Lori J. Apala Gaffaney A Veterans Story

Though Lori J. Apala was born in California, she would not stay a "native" to that state. Apala would find her way heading towards her Chickasaw heritage and the midwest.

Apala was born in 1960 in the town of San Bernardino, California to Jesse and Frances Apala.

As a young child, she would experience tragedy with the death of her mother at the age of six. This would be a turning point in her young life.

At the age of ten, she was adopted by Jack and Ella Gaffaney. They would take her away from California and land her in Helena, Montana.

Apala-Gaffaney would graduate from Helena High School in...