A member of the Hopi tribe and the 507th maintenance company, Specialist Laurie Piestewa, was the first Native American woman in history to die in combat while serving with the U.S. military. On March 23rd, 2003, during the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, her convoy was ambushed after taking a wrong turn. Piestewa was taken prisoner, along with her battle buddy, PFC Jessica Lynch. Laurie died shortly thereafter in a Iraqi hospital. Her home state of Arizona renamed Squapique in the Phoenix Mountains as Piestewa Peak. A freeway that passes near this mountain was also renamed in her honor. And every year, the Laurie Piestewa National Native American Games is held, which brings participants from across the country. As a Native American soldier, Specialist Laurie Piestewa embodies the values of today's Army.