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Corporal Ronald “Ronnie” Lupe

A young Apache man in a Marine Corps dress uniform.
  • Unit: 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division
  • Date of Birth: January 1, 1930
  • Entered the Military: May 25, 1951
  • Date of Death: August 12, 2012
  • Hometown: White Mountain Apache Reservation, Cibecue, Arizona
  • Place of Death: White Mountain Apache Reservation, Cibecue, Arizona
  • Award(s): Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal
Contributed by Artejia Adjerson, Christine Alchesay, Zachariah Chief, Marquez Duane, Jaylee Goklish, Chastity Gregg, Imani Haven, Krinstan Hoffman, Aliana Jones-Embry, Anaya Lee, Tanae Lupe, Vashaya Mason, Christine Nightshield, Crysrell Olayvar, Snowy Smith, Aniqua Suttle, Carmen Thompson, Katelyn Thompson, Erin Wallen, and Divaughtae Walker
Mentored by Mr. Simon Kinuthia Kibe, Ms. Gene Rose Velasco, Mr. Thomas Blair, and Mr. Jeron Velasco
Dishchii’bikoh High School
2024/2025

Early Life

Ronald (Ronnie) Lupe was born on January 1, 1930 to Nelson Lupe and Helen Nagle Lupe. He has two conflicting birth records. His first birth certificate notes his birth date as December 31, 1929, but his amended record and military records set his birth at January 1, 1930. He had four siblings: Mindah, LeRoy, Neya, and Nelson, Jr. His father worked various jobs to support his family. He served as a police officer at a school, worked as a stonemason for a building contractor, and worked as a salesman at a general retail store.

Lupe graduated from St. Johns High School in Laveen, Arizona in 1951. He began his studies at Arizona State University but did not graduate. 

He had many jobs throughout the White Mountain Apache Tribe reservation. At some point, he was a chain puller at a sawmill in McNary, which is within the reservation. He also briefly worked as a movie extra in Westerns, representing Native people with strength and authenticity.

Ronnie Lupe (center) in full traditional regalia during a ceremonial dance, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Lupe actively participated in preserving Apache traditions through song, dance, and cultural expression. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
Ronnie Lupe (second from the left) was a member of his school’s basketball team. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
Ronnie Lupe (standing, far right) pictured with his graduating class at St. Johns High School, 1951. This was an early milestone in a life dedicated to leadership, service, and cultural pride. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
Ronnie Lupe (standing) is pictured during a film production in 1955. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.

Homefront

Cibecue’s first peaceful contact with Americans occurred in 1857, though relations remained cautious. By 1965, agriculture in the area saw a modest revival, with over 60 corn fields and vegetable gardens producing a small supplement to store-bought food.

The modern Cibecue economy is driven by wages, cattle sales, trading post credit, and government assistance. Jobs remain limited, with some residents employed in a sawmill, school construction, cattle work, or trading posts. However, many face unemployment and economic hardship, relying on credit that often leads to debt.

Historically communal, the Apache economy shifted toward individual income and land ownership, weakening traditional clan-based structures. The nuclear family (gowa) has now become the main economic unit, replacing the extended family model that once defined Apache life.

Located at about 4,940 feet elevation, Cibecue evolved from scattered valley groups into a single settlement with schools, trading posts, churches, and tribal facilities. Today, it houses around 1,700 tribal members and includes amenities such as a clinic, gym, police substation, and commercial center. The community lies northwest of Whiteriver (the tribal capital) and is part of the White Mountain Apache Reservation, which features a dramatic elevation range from 2,600 to 11,400 feet and experiences all four seasons, making it a unique and culturally significant homeland.

