American Indians in WWI

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) Veterans Memorial, called the Wall of Honor, is located inside of the Long Room, which is inside of the CPN’s Cultural Heritage Center. The names and accomplishments of the veterans are included in the displays. Photos, plaques, framed letters, awards, and decorations are displayed to pay homage to those warriors.

This memorial site is composed of two upright memorial stones, a large curved memorial wall, and a metal statue of a Native American man setting upon a horse which rests in the center of the memorial site.

The first of the upright memorial stones bears an inscription regarding the “Veterans of The Schitsu’ Umsh” which reads: “Our sons and daughters were taken from us while defending America. We hear their heartbeat. We hear their laughter in the breeze and we see their tears in the rain. We will never forget them. We pay tribute to the service of our men and women of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect this great nation. As their ancestors before them, they served with distinction, pride and honor in times of peace and conflict. For them there is no more sorrow or pain. Let them forever sleep in peace and their dreams be realized by those who they defended. We honor all of our Coeur d'Alene warriors. We keep vigilant in our hearts those who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom. The sound of their heartbeats will echo through time.”

The other upright memorial stone bears an inscription regarding the “Warriors of The Steptoe Battle” which reads: “Truth and equality is what they sought after but could not find in the newcomers to this land. To this realization and with the understanding of the price of freedom and life's reality, they committed to take a course of action that put them at the forefront of battle with greed and ignorance. So this was their sacrifice. Showing all the living human race the emblem of commitment. Bounds to the love and respect of their loved ones and to their beloved land they called home. Our warriors, both men and women put the ultimate sacrifice down for all to see. Their blood still resides on the prairie as a reminder for us, not to take our life for granted. Through them ‘Our life is a gift by the Creator.’ 'etspute'stmet khwe gul snshi'tsntsutnet (We honor our ancestors).”

It is upon the large curved memorial wall that the names of the veterans are inscribed. Those veterans who fought in WWI are as follows: Joseph I. Cherapkin (Army), John Baptiste Falcon (Army), John F. Moctelme (Army), and Nicholas P. Campbell (Army).

This stone memorial bears the names of Colville tribal veterans.

The Comanche Veterans Court of Honor is composed of 13 pillars, with 12 of the pillars arranged in 2 parallel rows along the outer perimeter of the courtyard, and 1 pillar at the center-front of the 2 parallel rows. There is also a Comanche Code Talker Memorial, 2 benches, and a “Walk of Flags.” A total of some 1280 names are listed, including 13 fallen warriors, and 6 Prisoners of War (POW), on the 13 pillars. The “Walk of Flags” is composed of the Oklahoma, U.S. Army (USA), U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), U.S. Navy (USN), U.S. Air Force (USAF), and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) flags.

Creek Nation Memorial Circle Warriors Memorial Monument. Located at Creek Nation Headquarters, Okmulgee, OK - North Osage Ave. & Oklahoma Hwy. 56 Loop.

Creek Nation Veterans Memorial Museum.  Located at Creek Nation Headquarters, Okmulgee, OK - North Osage Ave. & Oklahoma Hwy. 56 Loop.

Description and photo from The E.M. Viquesney Doughboy Database

This monument is one of just two Viquesney Doughboys which specifically recognize the service of Native Americans in World War I. Muskogee, Oklahoma's recognizes "The Five Civilized Tribes" of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. For preservation purposes, the Doughboy has been heavily painted. The predominant color is green, but the face and hands are white, puttees (leggings) and shoes black, and the rifle and field pack brown. It appears to be in good condition, but the bayonet is missing.The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation is located just west of the Missouri River in both North and South Dakota. The larger portion is in South Dakota, but tribal offices are at Fort Yates, North Dakota, about 10 miles north of the line between the states. Bullhead is about 15 miles south of the line.

The inscription on the plaque on the front of the base reads:

DEDICATED TO THE
MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MADE
THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
AND HONOR OF THOSE
WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR
1917-18
------------
PRESENTED BY
THE HUNKPAPA BAND OF SIOUX NATION
JUNE 29, 1935

The inscription on a plaque on the rear of the base reads:

HONOR ROLL
(followed by 8 names with stars)

DIED FROM EFFECTS OF WAR
(followed by 10 names)

SERVICE OVERSEAS
(followed by 12 names)

SERVICE WITH THE FLAG
(followed by 21 names)

The plaque was also made by E. M. Viquesney.  Many of the names listed are tribal, rather than “Anglicized”.

Although the presentation date on the plaque reads June 29, 1935, the unveiling ceremony was held four days later on July 3. A photograph and description of the unveiling ceremony can be seen at Digital Horizons. Background details in that old photo suggest that the statue and flagpole might have been later moved a short distance to the present location.

