Indian Code Talkers' aided war efforts

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Williamson
  • 56th Contracting Squadron
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Almost anyone you speak to who knows about World War II has heard of the significant contributions Navajo Indian Code Talkers made to winning the war. The code talkers used their unknown language to transmit messages that helped win the war in the Pacific.

However, what many people do not know is that during World War I there were several tribes that contributed to the transmission of encrypted messages. One such tribe was the Choctaw.

The United States joined the first world war late in the game but was able to assist in the final pushes to Berlin. However, trench warfare still made the fight difficult. The American Army tried different codes, but each was doomed to be cracked by the Germans.

The Germans had become so efficient at deciphering American codes that during a test, the Americans revealed a feigned attack, which was answered moments later by German artillery pounding the spot where the Americans had called the coordinates.

An officer, Col. A.W. Bloor, 142nd Infantry Regiment, had listened to a few Choctaw soldiers talking and realized the complexity of their native tongues. He and his commanding officers began placing the American Indian soldiers in different companies and began transmitting. The effect of the new language began to have an impact quickly. Reports say that within the first 24 hours of use, the United States took control of the fighting, and three days later had routed the German military and put them in retreat.

It was later revealed that 87 Choctaw were assigned to the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division. Of those men, 14 had performed these special services. However, it is likely that more participated.

After the war, the speakers returned to their homes. They had pledged absolute secrecy to their role. They swore to silence and kept their secrets so well that even immediate family members did not learn of their contributions. To this day, some Choctaw are still unsure if their family members who were veterans of WWI had any role.

Those that are known to have served in the code talker capacity are: Albert Billy, Mitchell Bobb, Victor Brown, Ben Caterby, James Edwards, Tobias Frazer, Ben Hampton, Solomon Louis, Pete Maytubby, Jeff Nelson, Joseph Oklahombi, Robert Taylor, Calvin Wilson and Walter Veach.