the Hopi tribe, Piestewa was the first Native American woman in history to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military and the first woman in the U.S. armed forces killed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[2] Arizona's Piestewa Peak is named in her honor.
"After waiting for some time, I eventually received Pi. George Mutter was instrumental in achieving this. During our training I found myself growing closer to Pi more than any one of thing. She became my guardian angel. She has helped in a number of ways (Cancer, Seizures and of course PTSD). She has a sense of when these occur before I realize it. Because of this I am able to stop what I am doing and take the necessary action to reduce any reactions to these events. During my travel, she has kept me company when I don't want to be around other. She has allowed me to get out of the house more than I use to. When she looks at me I seem to forget everything else around me and feel more secured." - Gene