Native American Veterans

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2007 as National American Indian Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to commemorate this month with appropriate programs and activities".

Today is also Veterans Day.
Be sure to visit the Official
Native American Heritage Defense Dept. Website

Native American military service.

Lt. Woody J. Cochran holding a Japanese flag, New Guinea. A Cherokee from Oklahoma and a bomber pilot, Lieutenant Cochran earned the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal. April 1, 1943.
American Indian Select List number 190.

An Indian Technique: Code Talkers ___Here's a good discussion of the use of the Native Indian tongue for secure communications during World Wars I and II. - Text only - From OCMH Study 57, Military-Connected Contributions of American Indians to the Culture Heritage of the Nation, Prepared by William Gardner Bell - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/topics/natam/code.htm

The Civil War in Indian Territory ___Get brief overviews of Cherokee and Choctaw participation in the Civil War and a good account of the Confederate General, Stand Watie. - Text only - From Indian Territory - http://members.aol.com/ciiisiii/cherokeepage/cherokee2.htm

Congressional Medal of Honor ___Following a history of Native American participation in 20th U.S. military conflicts and a list of the five native Medal of Honor recipients, you'll find some excellent information about the Navajo Code Talkers in World War II. - Text only - From Medal of Honor - http://www.medalofhonor.com/NativeAmericans.htm

Creek Indians in WWII ___The author has extracted information regarding Creek soldiers who fought in the U.S. military during World War II. It isn't a pretty website, but the data is there. - Text only - From Anne E. Gometz - http://www.rhus.com/ww2.html

Fallen Warriors Remembered, Native American Military Heroes ___This page acknowledges the courage and heroism of Native Americans in U.S. wars and conflicts up to, and including, the current situation in Iraq. - Illustrated - From Medal of Honor -
http://www.medalofhonor.com/NativeWarriors.htm

Three Marine Corps women reservists, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Left to right: Minnie Spotted Wolf (Blackfoot), Celia Mix (Potawatomi), and Viola Eastman (Chippewa).
U.S. Marine Corps photograph, October 16, 1943.
American Indian Select List number 194.

Images of Indian Scouts ___These photos were taken at Ft. Huachuca in 1942. Click on any or all of them to see an enlarged image. - Illustrated - From the U.S. Army Center of Military History - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/topics/natam/idnscts.htm

L to R: Corporal Jim Lane, John Rope, and Kassey Y-32.Ft. Huachuca, Arizona (April 1, 1942) Signal Corps Photo #28 by Carl Gaston

Indian-Citizen Soldier: Lieutenant Colonel Edward E. McClish ___ McClish was a guerrilla leader in World War II. "Colonel McClish played a personal part in contributing to the final victory in the Pacific." This brief page provides information about the man. - Text only - From the U.S. Army Center of Military History - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/topics/natam/mcclish.htm

Native Americans in the U.S. Military ___"American Indians have participated with distinction in United States military actions for more than 200 years. Their courage, determination, and fighting spirit were recognized by American military leaders as early as the 18th century." From this page you can link to four related pages; three concern the Navajo Code Talkers and one lists Native recipients of the Medal of Honor.- Text only - From the United States Department of Defense - http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq61-1.htm

Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts ___"One of the toughest units in the U. S. Army was the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts. This elite group was recruited in 1870 from black people living in Mexico. The army selected them for their superbly honed frontier tracking skills, superior marksmanship and first rate horsemanship. They served gallantly in Texas during the Indian Wars,
but today few people have heard of them." - 1 image - From Medal of Honor -
http://www.medalofhonor.com/IndianScouts.htm

Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts___"The Seminole-Negroes were descendants of escaped slaves. They settled among the Seminole Indians of Florida." Learn about their distinguished service in both the Mexican and United States armies and what became of them. - Text only - From the Superintendent, Fort Davis National Historic Site, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior - http://www.coax.net/PEOPLE/lwf/scouts.htm

Transmitting Messages in Choctaw ___This is a copy of a message sent from the Colonel of the 142d Infantry to the Commanding General of 36th Division, 23 January, 1919. It's in regard to the problem of Germans intercepting telephone communications and the possibility of using the Choctaw language to pass information. - Text only - From the U.S. Army Center of Military History - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/topics/natam/wwi-choc.htm

United States Volunteers - Indian Troops ___This is an index of Native American units in the Civil War. - Text only - From "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" by Frederick H. Dyer - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/topics/natam/dyer.htm

The brave contributions to our freedom and security by native American Indians are an important part of American history and America's future.

From packagesfromhome.org...

"Native Americans have a long history of distinguished and loyal Service to our Country. Family members are typically very supportive but unfortunately, some families live in remote areas that make it difficult or impossible for them to send frequent letters and support packages to their loved one who is serving in Harm's way in the War Against Terrorism... and many do not even know that Packages From Home exists to help them support their deployed family member! Packages From Home therefore conducts a Native American Outreach at powwows and gatherings.

Are you Native American or do you know a Native American family who has a deployed family member? Many families who live on remote reservations or who do not have Internet access are unaware that their soldiers can receive free care and comfort packages from Packages From Home while they are deployed. The goal of this Outreach is to let Native American family members know about this important resource that can supplement their own support of their loved one. At each powwow we attend, sign up forms are available so family members can request Packages From Home send care and comfort packages to their relative who is fighting in the War Against Terrorism - there is no charge to the soldier or his/her family.

If you have questions or if you would like to help out (volunteer) at a powwow (giving out information and sign up forms) please contact Laureen Chischilly-Keyonnie, our Native American Outreach coordinator. Laureen is of the Diné (People), and can be reached at laureen@packagesfromhome.org . Laureen's son Marcus is a proud Marine currently deployed to Iraq, and Laureen's vision is that every Native American serving our great Country receives every bit of support possible: from his family, his friends, and PACKAGES FROM HOME".

God bless all our veterans and also those who are currently serving as well as the future brave Americans yet to serve.

God Bless America.

-redstater