This memorial stands outside of the Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel. It is composed of a series of sections made of black granite. On the middle section the Potawatomi seal is inscribed on top, followed by an inscription which reads: “In honor of Bodwē Wad Mi Nesh Na Bē She Ma Gne Shek.” And beneath the inscription, the five seals of the military are shown: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. On the left and right section of the memorial stones are inscribed the names of the veterans. Also, situated near the black granite stones is a metal statue of a Native American man sitting on the ground.

This memorial is located inside of the Fort Hall Veterans Memorial Park. It is a concrete memorial inlaid with a plaque which reads: “The Shoshone Bannock Tribes dedicate this memorial in honor of the men and women who served their country in the armed forces of World Wars I and II.” Beneath the dedication, the names of individual veterans are inscribed.

This memorial is composed of black granite and it is located within the Fort Núñez Gaona-Diah Veteran's Park.

There is an inscription on the left side of the memorial stone which reads: "This ground dedicated to honor all veterans who served from the Makah Reservation in the military of the United States of America to preserve our freedom. Proudly we served. We all came home."

Inscribed upon the right side of the memorial stone are the military seals, and veteran's names. 

The George E. Davenport Code Talker Bridge (Beaver Creek Bridge) is located on SH-3 -- east of Antlers.

The Ho-Chunk WWI Veteran’s Memorial stands in front of the Ho-Chunk Gaming Casino. It was erected by the Andrew Blackhawk American Legion Post 129.

There is an inscription on the memorial which reads: “Twenty-six Wisconsin Winnebago men volunteered for the First World War in the 128th Infantry, Company D, 32nd Red Arrow Division, Mauston, Wisconsin. The fine example set by these men is worth exceptional praise because they were not even considered full-fledged citizens of this country at the time of their military service.

Foster DeCorah and Robert DeCorah gave their lives on the battlefield on August 5, 1918. Their deaths were not in vain. This nation exists today only because of the willingness of these brave men to preserve and protect their country by giving their lives in its defense. Their unselfish dedication to the preservation of freedom was in keeping with the highest traditions of Wisconsin Winnebago warriors and the United States Military Service.

In remembrance and with the utmost gratitude this memorial is humbly dedicated to the following Wisconsin Winnebago Veterans of World War I.

Robert Bigthunder, James Haynka, Andrew Blackhawk, Sam Little Soldier, James Brown, Nett Longtail, Allen DeCorah, Dewey Mike, Arthur DeCorah, George Miner, Foster DeCorah (Killed In Action), John Miner, Henry DeCorah, William Miner, Robert DeCorah (Killed In Action), Mike Standing Water, Russius DeCorah, Jesse Thompson, William DeCorah, Sam Thundercloud, Nelson B. De-LaRonde, Archie WhiteEagle, Andrew Funmaker, John WhiteEagle, James Greengrass, Martin WhiteBear, and Lyle Wright.”

This memorial wall is located on the grounds of the Hopi Veteran's Memorial Center, and it is inscribed with the names of Hopi veterans from all wars. The wall is composed of white-washed concrete with decorative green trim along the bottom. The veterans’ names are inscribed upon brown plaques that have been placed upon the white-washed wall.

This memorial consists of three gray granite pillars situated between two flagpoles, which fly the American and Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma flags. The memorial was dedicated in November, 2008. The central pillar shows the Iowa seal, and Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard insignias.

There is an inscription on the central pillar which reads: “Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Veteran’s Memorial. Dedicated November 2008. In memory and respect for those tribal members that have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces.”

The other pillars bear the names, branches of service, and periods of service of 57 tribal veterans. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force branches are represented, as are the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm conflict periods.

The James M. Edwards Code Talker Bridge (Boktuklo Creek Bridge) is located on SH-3 -- west of Broken Bow.

The Jamestown S’Klallam Veterans Memorial is located outside of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Administration Building in Sequim, Washington. It is composed of three red and black granite stones. The names of S’Klallam veterans from all wars are inscribed upon the left and right stones, including which branch of the military and the years in which they served.

The Jeff Nelson Code Talker Bridge is located on SH-3 -- about 2,300 feet north of the Little River Bridge (northbound side).

This memorial is made of black and grey granite. It bears the five seals of the branches of the military. It bears an inscription at the top which reads: “Dedicated to all the veterans of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.” In the middle of the memorial are inscribed some 250 names of Jicarilla Apache veterans. And the inscription running along the bottom reads: “The willingness to sacrifice is the preclude to freedom. The sacrifices of few ensured the freedom of many. A grateful community remembers those who served in the armed forces of the United States, whose courage and personal sacrifices defended and preserved our freedom. This memorial is dedicated with appreciation to the men and women whose loyalty and service during times of war and peace define the character of this great nation.”

The Joseph H. Davenport Code Talker Bridge (Dumpling Creek Bridge) is located on SH-3 -- east of Antlers.