Post by Okwes on Nov 13, 2006 12:38:51 GMT -5
Native Americans have served U.S. military well
11/3/2006
By Dr. Bob Kane, Air Armament Center History Office
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Many Americans know about the World War II Navajo Codetalkers, but
people might not know that Native Americans fought on both sides during
the American Civil War.
Native Americans were also with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders at
San Juan Hill, Cuba, in 1898.
Many Americans may remember that one of the U.S. Marines who raised the
U.S. flag over Iwo Jima in 1945 was a Native American. In U.S. history,
24 Native Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor for
gallantry in combat above and beyond the call of duty.
Major General Clarence L. Tinker, the namesake for Tinker Air Force
Base, Okla., was one-eighth Osage. He was the first Native American in
the U.S. Army to be promoted to general and died on a flying mission
after the battle of Midway in June 1942.
Throughout the history of this country, Native Americans have been
associated with the American military. Unfortunately, many Americans
usually think only of "Indian" raids along the frontier and then later
out west.
All too often, many people only remember the atrocities committed by
Native Americans during the Indian Wars of the 19th Century.
They often fail to remember that American settlers and the U.S. Army
also committed atrocities against Native Americans, sometimes killing
women and children as well as warriors.
As the nation celebrates Native American Heritage Month this month and
Veterans Day Nov. 11, remember that thousands of Native Americans have
honorably served in this country's Armed Forces throughout its
history.
Many served as scouts for the U.S. Cavalry out west, and 16 received
this country's highest military honor for their courageous service.
During World War I, about 12,000 Native Americans served in France, and
many distinguished themselves in the brutal fighting on the Western
Front. Of the approximately 600 Oklahoma Native Americans, mostly
Choctaw and Cherokee, assigned to the 142nd Infantry of the 36th
Texas-Oklahoma National Guard Division, four received France's Croix
de Guerre, while others received Britain's Church War Cross for
gallantry.
More than 21,000 Native American fought against the Axis forces in World
War II and compiled an outstanding record of bravery in combat. In
November 1945, the Office of Indian Affairs reported that 71 Native
Americans had received the Air Medal, 51 the Silver Star, 47 the Bronze
Star and 34 the Distinguished Flying Cross. Five had received the Medal
of Honor, one of them posthumously.
The U.S. Armed Forces has preferred assigning Native Americans to
regular units. Native Americans and non-Native Americans have had to
live, work, fight and even die together and, in doing so, learned from
each other.
"There was a camaraderie [in the Air Force] that transcends ethnicity
when you serve your country overseas in wartime." said Ben Nighthorse
Campbell, Cheyenne veteran of Korea and former U.S. Senator and
Representative from Colorado.
11/3/2006
By Dr. Bob Kane, Air Armament Center History Office
community.emeraldcoast.com/military/news/article.showarticle.db.p\
hp?a=6066
<http://community.emeraldcoast.com/military/news/article.showarticle.db.\
php?a=6066>
Many Americans know about the World War II Navajo Codetalkers, but
people might not know that Native Americans fought on both sides during
the American Civil War.
Native Americans were also with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders at
San Juan Hill, Cuba, in 1898.
Many Americans may remember that one of the U.S. Marines who raised the
U.S. flag over Iwo Jima in 1945 was a Native American. In U.S. history,
24 Native Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor for
gallantry in combat above and beyond the call of duty.
Major General Clarence L. Tinker, the namesake for Tinker Air Force
Base, Okla., was one-eighth Osage. He was the first Native American in
the U.S. Army to be promoted to general and died on a flying mission
after the battle of Midway in June 1942.
Throughout the history of this country, Native Americans have been
associated with the American military. Unfortunately, many Americans
usually think only of "Indian" raids along the frontier and then later
out west.
All too often, many people only remember the atrocities committed by
Native Americans during the Indian Wars of the 19th Century.
They often fail to remember that American settlers and the U.S. Army
also committed atrocities against Native Americans, sometimes killing
women and children as well as warriors.
As the nation celebrates Native American Heritage Month this month and
Veterans Day Nov. 11, remember that thousands of Native Americans have
honorably served in this country's Armed Forces throughout its
history.
Many served as scouts for the U.S. Cavalry out west, and 16 received
this country's highest military honor for their courageous service.
During World War I, about 12,000 Native Americans served in France, and
many distinguished themselves in the brutal fighting on the Western
Front. Of the approximately 600 Oklahoma Native Americans, mostly
Choctaw and Cherokee, assigned to the 142nd Infantry of the 36th
Texas-Oklahoma National Guard Division, four received France's Croix
de Guerre, while others received Britain's Church War Cross for
gallantry.
More than 21,000 Native American fought against the Axis forces in World
War II and compiled an outstanding record of bravery in combat. In
November 1945, the Office of Indian Affairs reported that 71 Native
Americans had received the Air Medal, 51 the Silver Star, 47 the Bronze
Star and 34 the Distinguished Flying Cross. Five had received the Medal
of Honor, one of them posthumously.
The U.S. Armed Forces has preferred assigning Native Americans to
regular units. Native Americans and non-Native Americans have had to
live, work, fight and even die together and, in doing so, learned from
each other.
"There was a camaraderie [in the Air Force] that transcends ethnicity
when you serve your country overseas in wartime." said Ben Nighthorse
Campbell, Cheyenne veteran of Korea and former U.S. Senator and
Representative from Colorado.