Recently the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp has seen the arrival of thousands of U.S. military veterans armed with saws, hammers and other tools, building barracks, and an infirmary. The veterans say they hope to build enough housing for at least several hundred protestors, called "water protectors," at the site in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Some veterans interviewed by Reuters said they felt it was their patriotic duty to provide defense since Native Americans have historically had an active presence in the U.S. military. Charles Vondal, an Army veteran and Native American from North Dakota said, "Our commitment has not expired because we took off the uniform. We understand what it means to put our lives on the line."
