"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Honors Vets

***"Pictured (L-R) are: Charles Plunkett, Shane Hannaford, Stewart Grayson and Layton Plunkett."***

TAHLEQUAH, OK — The Cherokee Nation honored four veterans during the December monthly Tribal Council meeting held in Tahlequah.

“We are so proud of our Cherokee citizens who serve in the military,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “We look at each of them as great role models for all our people.”

Stewart Grayson, the son of Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Joe Grayson, Jr., joined the U.S. Marine Corps the summer before he began his high school senior year. He received his basic training and anti-tank assault training in San Diego, California, and was the pistol and rifle coach for the U.S. Marine Corps Security Force at the embassy in London, England. He attained the rank of corporal and is the 4th in four consecutive generations of his family to have served in the military.

Charles Plunkett served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his service he was the Commanding Officer of an A-6 aircraft, Operations Officer of the largest Aircraft group in the Marine Corps, Maintenance Officer, and was a Head Engineer at Naval Air Systems. He attended five schools while in the military, including the Naval Flight School, Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School and Aircraft Accident Investigation School. Plunkett served three tours aboard the aircraft carriers Midway, Coral Sea and American, and made more than 500 day and night carrier landings. He retired from the Marines in August of 1981 as a Lt. Colonel and is currently a member of the Cherokee Nation Industries board of directors.

Layton Plunkett joined the Marine Corps while at Southeastern OSU and was commissioned upon graduation in 1985. He completed basic officer training and earned his wings in 1989 after which he reported for duty in California and was later assigned to one tour of duty in Japan. After being deployed aboard a naval ship bound for Southwest Asia and Africa he participated in Operations in Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda and the defense of Kuwait. Layton retired in 2006 after 20 years of service and now resides in South Carolina.

Shane Hannaford enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2001 as an Infantry Marine. After basic training Shane was selected to a Surveillance and Reconnaissance Platoon where he was team leader. He served in two deployments to the Southeast Asian theater of operations, with 80 percent of his time being spent in Iraq, where he survived four roadside bomb attacks. He was injured during one of these attacks and had to undergo multiple surgeries. Shane received 13 awards and medals, including the Purple Heart, and achieved the rank of Sergeant.