Edward J. Driving Hawk - Too Strong to Be Broken: The Life of Edward J. Driving Hawk

This book traces the rolls, loops, and wingovers in Driving Hawks sometimes dizzying flight path through turbulent skies. A modern Lakota leader and veteran of two wars, he took risks, soaring and scoring but also scarring and being scarred.

Bunny McBride, author of award-winning Women of the Dawn and Molly Spotted Elk: A Penobscot in Paris

American Indian Lives

Series Editors

Kimberly Blaeser

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Brenda J. Child

University of Minnesota

R. David Edmunds

University of Texas at Dallas

K. Tsianina Lomawaima

Arizona State University

Edward J. Driving Hawk and Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

University of Nebraska Press | Lincoln

2020 by the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska

Cover designed by University of Nebraska Press; cover image is from the interior.

All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Driving Hawk, Edward J., 1935 author. | Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk, author.

Title: Too strong to be broken: the life of Edward J. Driving Hawk / Edward J. Driving Hawk, and Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve.

Other titles: Life of Edward J. Driving Hawk

Description: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, [2020] | Series: American Indian lives | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020010789

ISBN 9781496222886 (hardcover)

ISBN 9781496223470 (epub)

ISBN 9781496223487 (mobi)

ISBN 9781496223494 (pdf)

Subjects: LCSH : Driving Hawk, Edward J., 1935 | Driving Hawk, Edward J., 1935Family. | Lakota IndiansSocial life and customs. | Disabled veteransUnited StatesBiography. | Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South DakotaPolitics and government. | Rosebud Indian Reservation (S.D.) | Korean War, 19501953VeteransUnited StatesBiography. | Vietnam War, 19611975VeteransUnited StatesBiography. | Disabled veteransUnited StatesBiography. | Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South DakotaPolitics and government. | Rosebud Indian Reservation (S.D.)

Classification: LCC E 99. T 34 D 75 2020 | DDC 362.4086/970092 [B]dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020010789

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

In telling my brothers story, I drew genealogical data from my 1995 publication Completing the Circle. These family facts show that Ed and I and our children are descendants of white men (mostly fur traders) who cohabited with or married Indian woman. We are proudly Iyeska (mixed blood), which means our families were and are acculturated, taking what is positive from white society and adapting it to Indian culture. Although our grandparents and parents were forced to attend boarding schools, our father, James Driving Hawk, stressed the importance of education for us to function in a modern world.

Our Indian ancestors became Christian to fill a desperate need described by Ella Deloria, whose father was one of the first Indian priests: What good was it now anyway, in pieces? The sun dancewithout its sacrificial core; festive war danceswithout fresh war deeds to celebrate; the Hunka rite of blessing little childrenwithout the tended Ring of Relatives to give it meaningwho would want such empty leavings?

Our father was influenced by the Deloria conversion and by his grandmother, Lucy High Bear, who was a devout Christian. He also admired our mothers grandparents, the Reverend Charles Frazier and wife, Hannah, who became missionaries among the Sioux.

Ed and I are proud of our heritage.

Virginia

My husband, Vance, and I were savoring the warm April day in Arizona, on a break from the damp chill of South Dakota. We were on the patio of my brothers home, chatting with him and his wife, Carmen, and reminiscing about our days on the Rosebud Reservation. We happily recalled childhood incidents, the sadness of our young fathers passing, and our mothers resilience in raising us by herself. Ed recounted the highlights of his military career and his experiences as a tribal and national leader. As I listened to him, I realized that my brother had had many uncommon experiences in his life. He had been wounded in Korea, survived plane crashes and exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, was chairman of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, president of the National Congress of American Indians, operated several businesses, and was incarcerated for one year in a federal prison. He had survived many illnesses and surgeries due to Agent Orange and had had an amazing near-death experience. In addition, he was a family manmarried to Carmen for sixty-three years, with whom he had raised four sons and a daughter. He was also a recovered alcoholic.

Today, Ed must use a wheelchair and is on oxygen because of the Agent Orange exposure. He reads, watches TV , and dozes in that chair, his chronic pain dulled by pills. Carmen said, He needs something to doto take his mind off his pain and handicap.

Yeah, Ed agreed. Im turning into a vegetable.

After listening to his tales of the past, I suggested that he tell his life story, and he agreed. Thus, we began our collaboration on his story. I listened to the words he dictated on a recorder that typed them as he spoke. Then I transcribed his words into a readable narrative; first, his words in black ink, then my additions in red, which I then sent back to him to make sure all was okay. I made several trips to Arizona to interview him in order to clarify his recollections.

I had to research the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, military terminology and events, and Agent Orange. I checked facts about his experiences as chairman of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, where he participated in many traditional ceremonies and found out more about the National Congress of American Indians, which he presided over for two years. He also dealt with American presidents, congresspeople, and tribal leaders all over the United States.

I learned things about my brother that I had never known, and we are closer than we have ever been. I nearly wept as I wrote of how he lived through the horrors of war and his personal battle with alcohol. Grateful tears came as I recorded how Carmen was there for himshe supported him emotionally, physically, and financially through all those trying years; I marveled at how much they still loved each other. She is the main reason that he was too strong to be broken.

I have recorded my autobiography and my sister, Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, has transcribed it into a readable narrative. I am proud to be a Lakota man and cherish the cultural heritage I gained from my parents and grandparents. I hope this recollection will let my descendants know and understand their heritage, which is part of who they are.

I am also proud of my military service in two wars, and proud of the time I gave to the Rosebud Sioux tribe and all tribal nations in the United States. But I am not proud of being an alcoholic and the years I wasted with booze. I hope my children and grandchildren can learn from my experiences and know that no matter how trying life can bethey can rise above it to be good people.

I was freezing cold, like I was lying on a bed of ice; I hurtagonizing pain all through my body. I opened my eyes and I saw myself on a gurney surrounded by doctors and nurses. I knew it was me, yet it wasntI hovered over the body and the operating room. I hurt so bad; I closed my eyes, willing the pain to end, then I began slowly and smoothly sliding into a tunnel of bright light and warmth. I was no longer cold, and the pain was gone; I felt relief and intense joy. I gazed into the light and saw Dad, Grandpa Driving Hawk, and an elder in a headdress I had never seen before, but I knew it was High Bear, my grandmas grandfather. Bill Menard, an old friend, was also there. I heard drums and Lakota men singing the old warrior song. The song faded, I saw Dad shake his head, the light dimmedsomething pulled me away. With all my might I tried to stay, but the light faded, and some force pulled me back into the OR . I was sadI wanted to stay with my elders in that warm and safe place.