The Cibecue Crown Dancers captivate an audience of over 300 people during a vibrant community gathering, showcasing the rich cultural traditions of the White Mountain Apache Tribe against the scenic backdrop of the Arizona highlands. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
An aerial view of Cibecue, Arizona, highlights the Dishchii’Bikoh Community School and its domed gymnasium, nestled within the vast landscape of the White Mountain Apache Reservation—an enduring symbol of education, resilience, and cultural pride. Courtesy of the Dishchii’Bikoh Community School.
The Great Seal of the White Mountain Apache Tribe — a vibrant emblem symbolizing the tribe’s deep connection to the land, nature, and cultural heritage, with sacred mountains, a rainbow, wildlife, and traditional elements reflecting their enduring legacy in Arizona. Courtesy of the White Mountain Apache Tribe

Military Experience

Ronnie Lupe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 25, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. He completed training at Camp Pendleton, California before deploying to Korea. Throughout his service, he held several roles, including messman, assistant bar man, Runner, fire team leader, and field artillery cannoneer.

Lupe departed San Diego, California aboard the USS General William Weigel on February 1, 1952, and arrived in Sokcho-ri, Korea on February 20. In Korea he served with L Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Marine Division from February until August. In August he was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to private first class, demoted to private, and was promoted back to private first class and later corporal. He participated in combat operations against Communist forces in South and Central Korea, contributing to important military engagements during the Korean War. He departed Korea aboard the USS General Walker, returning to San Francisco, California on February 22, 1953.

He completed the remainder of his service at Camp Pendleton, California. 

His service earned him several honors, including the Korean Service Medal, the UN Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Lupe was honorably discharged on May 24, 1954.

Ronnie Lupe, wearing combat gear and equipped with grenades and his rifle, at Camp Pendleton, California. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
Documentation of Ronnie Lupe’s travel to and from the Korean War. Portions have been redacted for privacy reasons. Official Military Personnel File.
Ronnie Lupe’s DD-214, detailing his military service. Portions have been redacted for privacy reasons. Official Military Personnel File.

Veteran Experience

After leaving the military, Ronnie Lupe returned to civilian life with the same sense of duty he showed during the Korean War. He married Vera Cruz in the late 1950s and raised six children while living in East Fork and later in Whiteriver, Arizona. 

Drawing on the leadership skills he developed as a Marine, Lupe became a respected public servant, serving as Tribal Chairman and District 3 Tribal Council Member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. He also worked as a director at Fort Apache and was instrumental in major community projects, including the hospital in Whiteriver, Sunrise Ski Resort and Hon-dah Casino. He also served as the president of the Apache Alliance and as a member of the President’s Advisory Board of Northern Arizona University. 

Ronnie Lupe (right) with Tribal Chairman Lester Oliver, April 1966. Captured during a moment of leadership transition, this photograph shows newly elected Chairman Ronnie Lupe alongside his predecessor, Lester Oliver, in the tribal office. The two leaders discussed the future direction of the White Mountain Apache Tribe following the April 1966 election. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
Ronnie Lupe helped to  launch the tribe’s first official radio broadcast. The station amplified Apache voices, stories, and sovereignty through the airwaves. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
Ronnie Lupe (second from the right) at the Hon-Dah Casino Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 1993. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
In a powerful act of generosity and commitment to future generations, Chairman Ronnie Lupe (right) presented a $1 million donation to the Whiteriver School District. Courtesy of Jackie Lupe.
White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe (middle) gives the traditional Apache tribal blessing to the Army’s first Apache Block III aircraft during a private ceremony on the flight line at the Boeing Apache product facility. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (111102-O-9999B-798).

Commemoration

Though he never spoke of any wartime injuries, his enduring legacy is marked by his contributions to tribal governance, his advocacy in Washington D.C., and his dedication to his people.

Ronnie Lupe died on August 12, 2012 and is buried in Dove Cemetery in Whiteriver, Arizona.

Students from Dishchii’bikoh High School visit Ronnie Lupe’s grave at Dove Cemetery in Whiteriver, Arizona, February 27, 2025.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

6th Infantry Division, C Company, 20th Infantry Regiment, Fort Ord, California. Armed Forces Publications, Taylor Publishing Company, 1952.

Arizona. Navajo County. 1940 U.S. Federal Census. https://ancestry.com.  

Arizona. Navajo County. 1950 U.S. Federal Census. https://ancestry.com. 

Arizona. White Mountain Apache. 1932 Indian Census. https://ancestry.com. 

