Many Native Americans have gone to war for America or served at home just to patrol and protect our borders from invasion, keeping us safe. The Eskimo Scouts of the Alaska National Guard patrolled over 500,000 miles of Aleutian coastline and tundra during WWII and rescued downed Us Airmen. This unit of Alaskan Native Americans was organized by Major Marvin "Muktuk" Marston of the U.S. Army. The guard was formed in 1949 and in 1976 began admitting women also as members. They now also patrol in the Bering Straits.

Native Americans are among the distinguished soldiers who have received the highest military honor. Those who received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty were:

First Lt. Jack C. Montgomery for his bravery near Padiglione, Italy on February 22, 1944. Second Lt. Ernest Childers for his bravery at Oliveto, Italy, September 22, 1943. Second Lt. Van T. Barfoot for his bravery near Carano, Italy, May 23, 1944. Commander, US Navy, Ernest E. Evans, who also received the Navy Cross, Bronze Star Medal and a citation for gallantry. PFC John N. Reese, Jr., for his bravery in Manila, Philippine Islands, February 9, 1945.

The Army Nurse Corps are there for our troops, living among the dangers and caring for the wounded in every war. Native American women served as medical nurses during WWI, there were fourteen of them. Charlotte Edith Monture, from the Iroquois Nation was an Army Nurse in France. She lived long after the war and passed away at the age of 106. Cora E. Sinnard, Oneida Tribe, served eighteen months in France at a hospital unit. Almost eight-hundred Native American women were enlisted during WWII and many served overseas. Private Elva Tapedo Wale, Kiowa, from Oklahoma joined the Women's Army Corps. She served in the Air WAC on bases throughout the States. Corporal Bernice (Firstshoot) Bailey from Lodge Pole, Montana joined the Women's Army Corps in 1945 and served three years. She was later sent to Germany during the Occupation of the Army. Beatrice (Coffey) Thayer was also in Germany as part of the Army Occupation and stayed in the army up until the 1970's. First Lt. Julia (Nashanany) Reeves, from the Pottawatomie Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1942. She served on the first medical unit in the Pacific. Julia then served at the 23rd Station Hospital in Norwich, England and was there during the invasion of Normandy. Julia mobilized again during the Korean War and served at the 804th Station Hospital.

Communications is imperative during war time. Secret tactical messages to be sent could very well be figured out by enemy troops. The unwritten Native American languages of Choctaw, Comanche, Cherokee and Navajo did much to help win battles and to keep the code breaking enemies from knowing the battle and attack plans. The Code Talkers of WWI and WWII were invaluable to our military. Native Americans distinguished themselves with a very successful operation. Small groups of Native Americans could pass on codes much quicker and with better secrecy than the Morse code methods. Codes can be deciphered, but languages could take months to learn. The Navajo language used in WWII was of the Na-Dine' ancient language of the Southern Athabaskan descent. This language was used to send secure messages that could not be broken. In WWII the Navajo worked in the Pacific theater and the Comanche dealt with the European theater. The Germans and Japanese were unable to break the codes and help each other against us.

The 'Code Talkers' were credited with saving countless lives and bringing on the end of the wars much sooner than anticipated. In November of 1999, Charles Chibitty, the last survivor of the WWII Comanche "Code Talkers" was honored at a ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes. Chibitty was 78 years old at the time, but still remembered all his comrades with great emotion. Public recognition and honors for the Code Talkers did not come immediately after the war. All the Code Talkers were sworn to secrecy, so the public never knew about their exceptional bravery and intelligence until the information was allowed to be declassified in 1968.

When the calls went out to defend America, Native Americans answered to it. They care greatly for this country and uphold their veterans with the greatest of honor and have them in their opening of the Grand Entry of any PowWow. They are "The Honor Guard" and carry the flags, leading the procession.

Native Americans were the first to defend this land and continue to do so today. They defended this country even before they were granted citizenship. During WWI, over 10,000 were enlisted in the military. This was the largest number of any one ethnic group at that time in the military services. Men and women from all walks of life, from all races, from all faiths have gone to wars to fight for our country. Please, let not one more day go by without them hearing the words: "Thank you for representing and fighting for our country. Thank you for your bravery, courage, loyalty and sacrifices. Thank you for my freedom!"

Thank you, Warriors All.

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