Corporal, US Marine Corps, Dorothy Paisano Sakiestewa

Born: January 10, 1917, Paguate, Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico

Died: August 19, 1980, Albuquerque, New Mexico

In Dallas Texas, Corporal Dorothy Paisano Sakiestewa joined the US Marine Corps Women’s Reserve (MCWR) on April 23, 1943, being inducted at the Southern Recruiting Division in Atlanta, Georgia.^1,2 It was not easy to join the MCWR, they wanted only the very best.³ She did her training at the University of Indiana in Bloomington before being assigned to the 45^th Aircraft Engineering Squadron at Cherry Point, North Carolina as a postal clerk.^4,5

By January of 1944, Private Paisano Sakiestewa was reassigned to the Headquarters of the Marine Air Station at Mojave, California in the Supply Division.⁶ Supply was no easy task at Mojave since “at its peak utilization during late 1944 and early 1945 it boasted two wooden hangers, 145 aircraft, and barracks […] for almost 3,000 male and 376 female personnel while civilian employees numbered around 176.”⁷ Paisano Sakiestewa, in typical Marine fashion, did her job well and she was promoted to private first class of Aviation Women’s Reserve Squadron 1 before April of 1944 and promoted again to corporal by October of that same year.^8,9

Corporal Paisano Sakiestewa served well and was released from the MCWR on September 28. 1945.¹⁰

Dorothy was born to James and Mollie Paisano in the village of Paguate on Laguna Pueblo on January 10, 1917.¹¹ She lost her mother in 1925, so she grew up with her extended family at Laguna Pueblo.^12,13,14 She attended the Albuquerque Indian School for high school, graduating in 1936.¹⁵ Paisano Sakiestewa returned to her family on the pueblo, but was soon back at the school, this time as a clerk typist.^16,17

She was briefly married to George A. Sakiestewa, but they divorced in 1943.¹⁸ It was then that Paisano Sakiestewa served in the MCWR. After her Marine service, she studied nursing with her GI Bill.¹⁹ She appears to have had a medical career in Winslow, Arizona among other places.²⁰ She married again and would eventually have five children, three daughters and two sons.²¹ Paisano Sakiestewa moved to Seama, New Mexico, and was living there when she fell ill.²² Dorothy Paisano Sakiestewa passed away at a local hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico on August 19, 1980.

Images & Documents

Notes:

1. “Sakiestewa, Dorothy P.” The National Archives at Washington, DC. USA; National Archives Publication: Navy Muster Rolls, 1939-1949. April 1943.
2. “Dorothy Paisano Sakiestewa.” Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
3. “United States Marine Corps Women Reserves. USMCWR” Women Marines Association. Copyright 2023. para. 8.
4. “Sakiestewa, Dorothy P.” The National Archives at Washington, DC. USA; National Archives Publication: Navy Muster Rolls, 1939-1949. July 1943.
5. “Sakiestewa, Dorothy P.” The National Archives at Washington, DC. USA; National Archives Publication: Navy Muster Rolls, 1939-1949. October 1943.
6. “Sakiestewa, Dorothy P.” The National Archives at Washington, DC. USA; National Archives Publication: Navy Muster Rolls, 1939-1949. January 1944.
7. Orr, Patti. “History of Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Station, Mojave.” Mojave Desert News. 11 November 2021. para. 7.
8. “Sakiestewa, Dorothy P.” The National Archives at Washington, DC. USA; National Archives Publication: Navy Muster Rolls, 1939-1949. April 1944.
9. “Sakiestewa, Dorothy P.” The National Archives at Washington, DC. USA; National Archives Publication: Navy Muster Rolls, 1939-1949. October 1944.
10. See note 2.
11. “Dorothy Paisano Sakiestewa.” Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
12. “Seonia.” Year: 1920; Census Place: Laguna, Valencia, New Mexico; Roll: T625_1080; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 187.
13. “Paisano, James.” The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; Record Group: 75; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Series: Microfilm Publication M595. 1926-27.
14. “Seonia.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Laguna Indian Reservation, Valencia, New Mexico; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0041; FHL microfilm: 2341135
15. “R. H. Hanna to Address AIS Senior Class.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 19 May 1936. p. 4.
16. “Seonia Family: Paisano.” The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; Record Group: 75; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Series: Microfilm Publication M595. 1938.
17. “Paisano, Dorothy.” Year: 1940; Census Place: Indian School, Bernalillo, New Mexico; Roll: m-t0627-02439; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 1-49.
18. “City Bits.” M’Alester News-Capital. McAlester, Oklahoma. 27 July 1943. p. 5. This is problematic; George A. Sakiestewa also filed for divorce from someone else in May of 1943, and since Paisano Sakiestewa was in the MCWR from April, there must be more than one George A. Sakiestewa. See “City Bits.” 8 May 1943 at: https://www.newspapers.com/image/897781076
19. “New Nursing Students.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 12 September 1949. p. 10.
20. “A Meeting was Held.” Navajo Times. Window Rock, Arizona. 13 June 1963. p. 11.

21 & 22. “Sakiestewa, Dorothy P.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 21 August 1980. sec. H p. 14. I have interpreted ‘a local hospital’ as one in Albuquerque, not Seama.

Compiled by: A. D. McLean, MA, MLIS. Central New Mexico Community College, retired 2022.

Featured Image:

“Dorothy P. Sakiestewa at Mojave CA.” US Militaria Forum: US Marine Native American Women in Uniform. Posted: 10 September 2007. Dated: 11 January 1945. Copyright 2023. Accessed: 20 September 2023. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/9860-us-marine-native-american-woman-in-uniform/