by D. B. Silvis
The following morning, the fourth of May, 1942, Killian climbed into his Chevy pickup, and headed back to his ranch. At the same time twenty-nine Navajo recruits boarded a bus, at Fort Defiance, on their way to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. It was there they would spend seven weeks for standard recruit training before transferring to Camp Elliot for eight weeks of basic communication training, and to develop a special code based on the Navajo language.
Throughout the war, the code talkers were commended for their skill, speed and accuracy. They proved to be invaluable to the military forces.
The United States government made a decision regarding the 1st Cavalry in February, 1943, when General McArthur ordered them dismounted. The unit was then equipped with hundreds of new armored vehicles, motorcycles, tanks and heavy weapons. To the dismay of most of the cavalrymen, the 1st Cavalry was now converted into a mechanized infantry unit. The proud cavalrymen did not want to trade in their horses, and saddles for vehicles. However, on February, 28, all the mounted regiments held a dismount ceremony, where the men turned in their horses, saddles and bridles. It was a sad day for the cavalry.
Some of the horses were sent to other forts, but most were auctioned off at bargain prices. Killian, along with Peter, Jacob and their sons, attended the Fort Bliss auction. They were buyers. Many of the cavalrymen, who knew Killian, and the men from the KF ranch, asked them to purchase their horse, promising to buy it back after the war. They obliged and bought every one of the horses they were asked to buy, plus many more fine mounts at giveaway prices. Altogether they bought over three hundred animals, along with many of the saddles and bridles. It took them days to move the horses, and equipment to the KF ranch.
CHAPTER 6
The war raged on in Europe for much longer than most had envisioned. With the 1st Cavalry now dismounted, and Fort Bliss not purchasing horses, the market for the stock at the KF ranch was limited to individuals, who were buying horses for pleasure or to help work their farms. Killian and the Freeman family turned a large portion of the ranch into grazing land and began raising steers. Their longhorns were some of the finest in the region. Over the following months, Killian and the Freeman family were ever-present at the rodeos, and livestock shows that thrived at the El Paso Country Coliseum.
When the war ended in 1945, and for a few years afterward, some of the cavalrymen, who had survived the war, returned to El Paso. They came to the KF ranch looking for, and to purchase, their old mounts. When the men found their horse was still on the ranch, and in good health, they were overjoyed. When they asked what they owed for their horse, they were told they had already paid for it by their service to the country. Most of the time, the returning soldiers would stay for a few days, and reminisce with Killian. Some of them knew which of their comrades would not be returning for their mounts, as they were buried in one of the many gravesites in Europe. A few even stayed on to help with the work at the ranch.
One of them who stayed was Captain Kipling Smith. He had been wounded in the right leg and was still walking with a cane. Captain Smith was from a wealthy family in Virginia. They owned a large acreage of farm and ranch land along the east coast. His parents, Jesse and Arthur Smith, lived on a southern-style plantation farm. His grandfather, Zack, had a ranch next door to Kipling’s parents’ home. It was stocked with many fine horses. Zack Smith was well known, nationwide, for raising successful racing horses.
Over the next year and a half Kipling went back home to Virginia on two occasions, but after the war he felt more at ease at the KF ranch. He and Killian became best friends. They began spending time in El Paso, where they had met two ladies at one of the rodeos. After the war people were restless, and looking for entertaining and fun things to do. New restaurants and night clubs were opening, and Kip and Killian enjoyed dating and the night life. One day, while they were out riding with their girlfriends, Kip surveyed the open land and the hundreds of horses on it.
“Killian, now that the war is over, people are looking to get outdoors and enjoy life. I think you have something special here. Your spread would make a great dude ranch. You have the horses, the land, and the trails.”
Killian rode along for a few minutes thinking about Kip’s suggestion. “That’s an interesting idea. I like it, and I think it’s something the Freemans would also like.”
