Diné warriors protecting tribe, U.S. overseas

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They have true guardianship in their blood.

Three Navajo Nation police officers now on leave from the Crownpoint District are prime guardians of Navajo land and the United States, in the eyes of their colleagues back home.

Senior police officer Franklin S. Begaye, from Church Rock, N.M., is a sergeant first class in the New Mexico Army National Guard.

Senior officers Lamar Martin of Crownpoint and James Dan Jr. from Nenahnezad, N.M., are sergeants, also are in the New Mexico Guard.

All are currently stationed in Tallil, Iraq.

Begaye was honored recently with an American flag that had been flown at the Contingency Operations Base Adder in Ur, Iraq, on Sept. 11, 2009, in remembrance of 9/11.

Begaye's wife Denise presented the flag to the Crownpoint Police District at its annual Christmas dinner. The flag is showcased in the department's lobby along with a letter from 1st Sgt. James Verdugo and Maj. Thomas Gonzales verifying the flag's authenticity and Begaye's accomplishments.

"I think it gives us pride," said Denise Begaye, a criminal investigator for the Crownpoint District. "This isn't the only war that Navajos have gone to, and it's not going to be the last."

Begaye supports her husband, as well as his fellow officers and Guardsmen Martin and Dan, and is proud of them, she said.

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The holidays without her husband were not as hard as she thought, thanks to Internet technology, which allows all the Begayes, including four children, to talk daily, she said.

"He misses home," Begaye said of her husband, who is a quiet man and not really one to show his feelings. "He goes on his missions, so days go by fast and he does what he needs to do out there."

Franklin Begaye has been in law enforcement for 14 years and started military training in March 2009. He was deployed to Iraq in July, Denise said.

He is expected back to the reservation in February for a two-week break and will complete his deployment in May, she said.

"It was special to have Officer Begaye's wife come in and present the department with the flag that was flown in the face of the enemy overseas," said Michelle Jake, Crownpoint District secretary.

Officer Dan is a "quiet one," Jake said, adding that his colleagues in the department nicknamed him "Lieutenant Dan," after a character from the movie "Forrest Gump."

"Officer Lamar (Martin) would make a good sergeant and was highly recommended for promotion," she said, as he has a serious personality and is a family man.

Martin is a good officer, a "go-getter" and a field-training officer, added Steven Nelson, commander of the Crownpoint District.

All three men are still active members of the Crownpoint District and are expected to get straight back to their police duties when they return from overseas, Nelson said.

"They're good officers, they're hard working officers," Nelson said. "We're feeling the crunch (without them)."

The Crownpoint District is the largest Navajo Nation police district, covering 6,652 square miles. The three officers' absence - along with some retirements and transfers to other agencies - has left the district short staffed, Nelson said.

But in spite of the crunch, Nelson is grateful for their military service as guardians of the U.S. and Navajo Nation both.

Nelson said if he were in their shoes, being away from family during the holidays would be difficult. It would also be hard for the family, who would be constantly wondering if their husband, father, son or uncle is hurt, he said.

"Every time you hear about people being killed (in Iraq), you wonder," Nelson said.

"These police officers are the Navajo Nation's finest," Jake said. "I have to salute them. They are often cussed at, spit at and threatened at their job. Now they are overseas fighting the enemy in protecting the United States. They are Navajo warriors."

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