Stone Gardens: An Ottawa County -born Air Corps ace came home to Oklahoma and served his tribe for 30-plus years

Chief Leaford Manford Bearskin

Leaford Manford Bearskin was born on September 11, 1921, in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, the son of John and Myrtle Shaw Bearskin. A proud Wyandotte leader, decorated U.S. Air Force pilot, and dedicated public servant, Bearskin served as Chief of the Wyandotte Nation from 1983 until 2011. His life wove together deep tribal roots, wartime heroism, and decades of service to his people.

Bearskin grew up in a large family of 13 children on the Wyandotte Nation lands in northeastern Oklahoma. From an early age, he embraced his heritage and developed strong leadership qualities among his 12 brothers and sisters.

Shortly after graduating from high school in 1939, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. By the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he was serving as a sergeant in Alaska. He soon entered pilot training and was assigned to the 90th Bombardment Group, known as the Jolly Rogers. Flying a B-24 Liberator nicknamed Big Chief, Captain Bearskin completed 46 combat missions over New Guinea

He volunteered to fly top cover on dangerous missions without fighter escort and took special pride in never losing a crew member. He rose to squadron commander during the war.

His service continued long after peace returned. In 1948, he flew 29 missions during the Berlin Airlift. He later participated in the first flight of jet fighters across the Pacific while stationed in Georgia and served as a squadron commander during the Korean War.

For his contributions, Bearskin received numerous honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Medal for Humane Action.

He retired from the military in 1960 at the rank of major. He then continued government service, working on missile systems at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California before fully retiring and returning home to Oklahoma.

Back among his people Bearskin soon channeled his energy into tribal leadership. In September 1983, he was elected Chief of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma. Over nearly three decades, he worked tirelessly to advance his nation through innovative projects in economic development, cultural preservation, and community welfare.

He played a key role in establishing the 7th Street Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, and supported monuments honoring Wyandotte history. His leadership earned national acclaim, including the 1986 Indian Achievement Award from the Center for the History of the American Indian in Chicago.

.He was recognized as one of the historic leaders of Native Americans in the United States and mentored the next generation of tribal officials.

In his personal life Bearskin married Barbara Gannon and raised a son, Ronald Leaford Bearskin, and a daughter, Nancy,

He enjoyed riding horses and fishing in his later years, yet never stepped away from his commitment to the Wyandotte Nation. He remained a respected elder even after stepping down as chief in 2011.

Leaford Bearskin died on November 9, 2012. He received full military funeral honors. Services were held on November 15, 2012, at the Bearskin Health Center Gymnasium in Wyandotte, followed by burial in the Wyandotte Indian Cemetery in Ottawa Count.

Chief Leaford Bearskin lived a remarkable life defined by courage in the skies, steadfast leadership on the ground, and an unwavering dedication to his Wyandotte heritage and family. His legacy endures as an inspiration across the Arklahoma region and far beyond.