Nancy was a member of the Pima Nation. Parts of Pinal and Maricopa County, Arizona are referred to as Gila River Community and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which consists of two tribes: The Pima and the Maricopa. The Salt River is a tributary of the Gila River. The Pima believe they are the descendants of the "Hohokam." The Hohokam lived from about ad 200 to 1400 in the area that now comprises central and southern Arizona. They lived near the Gila and Salt rivers. The term Hohokam is a Pima word that means “those who have vanished.” The Hohokam left most of their settlements, sometime between 1350 and 1450. Historians believe that a Great Drought (1276–99), followed by a period of both low and unpredictable precipitation that lasted until approximately 1450, caused the Hohokam to relocate. The later inhabitants, the Pima and Tohono O’odham (Papago), logically, are the direct descendants of the Hohokam people. The Pima Reservation, referenced as such in early newsprint, changed to Gila River Community and to Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community. Also, in May of 1912, an Executive Order of President William Howard Taft created the Ak-Chin Community, which lies in the Santa Cruz Valley of Southern Arizona and is comprised of both Pima and Tohono O’odham, aka Papago. Nancy Whitaker Hayes was born and lived in the Gila River Community, which is comprised of seven River Districts. On June 27, 1964, Jobe and Nancy Hayes attended the wedding celebration of Wilma Ruth Marrietta and Mervin Lee Thurman, Jr. Wilma was chosen as the first Miss Gila River in 1963. The Mul-Chu-Tha, or foot race, was established in 1962; and Miss Gila River is chosen during this annual March gathering, which has blossomed into much more than a foot race. It is preceded by Ira Hays Days, which is another annual event that features a parade with Indian Color Guards. The event serves the function of honoring our veterans, which was an important aspect of both the life and legacy of Nancy Whitaker Hayes.

Nancy Whitaker was the wife of Joe E. Hayes, aka Jobe, aka Job - see his page. Their marriage license was announced on October 17, 1922 on page 4 of The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ. They were enumerated as both living in San Tan, which is located in District 4 of the Gila River Indian Community. Joe was the son of David and Annie Hayes, based both upon Leonard Hayes' obituary and the 1900 Census. David's mother was named Alice. Nancy was born in District 5, Casa Blanca, of the Gila River Indian Community. Nancy passed away at the Sacaton "Hu Hu Kam" Indian Hospital, which is located in District 3.

Nancy was the mother of Ira Hamilton Hayes, who was one of our Marines pictured on February 23, 1945 as they raised the United States flag on Iwo Jima. The famous flag, captured in Joe Rosenthal's iconic photo, was the second one that was raised that day on Iwo Jima. The raising of the second flag was staged with a larger flag and a group of six Marines. When the famous photograph was taken, our troops were still taking fire, as there were enemy troops in close proximity; consequently the second flag was riddled by bullets. It was later flown over our nation's Capitol as a symbol of the resiliency of our people. The first flag was later used in the movie, The Sands of Iwo Jima, starring Ira, Rene Arthur Gagnon, and Navy Corpsman John Henry Bradley, who was injured while saving other troops. Of the six Marines who placed the second flag, three were killed in action: SGT Michael Strank, SGT Henry Oliver Hansen, and PFC Franklin Runyon Sousley. On June 23, 2016, coincidentally the day after I stumbled across Nancy's obituary, the United States Marine Corps released updated information regarding our six Marines who were in Rosenthal's iconic photo. PFC Harold Schultz had been misidentified as John H Bradley. Harold Schultz went through life without ever admitting his role in the second flag raising publicly. Nancy's words about Ira can be applied to both Harold Schultz and all of our sons who have served with honor. Nancy said, "He is a good boy, a good boy, and everybody misses him. He didn't like the praise and always says there are more heroes than him."

Ira was known to be a reluctant hero. He stated that there were other Marines who were fighting every single day who were heroes. Ira knew of the sacrifices that had been made, both before and after December 7, 1941, when Japanese war planes attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. The United States has often been called the Great Melting Pot. And in this pot, we have every flavor and color under the sun. Just imagine how beautiful were the colors of red, white and blue born upon our flag, in the split second that Rosenthal was able to capture the shot. Just imagine how tattered and torn our flag was, after taking fire from those who chose to become enemy combatants. Just imagine how pristine and quiet Hiroshima was in the seconds before the first bomb dropped from the Enola Gay, piloted by United States Air Force Gen Paul Warfield Tibbits, Jr. And just imagine every flavor and color under the sun, flashing in a split second, before Hiroshima was transformed into hell on earth. Just stop and imagine the piercing screams of Japanese children. Just imagine being of Japanese ancestry and being forced to live in a concentration camp on United States soil. Just imagine that the attack on Pearl Harbor never happened. And just imagine that the text of this page did not need to highlight both the mother of a war hero and the tremendous sacrifice that is made by our service members every single day. Nancy wrote of this sacrifice. To Frank Sousley's mom, Goldie Price, Nancy wrote, "We mothers, you and rest of the boys that raised the flag on Iwo Jima should hold our head up and show what proud mothers we are. They done it for their country and everybody else, not only their mothers."

Ira Hayes admitted that he felt as though he were viewed as a 'little man' by other Americans. And regardless of the fact that the Pima were considered wards of the government, Nancy displayed a profound sense of loyalty to the United States. The Pima were not allowed to vote until the ban was lifted on July 16, 1948. But the injustice dealt Native Americans was not limited to voter suppression. Every square inch of the United States is comprised of stolen land; and Ira was a direct descendant of Pima victims of violent and aggressive early Americans. In 1870, there was fear that an uprising of the Pima and Maricopa, who had well-populated settlements along the Gila River, would result in the death of most people with European ancestry living in central Arizona. The native lands were covered by Spanish Land Grants that dated as far back as the early 1800s. Instead of staging an uprising, the Arizona natives spent their time raising wheat and other crops, all while being increasingly crowded by white settlers who, like the Spanish, used religious indoctrination to both establish and maintain their foothold in the area. For any person who failed to adopt the new religion, experiencing a feeling of being marginalized and judged was a normal human reaction. Both the history and the instances of prejudice experienced by Native Americans are direct evidence of why Ira Hayes felt the way he did. And because Ira Hayes was both objectified and idolized, a number of Americans wanted to steal pieces of his story, just for the age old purposes of personal glory, enrichment and gratification. Leading this charge was NBC's Universal Studios. William Bradford Huie reimbursed Nancy and Joe Hayes for their son's story. Huie suspected that a movie might be made about the events on Iwo Jima. He told Nancy and Joe that if his story was ever filmed, he would pay them as much as he could, but that he would guarantee at least $5,000. Several years after Huie's story was published, the National Broadcasting Corporation stole Ira's story and used it for a television show. Huie pleaded with NBC to reimburse Joe and Nancy; but NBC refused. Because of this, the Pima Tribe refused to allow cameras on their reservation. Later, Universal Studios purchased the story from Huie for a mere $25,000. After paying expenses, including $5,000 to the Hayes family, Huie did not make any money. But NBC used the story to malign both the life and the value of the sacrifices made by not only Ira Hayes but also his parents. The media attempts to influence both what people think and value. But as for me, I look to the words of Nancy Whitaker Hayes for guidance. Nothing is more profound than how Nancy switched from past to present tense, when speaking of Ira. She left us the very essence of Ira: "He didn't like the praise and always says there are more heroes than him." And instead of a little man, that makes Ira Hamilton Hayes a VIP; because the need to honor our troops is an ongoing mission.