Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation's Armed Forces
Eagle-feather war bonnets adorn U.S. military uniform jackets

Eagle-feather war bonnets adorn U.S. military uniform jackets at a Ton-Kon-Gah (Black Leggings Society) ceremonial, held annually to honor Kiowa tribal veterans. Near Anadarko, Oklahoma, 2006. National Museum of the American Indian

Eagle-feather war bonnets adorn U.S. military uniform jackets at a Ton-Kon-Gah (Black Leggings Society) ceremonial, held annually to honor Kiowa tribal veterans. Near Anadarko, Oklahoma, 2006. National Museum of the American Indian

Members of the Ton-Kon-Gah, or Kiowa Black Leggings Society standing together

Members of the Ton-Kon-Gah, or Kiowa Black Leggings Society, discuss what it means to be a veteran before the start of a ceremony in memory of those who fought. The tipi depicts battles in which Kiowas participated and lists the names of all Kiowas killed in combat since World War II. Near Anadarko, Oklahoma, 2014. Photo by Nicole Tung

Members of the Ton-Kon-Gah, or Kiowa Black Leggings Society, discuss what it means to be a veteran before the start of a ceremony in memory of those who fought. The tipi depicts battles in which Kiowas participated and lists the names of all Kiowas killed in combat since World War II. Near Anadarko, Oklahoma, 2014. Photo by Nicole Tung

Black and white portrait of Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, ca. 1919

Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture (Six Nations of the Grand River, 1890–1996) was the first Native Canadian registered nurse. Rejected from Canadian nursing schools because of her Native heritage, she sought training in the United States. In 1917, she volunteered for the U.S. Medical Corps and served in a hospital in France. She was one of 14 Native Canadian women who served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War I.

Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, ca. 1919. Photo courtesy of John Moses

Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture (Six Nations of the Grand River, 1890–1996) was the first Native Canadian registered nurse. Rejected from Canadian nursing schools because of her Native heritage, she sought training in the United States. In 1917, she volunteered for the U.S. Medical Corps and served in a hospital in France. She was one of 14 Native Canadian women who served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War I.

Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, ca. 1919. Photo courtesy of John Moses

Diné [Navajo] code talkers kneeling in leaves

Diné [Navajo] code talkers Corporal Henry Bahe, Jr. and Private First Class George H. Kirk. Bougainville, South Pacific, December 1943. National Archives and Records Administration 127-MN-69889-B

Diné [Navajo] code talkers Corporal Henry Bahe, Jr. and Private First Class George H. Kirk. Bougainville, South Pacific, December 1943. National Archives and Records Administration 127-MN-69889-B

Marine Corps Women Reservists posing together outside

Marine Corps Women Reservists, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, oct. 16, 1943. From left, Minnie Spotted Wolf (Blackfoot), Celia Mix (Potawatomi) and Viola Eastman (Chippewa). National Archives and Records Administration 535876

Marine Corps Women Reservists, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, oct. 16, 1943. From left, Minnie Spotted Wolf (Blackfoot), Celia Mix (Potawatomi) and Viola Eastman (Chippewa). National Archives and Records Administration 535876

Sepiatone portrait of John Emhoolah

John Emhoolah (Kiowa/Arapaho, b. 1929) was one of five brothers who served in the military. Upon his return from the Korean War, he became active in the fight to restore Native Nations’ treaty rights. Photo courtesy of Debbie Emhoolah

John Emhoolah (Kiowa/Arapaho, b. 1929) was one of five brothers who served in the military. Upon his return from the Korean War, he became active in the fight to restore Native Nations’ treaty rights. Photo courtesy of Debbie Emhoolah

Black and white portrait of Donna Loring in uniform

Donna Loring (Penobscot, b. 1948) served in 1967 and 1968 as a communications specialist at Long Binh Post in Vietnam, where she processed casualty reports from throughout Southeast Asia. She was the first woman police academy graduate to become a police chief in Maine, serving as the Penobscots’ police chief from 1984 to 1990. In 1999 Maine governor Angus King commissioned her to the rank of colonel and appointed her his advisor on women veterans’ affairs. Photo courtesy of Donna Loring

Donna Loring (Penobscot, b. 1948) served in 1967 and 1968 as a communications specialist at Long Binh Post in Vietnam, where she processed casualty reports from throughout Southeast Asia. She was the first woman police academy graduate to become a police chief in Maine, serving as the Penobscots’ police chief from 1984 to 1990. In 1999 Maine governor Angus King commissioned her to the rank of colonel and appointed her his advisor on women veterans’ affairs. Photo courtesy of Donna Loring

Photo of Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa in uniform

Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa (Hopi, 1979–2003) was the first woman killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first known Native American woman to die in combat. Photo by Piestewa Family/Getty Images

Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa (Hopi, 1979–2003) was the first woman killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first known Native American woman to die in combat. Photo by Piestewa Family/Getty Images

Portrait of Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler in uniform standing in front of flag

Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler (Cherokee, 1975–2015) was a member of the army’s elite Delta Force and the recipient of 11 Bronze Stars during his military career. Wheeler died on Oct. 22, 2015, while rescuing prisoners from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) near Hawijah in northern Iraq. He was the first known U.S. military casualty in the fight against ISIS. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army

Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler (Cherokee, 1975–2015) was a member of the army’s elite Delta Force and the recipient of 11 Bronze Stars during his military career. Wheeler died on Oct. 22, 2015, while rescuing prisoners from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) near Hawijah in northern Iraq. He was the first known U.S. military casualty in the fight against ISIS. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army

Throughout Indian Country, servicemen and women are some of the most honored members of their communities. Yet they remain unrecognized by any landmark in our nation’s capital. That will soon change.

