Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Calvert | Spc. Brandon Wolf, a Kingston, Okla., native and health care specialist with...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – American Indians enrolled as members or citizens of a U.S. federally recognized tribe have the opportunity to apply and compete for unique scholarships, grants and waived tuition to seek higher education.
For one Native American soldier with the 1st Air Cav, serving his country after graduating high school was the choice meant for him.
Spc. Brandon Wolf, a health care specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, is an American Indian soldier serving in today’s military.
“I could have gone to college for free,” said Wolf, a Kingston, Okla., native. “That wasn’t for me. Hard work’s for me.”
Native American Heritage Month begins each year on November 1st to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of the country's original inhabitants.
American Indians have a distinguished legacy in the Army. Thousands served in the armed forces from the early days of the Revolutionary War, with the Lewis and Clark expedition, as scouts with the U.S. Cavalry, and as code talkers in World War II.
Being of Chickasaw and Choctaw descent, Wolf grew up in southern Oklahoma alongside eight siblings and was taught the value of hard work at an early age from his blue-collar dad and no-nonsense mother, he said.
“Hard work has always been something my family has taken pride in,” said the humble and soft-spoken Wolf. “I remember my dad coming in at midnight with about an inch of roofing tar stuck to his boots. As soon as I could, I was up there on the roof too.”
Wolf traces his family’s lineage back to Chickasaw chiefs, who first settled in Oklahoma around Cheyenne territory before the first white settlers arrived in North America. As far back as he can remember, making a living through hard work has been a staple in his family.
Between his father Gene and mother Eva, the Wolf family grew up roofing, running a slaughterhouse, welding, and performing a slew of other occupations involving tough manual labor.
Even with today’s modern conveniences, Wolf still carries on Native American traditions instilled in him from the time he was a child.
“I still hunt with a bow and noodle (hand fishing) for catfish with my brothers,” Wolf said. “I took my cousin hand fishing (catching fish out of the water without a rod or net) for his first time down at the Red River recently, and he pulled out a 45-pounder. It’s an amazing feeling to keep these traditions alive.”
Wolf learned to ride a horse, with and without a saddle, at age 11. Following Native American traditions, he and his brothers tamed a wild horse, known proverbially as “breaking a horse.”
He and his brothers still routinely play stick ball – a game similar to lacrosse, but with smaller sticks and a field goal post used for scoring instead of netted goals.
In their down time, they attend biannual powwows where they celebrate their heritage by dancing throughout the night, as well as educating younger tribe members on customs and news regarding the tribe.
With a rich bloodline of American Indian heritage, the family has also had members serve in various branches of the Armed Forces.
Wolf’s paternal grandfather, David Wolf, served with the 29th Antisubmarine unit as part of the Army Air Corps, where he piloted a B29 Superfortress during his two terms of service.
His uncle, Lynn Wolf, was a military policeman stationed in Germany, and was hand-selected to carry President Eisenhower’s casket in Sherman, Texas, during Wolf’s tenure in the service before retiring.
It was a no-brainer for Wolf to volunteer to enlist during a time of conflict, considering his family’s storied legacy of service
“Although my grandfather died shortly after I was born, my father told me stories of him and his service all the time,” Wolf said. “I always looked up to him, and I respected him and my uncle’s choice to serve.”
Wolf decided to join the Army in 2011 in order to better himself while providing aid to soldiers around him.
“I chose to be a medic, because I wanted to help people,” said Wolf. “It’s pretty rough training, but I knew I could do anything I set my mind to.”
Wolf provides healthcare on a daily basis to soldiers at Troop Medical Clinic 12, at Hood Army Airfield here. He said his parents could not be any more supportive.
“They’re extremely proud,” Wolf said. “They have a lot of hope for me and my siblings, although my mom did ask me how come I didn’t choose the Air Force.”
Sgt. Jose Guzman, a Columbia, S.C., native, and health care specialist with HHC, has worked as Wolf’s first line supervisor for the last four months.
Guzman said he has watched Wolf grow not only as a medic, but as a newlywed husband and stepfather of a young child.
“He’s a sharp medic,” Guzman said. “He’s a very hard worker, and he’s a good dad who’s devoted to his family. He even elected to stay here at Fort Hood instead of changing posts, so that he could be within a close distance to his family in their time of medical need.”
Aside from putting in long hours at TMC 12 and furthering his knowledge as a medic, Wolf still finds time to help those around him, Guzman said.
“His skills are really shining through, and he keeps getting better,” Guzman said. “As busy as he is, he still is involved with his community, and tends to his community’s garden. He’s an outstanding citizen.”
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2013 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 116936 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Hometown: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Hometown: | KINGSTON, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 346 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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