In all of this matter of medals, I'd like to ask a question. Does it strike anyone that it is odd that our people would fight for the government that stripped our people of their homes and marched us across a thousand miles letting our people and our livestock die in the most callous manner? Admittedly our men enlisted in the military because we could see the people of europe being assaulted and their freedoms stolen. But today we wrap ourselves in the flag of that government as some kind of badge; the same government that forced us to sign a treaty taking away all our rights as Indians and then begrudgingly gave us permission to be a "tribe" again when it suited their purposes. It's all emotionally confusing to someone who grew up during WWII and was indunated with radio and movies and billboards depicting our men and women in uniform with the U.S. Flag flying behind them. We were fighting for "the grand old flag and the American way of life" while our people back home in Mississippi and Oklahoma were being treated worse than trash; some struggling to survive on little farms with none of the amenities of modern life that other Americans had at the time. Our wonderful code talkers in WWI and WWII fought bravely and many gave their lives for that U.S. Flag. Yet, when they didn't get their veterans benefits and went to Washington with other veterans, they were trompled on by the U.S. Cavalry who drove them from the Capitol Mall at sabre point! Troops carrying the American flag. Hmmm. Very confusing. Lucas Graywolf ----- Original Message ----- From: "Val" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 9:19 PM Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Choctaw Nation Medal of Valor > I believe it was the U.S. War Dept.!!! > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John & Arla Williams" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, June 14, 1980 8:44 PM > Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Choctaw Nation Medal of Valor > > > > Yes Val I agree wholeheartedly. > > A warrior is not only a man who fights an enemy.There is much more to > it than that. > > I have the article that the Nation sends out that is about the Code > Talkers.The article doesn't elaborate on the medals and I was wondering who > presented them. > > The Memorial they have at Tushkahoma is impressive. Arla > > > > ---------- > > > Yes. Choctaw Code Talkers for their 'Code Talkin' in WWI. Navajo > recieved > > > the same for their Code Talkin' in WWII. Choctaw want to be recognized > for > > > Code Talkin' first as Miko stated out here in Washington State. > > > Choctaw Code Talkers were on the European Continent during WWI, which is > > > where most of that war was fought. > > > Nonetheless, Indian Country has something even more to be proud of. > Their > > > men are very brave. If I remember right the story goes that Choctaw > boys > > > were speaking amoungst each other just because they were homesick and > they > > > decided to pass messages back and forth to fool the enemy, maybe the > > > Russians? By WWII most of European enemies had learned the Muskogeon > > > languages and the Deneh (Navajo) were used. The Japanes spent most of > the > > > South Pacific fighting trying to figure that one out. The Dineh still > try > > > to keep their language to themselves. I love a good warrior. Not only > does > > > he take care of his own family, but he takes care of his community. > > > Valerie McAlvain - daughter of a WWII veteran of the South Pacific > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "John & Arla Williams" <[email protected]> > > > To: <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Saturday, June 14, 1980 8:16 PM > > > Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Choctaw Nation Medal of Valor > > > > > > > > > > Thought I'd ask the list before I called Richard. Arla > > > > > > > > ---------- > > > > > Have you contacted The Choctaw Nation of OK 1-800-522-6170 > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > From: John & Arla Williams <[email protected]> > > > > > To: <[email protected]> > > > > > Sent: Saturday, June 14, 1980 7:33 AM > > > > > Subject: [CHAHTA] Choctaw Nation Medal of Valor > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Can anyone tell me about the Choctaw Nation Medal of Valor given > to > > > the > > > > > families of the Code Talkers? Alla > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > > > > > To subscribe to CHOCTAW-SOUTHEAST-L: > > > > > > Send msg. to [email protected] > > > > > > Put "one" word in "body" of message:... "subscribe" without the > quotes > > > > > > Nothing in the subject line... Turn off signatures....... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > > > > To Unsubscribe: > > > > > Send msg. to [email protected] > > > > > Put "one" word in "body" of message:... "unsubscribe" without the > quotes > > > > > Nothing in the subject line... Turn off signatures....... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > > > Choctaw Home Page: > > > > http://freepages.cultures.rootsweb.com/~choctaw/index.htm > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > > To subscribe to CHOCTAW-SOUTHEAST-L: > > > Send msg. to [email protected] > > > Put "one" word in "body" of message:... "subscribe" without the quotes > > > Nothing in the subject line... Turn off signatures....... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > Choctaw Home Page: > > http://freepages.cultures.rootsweb.com/~choctaw/index.htm > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > To Unsubscribe: > Send msg. to [email protected] > Put "one" word in "body" of message:... "unsubscribe" without the quotes > Nothing in the subject line... Turn off signatures....... > >

My father was ashamed to speak of his Native American Choctaw heritage..We were white and that was that. Dad was born in the back of a wagon Jan.05,1925 around Chickasaw, Okla. area. He met and married mother who was Cherokee/Irish.Dad lied on his service papers and went to WWII when he was 16 as a belly gunner on a bomber in the Navy.I will never understand how our so called government could shame a whole race of people into forsaking their lives,families ,friends,culture all so that no one will know they are of Native American descent.I was raised in California and had not a clue.I found out my true nationality when I started seaching my children linage.Their father is Cheyenne.Imagine my surprise when I discovered my true ancestors were Choctaw.I now have my CDIB and tribal membership cards.Dad died Jan 1997.He took his secrets to the grave with him. .I would love to learn of the Tribal ways.I have always walked,talked and danced with the spirits and was thought different by others.At least now I am aware of the reasons for it.If not for the way the government treated the Native American peoples what might our lives have been??