LEE ‘GIZ’ TENDORE

FATHER / FORMER TRIBAL LIAISON / VETERAN


Lee grew up in Fort Washakie, Wyoming and attended Flandreau Indian Boarding School, in South Dakota. A proud Eastern Shoshone father, son, brother & uncle, Lee served with the 1st Marine Division, 1st MLG, CLR-17, attached to Landing Support as a Diesel Mechanic and worked as a mechanic on heavy equipment. 

“I always wanted to be a Marine, since I was very young.” 

Lee enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2007, at the age of 26. “I felt like I had something to prove, mostly to myself.” He wanted to be a ‘present Dad’ and knew he couldn’t do that as an active duty Marine. He was promoted to Sergeant before he left active duty. “I was afraid of coming home and not doing anything else. You need a safety net so your mental health doesn’t plummet.” Lee earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wyoming in Native American and Indigenous Studies, minoring in Criminal Justice and credits his family for this success: “It was who I chose to surround myself with who impacted me the most”.

Lee recently served as the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Liaison to the Governor’s Office State of Wyoming. But his fellow servicemen and women are always on his mind - He has contributed to the Wyoming Governor’s Challenge: Suicide Prevention For Service Members, Veterans, And Their Families.

“WE WERE ALL WE HAD – NO ONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH BUT EACH OTHER.”