That night Killian and Kip discussed the idea with the Freemans, who were one hundred per cent behind turning the KF into a dude ranch. Within a week the transformation was in full swing.
Kip helped manage the ranch, and oversaw the building of a small hotel with a fine dining room. They also built a few bunk houses and a rodeo arena, and added many interesting riding trails. The Freeman family took to handling the everyday business of lodging, food and entertainment, as if they were born into it. The KF Dude Ranch was a success from the beginning. The ranch became well-known, as people came from all over the country came to enjoy the outdoor life of riding the trails, having great barbecues, campfire sing-alongs, swimming in the large pool, and lying in the sun.
One evening, Kip and Killian went into El Paso to take their dates to a steakhouse, and then to a night club for an evening of drinking and dancing. After they dropped the girls back home, they stopped at one of their favorite bars, which was on their way back to the KF ranch. While they were sitting at the bar talking, a strongly built, well-dressed Indian came over to the bar, and sat next to Killian. He didn’t say anything, only stared at him.
“Anything I can do for you, stranger?” asked Killian, turning to look at the man.
The Indian stood up. “No. I thought I knew you.” The stranger walked away.
Kip glanced at Killian. “He’s an odd one. He was really giving you the once-over.”
Killian nodded and took a sip of his drink. He wondered if the Indian was one of Lupan’s friends. He knew the big Indian was a Blue Warrior.
“Finish your drink, Kip. I didn’t like the looks of that guy.”
They finished their drinks, and walked outside. Killian spotted the big Indian right away. He was sitting in a Ford sedan, with another Indian.
“It’s trouble, Kip. Quick, get into the pickup.”
They both got in. Killian started the engine and peeled out of the parking lot. He headed out of town, down the dark highway, toward the KF ranch. He glanced in the rear view mirror, and saw the Ford sedan coming up fast behind them. The sedan pulled alongside, and banged into the pickup. The truck swerved, but Killian kept it on the road. The passenger window on the sedan was down, and the other Indian was pointing a gun at them.
Killian yelled at Kip. “Get down on the floor!”
Kip ducked down, and looked over at Killian. He saw bullets smash the pickup’s window, and go through the door. One bullet hit Killian in the shoulder, another in his left leg. He jerked the steering wheel, and hit the brakes hard. The truck screeched to a stop as the Ford sedan raced by.
“Jesus, Killian, you’re hit!” yelled Kip.
“These guys are big trouble, Kip. Stay down. I’ll be okay.”
Killian quickly jumped out of the pickup, and hopped up into the bed of the truck. He opened the specially lined tool box filled with water. He removed a canister from the water, and got back into the driver’s seat, then hit the gas. Kip, who was still sitting on the floor, stared up at his friend. The pickup roared forward toward the sedan that had slowed down. Killian slammed the truck into the side of the sedan, and then continued down the highway. The sedan’s wheels spun, and squealed as the car accelerated after the pickup. Killian kept at a steady sixty miles per hour, he wanted them to catch him. Again the Ford sedan pulled alongside, and slammed against the pickup. When Killian saw the Indian start to point his gun, he threw the canister through their open window. The canister smashed against the sedan’s dashboard. There was a white flash as the phosphorus grenade ignited, and burst into flame. The sedan swerved back and forth, and then toward the roadside ditch, where it rolled over.
Killian hit the brakes and stopped. He and Kip climbed out. They saw the forms of the two men in the sedan. They were on fire. Then they heard wolves howling, and two bright flashes of blue light were followed by two ribbons of blue-white smoke that rose from the burning car, and ascended into the sky.
“What the hell was that, Killian?” shouted Kip, staring in bewilderment.
Killian didn’t answer.
“Killian, they changed shape, and those howls were those of a wolf.”
“I know. I heard it,” said Killian as he got back into the pickup. “I’ll explain it to you later.”
Kip looked at Killian. “You need to get to a hospital. You’ve been shot.”
