WINDOW ROCK, AZ – On Wednesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer issued a proclamation calling for all flags on the Navajo Nation to be flown at half-staff on Friday, July 9, 2021, in honor and remembrance of U.S. Army Pvt. Marriah Alice Shirley Pouncy, a member of the Navajo Nation who passed away on June 21 while stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas.
The cause of her death remains under investigation. According to Stars and Stripes, “Army Criminal Investigation Command, known as CID, is investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, though officials said foul play is not suspected and her death is believed to have been an isolated incident.”
On Tuesday, President Nez met with the family of Pvt. Pouncy and offered his condolences and prayers for her loved ones. Navajo-Hopi Honor Riders and the Navajo Police Department escorted Pvt. Pouncy from Albuquerque, N.M. back to the Navajo Nation on Tuesday evening.
“Flags on the Navajo Nation will be flown at half-staff to honor and remember the life of Army Pvt. Marriah Pouncy, who dedicated her life to serving and protecting our country. We offer our thoughts and prayers for her family and friends, and we also recognize and thank her family for everything they have given as well. We ask our Creator to bless them with strength and comfort as they seek answers and grieve for their daughter, granddaughter, and sister. We will continue to support the family as they seek closure and answers in relation to her untimely passing,” said President Nez.
Pvt. Pouncy was born on Sept. 3, 2000 in Chinle, Ariz. In 2018, she graduated from Chinle High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed basic combat training.
She was a human resources specialist assigned to the Headquarter Company of the 1st Armored Div. Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Jackson, S.C. She was then stationed at Fort Bliss beginning in Dec. 2019 to the time of her passing. She also served a tour assignment at Camp Red Cloud and Camp Casey in South Korea. Her family stated that Pvt. Pouncy enjoyed reading her bible, skateboarding, playing Xbox games, and spending time with her family.
“With this proclamation, we pay tribute to Pvt. Pouncy and we give thanks to our Creator for her life and all of the wonderful blessings she bestowed upon her loved ones. We pray that her family takes comfort in knowing that she is now with God. We ask all of our Navajo people to join us in prayer for her family and friends,” stated Vice President Lizer.
Pvt. Pouncy is survived by her parents, Anita Mae and James Pouncy; brothers, James Begay Jr. of Mesa, Ariz., Kristopher Pouncy, Aslan Pouncy, and Ashriel Pouncy of Chinle; sisters, Robin Howard of Parker, Ariz., Joanita Begay of Louisville, Kentucky, and Nizhoni Pouncy; nieces, Shalisa and Johannah Mitchell of Louisville; and nephew, Dushaun Weible of Louisville. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Alice and Billie Jones and paternal grandparents, Mariah and Jerry Pouncy.
The service for Pvt. Marriah Pouncy will be held at Potter’s House Chinle Christian Center in Chinle, Ariz. on Friday, July 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a private burial at a family plot. The proclamation issued by President Nez and Vice President Lizer calls for all flags on the Navajo Nation to be lowered to half-staff on Friday, July 9, 2021.