The United States Congress has charged the National Museum of the American Indian with creating a memorial on its grounds to give all Americans the opportunity “to learn of the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans.” Their legacy deserves our recognition. 

Why Do American Indians Serve?

It doesn’t seem to make sense: why would American Indians serve a government that overran their homelands, suppressed their cultures and confined them to reservations? The reasons are complex.

For thousands of years, American Indians have protected their communities and lands. A warrior’s traditional role, however, involved more than fighting enemies. Warriors cared for people and helped in any time of difficulty. They would do anything to help their people survive, including laying down their lives. Many American Indians view service in the U.S. armed forces as a continuation of the warrior’s role in Native cultures.

World War I

When the United States entered “the war to end all wars” in April 1917, Native Americans signed up to fight in and support it. Some 3,000 to 6,000 Native men enlisted and another 6,500 were drafted. About two-thirds served in the infantry, winning widespread praise for bravery and achievement. But the cost was high: about five percent of Native combat soldiers were killed, compared to one percent of American forces overall.

American Indians supported the war in other ways. At home, some 10,000 Indian women joined the Red Cross, donating time, money and clothing. Native people also bought war bonds. By the war’s end in November 1918, American Indians owned $25 million in bonds, about 75 dollars for every Native man, woman and child.

After fighting for democracy in Europe, many Native veterans expected that the United States would reward their patriotism by granting all of their people citizenship and recognizing the right of tribal self-determination.

Code Talkers

During World War I and World War II, a variety of American Indian languages were used to send secret military messages – codes that enemies were never able to break.

In World War I, Choctaw and other American Indians transmitted coded messages by telephone in their tribal languages. Although not used extensively, the telephone squads were key in helping the United States win several battles that ended the war.

Beginning in 1940, the army used American Indian recruiters to find Native-language speakers who were willing to enlist. The Marine Corps recruited Diné [Navajo] code talkers in 1942 and very soon established a code-talking school.

World War II

American Indians enlisted in overwhelming numbers after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Forty-four thousand of a total Native American population of 350,000 saw active duty, including nearly 800 women. For this service they earned at least 71 Air Medals, 34 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 51 Silver Stars, 47 Bronze Stars and five Medals of Honor.

“People ask me, ‘Why did you go? Look at all the mistreatment that has been done to your people.’ Somebody’s got to go, somebody’s got to defend this country. Somebody’s got to defend the freedom. This is the reason why I went.”

—  Chester Nez (Diné [Navajo]), World War II and Korean War veteran

Korea

The Korean War began in June 1950, when Communist North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel dividing the Korean Peninsula. For the next three years, American forces – including approximately 10,000 American Indian soldiers – along with troops from 15 other nations, fought to prevent a Communist takeover. Considered a “police action” because Congress issued no formal declaration of war, the Korean War was nevertheless bloody and brutal. Some 33,739 American soldiers died in battle, including 194 Native Americans. 

Vietnam

Of the 42,000 American Indians who served in the U.S. armed forces during the Vietnam conflict (1964–75), 90 percent were volunteers. Approximately one of every four eligible Native people served, compared with one of 12 in the general population. Of those, 226 died in action and five received the Medal of Honor.

Like many other Vietnam veterans, American Indians were often deeply traumatized by what they experienced. Some noticed similarities between the Native and Vietnamese colonial experiences. As one veteran observed, “We went into their country and killed them and took land that wasn’t ours. Just like the whites did to us. We shouldn’t have done that. Browns against browns. That screwed me up, you know.” 

When the veterans returned, many found solace and healing in their communities’ ceremonies and honors. Many also joined political organizations, such as the American Indian Movement and the National Indian Youth Council, to work for social justice and change. 

Global Conflicts in the 21st Century

Since the Gulf War (1990–91), the United States has been engaged in an ongoing series of conflicts, primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq. American Indian men and women continue to serve in high numbers at home and abroad. According to the Department of Defense, more than 24,000 of the 1.2-million current active-duty servicemen and women are American Indians.

Be Part of a Historic Moment: The National Native American Veterans Memorial

“This is a tremendously important effort to recognize Native Americans’ service to this nation. 3We have so much to celebrate.”

– The Honorable Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne)

Native Americans have participated in every major U.S. military encounter from the Revolutionary War to today’s conflicts in the Middle East, yet no landmark in our nation’s capital recognizes this contribution.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will create that landmark: the National Native American Veterans Memorial. The anticipated dedication of this tribute to Native heroes will be on Veterans Day 2020.

The National Museum of the American Indian is depending on your support to honor and recognize these Native American veterans for future generations.