JR Redwater. age 30, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The year was 1975, the President of the US was Gerald Ford, the world population was just over four billion people, Foolish Pleasure wins the Kentucky Derby and George Carlin hosts the premiere of Saturday Night Live, "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest" sweeps the Oscars.
Meanwhile, back on the Standing Rock Reservation in North and South Dakota, Dominic Sr. had threw his wife Leanne into the pick truck and drove to Ft. Yates in the dead of winter. This was there first son, the first four were all girls. This time was different, the anatomy of the child would be inside out.
Coming from a poor alcoholic family wasn't a happy life. Sure life was a little normal here and there. But in his eyes not normal enough. So becoming the family hero was how he would make up for it, and because it was a dysfunctional family he knew he had to dream big.
The Redwaters' thought by having kids and naming them after each other would make things normal. Only for awhile, than it was back to the same ol'drinking, fights and cheating. Many times she would be left alone crying and JR would be by her side to wipe the tears. This happened many times and he already started thinking of ways to make her happy. It was not his role, but he was the man of the house many of times. A boy you might describe as a typical mama's boy.
At the age of ten, JR as he was known got his Indian name in a naming ceremony. It would be "Wanbli-Ohitika", which meant Brave Eagle, His Native American culture would play an important role in his life. He sang and danced traditional on the pow-wow trail. He had a best friend named Roy. They met around that time, and did lots of fun stuff together, like showing their boners off, and making teepees. Like I said they were best friends. There was never a time when JR wasn't cracking Roy up. He would keep in touch with Roy for years to come. Mostly at Pow-wows.
He soon moved to his dads reservation in South Dakota. His parents tried once again to work things out. They just graduated from the University of North Dakota, and were going to live happily ever after.
JR attended a small school in Harrold SD, and Stephan SD. Most action going on at this time was the tumble weeds blowing and did I mention more drinking. You see the lengths of sobriety in the family didn't last long. Now it was definitely a part of his being.
Growing up JR would play pranks on those around him. Especially his four older sisters. Kind of like wicked step sisters, except not. There was a time when he set his oldest sisters hair on fire at the drive-in movie. That was funny. Needless to say he walked home from the drive-in theatre. That wasn't the only time he would play with fire. There was that other time he shot his other sister with a BB gun. He told her to dance but she refused. Well you know what happened next. No dance, than sing.
Fighting his younger brother Bob was common thing. He had seniority over him until he learned to fight back, now he's locked up so that doesn't matter right now.
After high school, JR joined the US Navy. Going to see the world and get the heck out of here! It seemed like a good solution for a kids who like adventure. It would be to this day one of his best decisions yet! Shortly after boot camp, he married and had an instant family. Then, he was forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. After a year in Japan his new orders were to meet his new ship off the coast of California. The USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70. A nuclear aircraft carrier.
JR took leave one winter he travelled on the Greyhound bus back to South Dakota. He visited with another passenger and discovered that he knew his best friend Roy. He found out that Roy had passed away in a terrible accident during an Army training exercise. That folks was devastating news. JR knew that he would never have another friend like that again. A piece of him was gone. Was it true? Yes.
Three WestPac cruises to the Persian Gulf and four years later, JR also tried to reconcile with his kids' mom. Just like his parents did so many times in the past. It would fail, just as there's did.
Today, JR is following his hearts dream. He is drug and alcohol free, remarried, and now resides in Southern California. His life experiences at such a young age allows him to share his knowledge with those who dare to dream, He mentors to high school students and young adults. He is a devoted Christian. Sure life was little bumpy, but if he didn't experience these things, how would he know how to overcome lifes' everyday problems?
His comedy has always been the outlet for his anger. It has been the way he has always tried to heal peoples hurts. It is a way of life for him. His found memories of his pal Roy will always be alive in him, and he vows to do something big in his name someday. Brave Eagle will live up to his name, in the face of adversity. Helping his people and relatives around the world. I know he will, because, I am JR Redwater