“Get in the pickup, Kip. We need to get out of here before the police arrive. I’m sure they have seen the explosion.”
“But what about your gunshot wounds, Killian?”
Killian pulled back his shirt, and showed Kip his shoulder. The gunshot wounds were already beginning to heal.
Kip’s mouth fell open as he stared.
“Get in, Kip. I’ll explain on the way to the ranch,” Killian urged.
They got into the Chevy pickup and drove away. The bullet wounds continued to heal as an astonished Kip heard Killian’s story. As they drove along the dark two-lane highway, Kip tried to comprehend what Killian was telling him. He couldn’t believe what he was being told, but adding to what he has just seen it was difficult to dispute the strange story. Kip sat in silence as Killian related what had happened to him over the past years, and told him how old he really was. Kip didn’t know what to say. It all seemed impossible. However, he’d seen the two Indians, and what had happened to them. He sat as the bullet wounds to Killian’s leg and shoulder miraculously healed.
After Killian was through telling his unbelievable story, they rode along in silence for a few miles. Kipling was stunned. He didn’t know what questions to ask. The only thing that came to Kip’s mind was something with which he was familiar.
“What was it that you threw at them, Killian, a self-igniting phosphorus grenade?”
“Yes, I keep a couple of SIPs in the tool kit, and to be on the safe side, in cool water. I knew that someday Lupan or his friends would find me.”
“Christ, Killian, you sure do live dangerously.”
Killian smiled and then explained to Kip the only thing that could kill a Blue Warrior or Blue like him was fire.
Over the next two years, Kipling, Killian and the Freeman family enjoyed managing the successful KF Dude Ranch. Kip now knew about, and understood, what Killian had done over the past years, and what his friend’s highly unusual capabilities were.
After three and a half years, Kip felt it was time for him to go back to his family in Virginia. When he had been honorably discharged from military service, his intention had been to go back to Virginia, and become involved in politics. He now felt he needed to follow his ambition. It was during the winter of 1948 when Kip finally left the ranch and returned home.
After Kip left the ranch, Killian became restless. An ongoing conversation, he and Kip had had over the past couple of years, was gnawing at his mind. Kip often talked about politics. There was one issue which had particularly bothered him. It was the ill-treatment of the Indians. Kip had been distraught over the government’s decision to set up, and sponsor a program of boarding schools for Indian children. Kip knew it was badly run and harmful to the children, and the family structure of the Indian nation. A second point which had been a thorn to Kip was that some states, like New Mexico and Arizona, deemed the Indians ineligible to vote. They argued that Indians did not have the right to vote because the Indian reservation lands were not taxable by the state. The state of Arizona interpreted a 1928 trust doctrine to mean all Native Americans were now under “guardianship” and therefore not allowed to vote. These and other issues had spurred Kip’s desire to return to Virginia, and run for congress.
In the past, Killian had been torn over his past dislike for the Navajo Indians. That had been fueled mostly by Lupan and his followers, who had been blessed by the Star Warriors, but harbored great hatred for the white man. However, after his conversations with Kipling regarding the mistreatment of the Indians, he now had mixed emotions. Kip had told him that since 1879 the Bureau of Indian Affairs had created considerable trauma among the Native Americans due to the government-sponsored boarding schools program. The United Stated government had even debated how best to remove the Native Americans from their land by extermination or civilization. Its answer had been to pay Christian churches or military personnel to run the boarding schools as a civilizing alternative. Indian children had been taken forcibly from their families at the age of five; parents who resisted were jailed.
An Army captain who had no experience in education or running a school had been selected to open the first of many boarding schools. His motto was “Kill the Indian and save the man”. The boarding schools had proved the first step in destroying the link between Indian children and their families.
