The NDSU Office of Multicultural Programs, Memorial Union room 178, will display a valuable war bonnet that was presented to honor fallen U.S. Army National Guard Cpl. Nathan Goodiron, 25, from Mandaree, N.D., a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation. The war bonnet will be on display during Cultural Awareness Month in October and American Indian Heritage Month in November.
Goodiron was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery, North Dakota National Guard, Grand Forks, N.D. He died Nov. 23, 2007, from injuries sustained when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in Qarabagh, Afghanistan.
This headdress is on loan from NDSU student Sam Floberg, a decorated veteran of the War on Terror. Floberg and Goodiron served together in Afghanistan and became close friends during their services. Floberg was injured during the attack that took Goodiron’s life and since has been honored throughout North Dakota for his heroic efforts.
Upon returning to North Dakota, Floberg was given the war bonnet by both the Goodiron family and the North Dakota National Guard, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery. The honor was followed with a ceremony adopting Floberg into the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation and as a member of the Goodiron family. During the ceremony, Floberg was given his American Indian name, which translates to “Mountain Warrior.”
Paul Goodiron, Nathan’s father, said Floberg is like another son and that the war bonnet was given to him to commemorate the friendship and camaraderie that was shared between Floberg and Nathan while they served in Afghanistan.
"We are honored to display this unique tribute to an American Indian soldier from North Dakota," said Monique Vondall-Rieke, program coordinator in the Office of Multicultural Programs. "We are grateful for Sam Floberg's generous offering toward diversity at NDSU."