Great-Grandson Of Geronimo Speaks Out About Code Name

Harlyn Geronimo never got to meet his great-grandfather, Geronimo, but he said there is nothing more disrespectful than linking this historic Apache leader to a terrorist.

“This is very demeaning, and it hurts,” he said.

Harlyn said he felt deliberately attacked when he heard “Geronimo” was the code name U.S. Navy SEALs used for Osama bin Laden.

“This cowardly terrorist committed mass murders in the world against Americans, our people, and then a few people in the Pentagon figured it’s appropriate to use Geronimo’s name in the context it was used, labeling him with Osama bin Laden,” Harlyn said. “It’s uncalled for. It’s very painful to my family and to other Native Americans.”

Geronimo was a highly respected Apache leader who fought for freedom and stood for patriotism, Harlyn said.

“He fought for us in a good way, for our land and for the people here, and bin Laden is just … evil,” Millie Cimarron, who lives in Mescalero, said.

Other Native Americans agree that the military’s use of the name feels like a slap in the face.

“That’s just like going up and just running over them with a vehicle or something,” Max Cimarron, Millie’s husband, said. “So it does surprise you, and it does get you mad.”

Ignorance may account for the cultural insensitivity, Harlyn said.

“You know, these people are supposed to be highly educated, very in tune with our American history, but apparently not, or it’s just the racism that’s still here,” Harlyn said.

Harlyn does not blame the U.S. Navy SEALs, but said he feels more research should have gone into the name before it was used.

“I’m proud of them; however, Obama, President Obama, needs to straighten his Cabinet,” he said.

Harlyn submitted a two-page letter to the U.S. Senate on behalf of Geronimo but said he has yet to receive a response or formal apology.