From time to time, Killian had heard stories about atrocities in some of the boarding schools. He had heard that abuse was rampant; that children were severely punished for speaking their native language or practicing their religion. Killian had often wondered what the Star Warriors thought of this, and why they didn’t intervene. He was troubled. He couldn’t believe the United States government would allow church and school officials to torture Indian children. Alongside the unscrupulous priests and missionaries there were untrained Army personnel, who had retired to take government pay, and run an Indian boarding school in a strict militaristic environment, where the boys were badly beaten and young girls were repeatedly raped. He had also heard rumors the children were actually murdered by the way of starvation, beatings with leather straps, hanging, electric shock, and other forms of brutality. He had had a difficult time comprehending that the United States government was turning a blind eye to what was happening at these schools.
When Killian learned of a particular incident, in Arizona, he decided to find out the truth. The word was that two missionary brothers had stirred up the Navajos with their unruly and unscrupulous behavior. Killian packed and drove his Chevy pickup to Arizona. By the time he arrived at the boarding school things were out of hand. The military was trying to quell the anger of a hundred white people, who had massed, by the burning embers of the school, which had been set ablaze by the Navajos the night before. Killian learned that a group of Navajo men had come to the school, removed the children, set fire to the building, and taken the two missionary brothers captive.
Knowing the area, Killian stepped back into his pickup, and drove toward a known Navajo territory. Once there he parked, and strode into the woods. He slowly began transforming into a Navajo Indian. After walking for about a quarter of a mile he heard chanting and mournful screams. He found the source of the noise in a big open space. He stopped and absorbed the scene before him. Two naked white men were hanging upside down from a large tree limb. The men were being brutally tortured. Most of the Navajo Indians paid no attention to Killian, who now looked like one of them. Two of the Indians stared at Killian, and then walked slowly over to him. Nothing was said for a few seconds. Then the larger of the two Indians spoke.
“I am Gaagii, friend of Lupan.”
Killian didn’t return the greeting.
“Why are you here, Taglito Silaada?” Gaagii asked.
“I am no longer a soldier, Raven,” answered Killian.
“You prefer not to use Navajo names, Taglito?”
“My American name is Killian. I have no ill will against the Navajo.”
“That may be, but Lupan will still kill you,” said the shorter Indian.
“Is he here?” asked Killian.
“No. Lupan is a soldier. He went to fight against the white man. He is now in a faraway land,” answered Raven.
“Lupan is now a mercenary?” asked Killian.
“He is a killer of the white American
s,” the smaller Navajo answered proudly.
“And what about you, Raven?” asked Killian.
“I, like many who were blessed by the Star Warriors, have lost my taste for the blood of the white man. We want to practice the good teachings of the Sky People.”
Killian pointed toward the two hanging missionaries. “What about them?”
“We don’t think of them as white men; they are animals. One of them constantly beat, molested, and murdered our young boys. The other raped our innocent young girls, and if there were babies born to them the babies were killed and buried in unmarked graves in the school’s grounds,” said Raven.
Killian heard a blood-curdling scream. He looked over at the two missionaries, who were being roughly castrated. Their blood was running down, from between their spread legs, over their chest, and onto their faces. Between screams they choked on their own blood.
“I don’t condone what these men have done or what’s happening at the boarding school, Gaagii. I’m ashamed of the treatment of your people, and that our government is letting it happen.”
Gaagii smiled grimly. “The Star Warriors blessed you, Killian, as they saw there was good in your heart.”
Killian nodded. He saw other Indians putting firewood under the swaying heads of the two missionaries. The three of them watched as fire was applied to the dry wood.
“They will burn to death, Killian, but no blue-white smoke will rise from their bodies only the black smoke of their evil souls,” said Gaagii.
Killian nodded once more, “Peace be with you, Raven.”
He turned and walked through the woods toward his pickup.
CHAPTER 7
In June of 1950, North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The invasion triggered war. It was the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, supported by the People’s Republic of China, with military and material support from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, against the Republic of Korea (South Korea), supported by the United States of America, with aid from the allied nations under the aegis of the United Nations.