Arizona. White Mountain Apache. 1934 Indian Census. https://ancestry.com. 

Bledsoe, Sofia. 2011. White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe Gives Traditional Apache Tribal Blessing to Army’s First Apache Block III Aircraft. Photograph. November 2, 2011. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service  (111102-O-9999B-798). https://www.dvidshub.net/image/483114/first-apache-block-iii-receives-sacred-apache-blessing.

Dishchii’bikoh Community School. Aerial photograph. Dishchii’bikoh Community School. https://www.dishchiibikoh.org/apps/albums/school/0/108686/0?uREC_ID=0&backTitle=&backLink=. 

Lupe Family Records. January 20, 2025. Courtesy of Candy, Joy and Norma Lupe. 

Ronald Lupe. Arizona, U.S., Birth Certificates (amended), 1880-1935. https://ancestry.com. 

Ronald Lupe. Arizona, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1880-1935. https://ancestry.com. 

“Ronnie Lupe.” Owens Livingston Mortuary. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.owenslivingstonmortuary.com/obituaries/the-honorable-ronnie-lupe. 

“Ronnie Lupe.” White Mountain Independent [Show Low, AZ], August 14, 2019. https://www.wmicentral.com/obituaries/latest_obituaries/ronnie-lupe/article_c38bf586-6099-5d3f-b86a-0d589cbe027e.html.

Sunrise Park Resort Awards. Video. January 15, 2015. Navajo County, Arizona. YouTube [6:32]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv7XEjosjqE.

Secondary Sources

 Aleshire, Peter. “Navajo County Pays Tribute to Ronnie Lupe.” White Mountain Independent [Show Low, AZ], August 16, 2019. https://www.wmicentral.com/news/latest_news/navajo-county-pays-tribute-to-ronnie-lupe/article_9d49447e-7522-52a8-a7d5-16eff4446970.html.

“Former Apache Tribe Chairman dies at 89.” Arizona Daily Star [Tuscon, AZ], August 15, 2019. Newspapers.com (594011172). 

“Former Longtime White Mountain Apache Tribal Chairman Dies.” AP News, August 12, 2019. https://apnews.com/general-news-422dbe032a2244e9b26d0a85d90646ed.

“Former White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe Passes On.” Indianz.com, August 13, 2019. https://indianz.com/News/2019/08/13/former-white-mountain-apache-tribe-chair.asp.

Hudson, Molly. “Tribal community remembers Lupe.” The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, AZ], August 14, 2019. Newspapers.com (593884191). 

Hudson, Molly. “White Mountain Apache Tribe Remembers Former Chairman Ronnie Lupe.” The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, AZ], August 13, 2019. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/08/13/ronnie-lupe-and-white-mountain-apache-tribe/1999867001/.

“NIGA Joins the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Mourning the Passing of Chairman Ronnie Lupe.” Indian Gaming Association. Updated August 14, 2019. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://indiangaming.org/niga-joins-the-white-mountain-apache-tribe-in-mourning-the-passing-of-chairman-ronnie-lupe/.

“Remembering Former White Mountain Apache Tribal Chairman Ronnie Lupe.” Arizona Indian Gaming Association. Updated August 16, 2019. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.azindiangaming.org/news/remembering-former-white-mountain-apache-tribal-chairman-ronnie-lupe/.

“Ronnie Lupe.” Find a Grave. Updated August 14, 2019. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202129064/ronnie-lupe. 

“Ronnie Lupe.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/RONNIELUPE/4CAF8A. 

“White Mountain Apache History.” White Mountain Apache Tribe. Updated 2011. Accessed April 16, 2025. http://www.wmat.us/history.html. 

“White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe Over the Years.” The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, AZ], August 13, 2019. https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/arizona/2019/08/13/ronnie-lupe-white-mountain-apache-tribe-chairman-over-years-photos/2003350001/.

“White Mountain Apache Water Rights Signing Ceremony.” U.S. Department of the Interior. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.doi.gov/news/photos/white-mountain-apache-water-rights-signing-ceremony.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.