<P> As Piestewa came under "a torrent of fire" (in the words of an Army investigation of the battle) she drove at high speed, evading enemy fire until a rocket - propelled grenade hit her Humvee . The explosion sent her vehicle into the rear of a disabled tractor - trailer . Piestewa, Johnson, and Lynch all survived the crash with injuries, while three other soldiers in the Humvee died . They were taken prisoner along with four others, with Piestewa dying of her wounds soon after . A video of some of the American prisoners of war, including Piestewa (filmed shortly before she died in an Iraqi hospital), was later shown around the world on Al Jazeera television . According to Jessica Lynch's book--I'm a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story--Piestewa was wounded in the head, and it was impossible to perform delicate neurosurgery in an Iraqi civilian hospital in wartime conditions (such as intermittent electric power). </P> <P> The families of soldiers in the 507th heard almost right away of the ambush and fatalities in the unit . The Piestewa family saw people in her unit being interviewed by Iraqi TV, and for more than a week families of the two women waited for news . All around Tuba City signs were hung out telling people: "Put your porch light on, show Lori the way home ." They used white stone to spell her name on a 200 foot high mesa just outside the town . </P> <P> Piestewa was awarded the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal . The U.S. Army posthumously promoted her from private first class to specialist . </P> <P> Lynch has repeatedly stated that Piestewa was the true heroine of the ambush and named her daughter Dakota Ann in honor of her fallen comrade . In addition, many entities have honored her memory with memorials . Arizona's state government renamed Squaw Peak in the Phoenix Mountains near Phoenix as Piestewa Peak and this was codified by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names on April 10, 2008; the freeway that passes near this mountain was also renamed in her honor . In addition, Senator Tom Daschle honored her, as did Indian Nations across United States . Since her death, the Grand Canyon State Games organizers have held an annual Lori Piestewa National Native American Games, which brings participants from across the country . A plaque bearing her name is also located at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and Fort Bliss, Texas . She has also been memorialized with a plaque and ceremony at Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, California . On November 10, 2011, American Legion Post No. 80 on the Hopi Reservation was renamed the Lori Piestewa Post #80 . On November 30, 2011, the Directorate of Training Sustainment headquarters at Fort Benning, Georgia was named Piestewa Hall in her honor . </P>

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