Tribal Member, Slain Ambassador J Christopher Stevens' Body Arrives on American Soil

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE – The body of slain US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, a tribal member of the Chinook, based in Bay Center, Washington, arrived at the Andrews Air Force Base on Friday.

US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens - Chinook

He died Tuesday while valiantly attempting to rescue others under his command at the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, where he served as the US ambassador to Libya. Ambassador Stevens was 52.

Three other slain Americans, who died with Ambassador Stevens, arrived aboard a gray government plane. A brief ceremony, attended by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, was held.

“Four Americans, four patriots,”

said President Obama.

“They had a mission, and they believed in it. They knew the danger, and they accepted it. They didn't simply embrace the American ideal, they lived it, they embodied it: the courage, the hope and, yes, the idealism. That fundamental American belief that we can leave this world a little better than before.”

Chinook Chairman Ray Gardner issued this statement on Wednesday after hearing of the death of Ambassador Stevens:

President Obama and Secretary Clinton at the Transfer of Remains Ceremony

“To all of the Chinook members and all the friends of the Chinook Nation I am hopeful that you will include the family of Chris Stevens, the former Ambassador to Libya that lost his life while working towards bringing lasting peace to the region, in your prayers. Chris, along with his family, are Chinook members… This will be a hard time for their family and they will need our prayers.”

The following remarks were made in Washington on Wednesday morning by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton about the slain ambassador:

“Chris Stevens fell in love with the Middle East as a young Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Morocco. He joined the Foreign Service, learned languages, won friends for America in distant places, and made other peopleâ€™s hopes his own.”

“In the early days of the Libyan revolution, I asked Chris to be our envoy to the rebel opposition. He arrived on a cargo ship in the port of Benghazi and began building our relationships with Libya's revolutionaries. He risked his life to stop a tyrant, then gave his life trying to help build a better Libya. The world needs more Chris Stevenses. I spoke with his sister, Ann, this morning, and told her that he will be remembered as a hero by many nations.”

Born in April 1960 and raised in northern California, Stevens earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California at Berkeley in 1982, a Juris Doctorate from the University of California's Hastings College of Law in 1989, and an MS in National Security Studies from the National War College in 2010. He was also a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English in Morocco from 1983 to 1985.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Stevens spoke fluent English, French and Arabic, Stevens was nominated by President Obama to be ambassador to Libya on January 23. He was installed on May 22.

posted September 15, 2012 7:59 am edt