Several years ago I was very lucky to meet an amazing man, Charles Chibitty, at a local powwow who ,at that time, was the last living COMANCHE code talker at the age of about 75. He was the sweetest man and though he danced in almost every dance still took time to visit with everyone who stopped him to chat or for photos. Later during the day he spoke about serving his country, the important job that the code talkers had and the little recognition that they got for so many years, but how proud all the Code Talkers were to have served their country. He also gave examples of how they set up the codes and some of the different words that they used.....of course he spoke them in Comanche then told what the word in his language meant then what the actual word was in Engilsh. In that short period of time I learned more about that part of history than I ever did in school! It made me come home and do some research on the subject.

Many people have heard about the Code Talkers. We mostly hear about the Navajo code talkers, however there were many other tribes involved in both WWI and WWII. More than 12000 American Indians served in WWI and about 44000 served in WWII, with more than 400 being code talkers.

In WWI tribes represented were Choctaw, Cheyenne, Comanche, Cherokee, Osage and Yankton Sioux.
In WWII Navajo, Comanche, Meskwaki, Kiowa, Winnebago, Chippewa, Creek, Seminole, Hopi, Lakota, Dakota, Menominee, Oneida, Pawnee, Choctaw and Sac and Fox. There may have been more than what I have listed here but these were the ones that I found listed in several places.

Some examples of words:
Hummingbird would have been spoken in the native language and translated to fighter plane in English
Beaver would have been Minesweeper
Fancy Fire would have been pyrotechnic
Iron Fish would have been submarine
and if I remember correctly Mr Chibitty said their name or Hitler was crazy white man!

These were very brave men who were very proud to serve their country and fight for their homelands, despite the fact that the government has not had a good track record of treating our native brothers and sisters respectfully through history. Today the remaining Code talkers have been recognized some, but its my opinion that they still have not been given all the honors they deserve. So please, sometime during your busy day, take a few minutes and do a search on Code Talkers and read a bit about these little recognized veterans, learn a bit more about our history in general and remeber these men along with ALL the many many others who have fought and died for all the freedoms we and many others have today.

A little more about Mr Charles Chibitty. He was born in 1921 near Medicine Park and attended high school at Haskell Indian School in Lawrence Kansas. He enlisted in the service in 1941. He was quoted as remembering being forbidden to speak his native language in school, then later his country asking him to use that same forbidden language in service to his country. He was also quoted as saying his lauguage helped win the war and he was VERY PROUD. He was asked about being at Normandy on D-Day and what he was afraid of if he was afraid of dying. His reply was that was already accepted. But they landed in deeper water than expected and many boys drowned. He said that was what he was afraid of. In another article I found it stated that Mr. Chibitty sent the first radio message in Comanche on June 6, 1944 on Normandy Beach saying "Fighting is fierce. We need help". He said he always wondered what Hitler thought when he heard those strange voices! Charles Chibitty died at the age of 83 years of age in July 2005 in Tulsa Oklahoma.

AWWW Cindy I knew you would do our windtalkers justice. Thanks!!

Cindy,

This is an awesome account. How wonderful to have had the honor to know Mr Chibitty.

Oh Gerrie,

Do you have any McCoy's buried in Craig county, OK? I've found a Sarah E McCoy 1893-1953 buried in Landrum Cemetery.

Donna

Nope all my line is from the east coast

Great story! I saw the movie Windtalkers when it was in the theater. Before then, I don't think I heard very much abt the code talkers.

Thanks guys! I wrote a little about a couple of other little recognized veterans groups last night and when I tried to post it...it flew off into cyberspace I guess cause it sure didnt show up here.

African Americans have played a significant role in U.S. military history over the past 300 years. They were denied leadership roles and skilled training because many believed they lacked qualifications for combat duty. Before 1940, African Americans were barred from flying for the U.S. military. Civil rights organizations exerted pressure that resulted in the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1941. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II. They proved conclusively that African Americans could fly and maintain sophisticated combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen's achievements, together with the men and women who supported them, paved the way for full integration of the U.S. military.

We do hear about this group of veterans but again not like you hear of others.

In 1901 and 1908 the establishment of the Army and Navy Nurse Corps opened the door for women in the military but very slightly, in World War One that some parts of the government got serious about using women. Most served in the medical field. It differed from each branch of service and the year as to how much women had a role in. One of the least recognized group of female veterans were the W.A.S.P. ,Women Airforce Service Pilots.

Unlike other women who served their country in a military capacity during World War II, militarization as anticipated for the WASP, Women Airforce Service Pilots, was never realized. The thirty-eight women who died in the line of duty were buried without military honors. WASP did not enjoy the privileges of other veterans after the war ended, even though they flew military aircraft. Benefits such as the G.I. Bill to pay for schooling, low interest housing loans or VA benefits.

In the mid-1970's, newspapers announced that the Air Force planned to train its "first women military pilots." In objection to this, the WASP, who were really the first women military pilots, campaigned for several years for the military recognition they deserved.

This recognition finally came in 1977 when Congress declared that WASP were indeed veterans of World War II. Official military acceptance came from the Air Force in 1979. In 1984, each WASP was awarded the Victory Medal. Those who served for more than one year were also awarded the American Theater medal.

How many years went by before these women were even recognized at all? They paved the way for the brave women we have serving along side our brave men each and every day!

I know there are many many more little know or heard about groups of veterans out there we could go on and on for days I am sure but these are a few that I knew about. And thought worth sharing.