Indians have served in every American war since the Civil War.

Warrior Mentality Historically, Indians have used wars and battles with enemies to prove themselves as warriors. Warriors protected the tribes traditional culture, protected the people, defended their resource areas and aided in the cohesion of the entire tribe.

Economics  Indian men worked for $1.00 a day in seasonal jobs such as forestry, logging or planting.  In the service they would earn a minimum of $ a month, depending on rank and branch.

Wisconsin  The land of Wisconsin has always been an important area for Native Americans. Wisconsin and the lands surrounding it became known as the “Middle Ground” during the infiltration of the Europeans.  Today, there are 11 federally recognized Indian tribes in Wisconsin.

Ira Hays  This famous picture taken at Iwo Jima shows Native American Ira Hays raising the American Flag.

The Numbers  About 25,000 Indians served in the armed forces  40,000 in war-related industries  99% of all able bodied Indian men registered for the draft.

 Had the rest of the population volunteered in the same numbers, selective service would have been unnecessary.

Harold Ickes  Secretary of the Interior said “In view of the long period of strained relationships between Indians and the Government it is heartening that everywhere and in every tribe the Indians have responded willingly and gladly to the opportunity to share in the defense of the country.”

Navajo Code Talkers  Navajo language had no alphabet and used a highly irregular syntax  It was known to fewer than 36 non- Navajos world-wide (none Japanese)

Navajo Code Talkers  Many Navajo volunteered for duty in the Marines  Substituted their words for military terms: “Chay-da-gahi” (turtle) = tank  Japanese could not understand it and couldn’t break it  The war’s most secure communication system

Women  Many Indian women volunteered as nurses.  In the forests of Minnesota and Wisconsin, women helped plant new trees to help meet the increased demand for lumber that resulted from the war. Image of Crandon, WI Potawatomie member, Julia (Nashanany) Reeves who served in Army Nurse Corps of WWII. For more information and a larger image click the following link:

Women  10 women from the Lac du Flambeau reservation received Red Cross pins for 150 hours of knitting and sewing, and 40 Chippewa women formed a rifle brigade for home defense.

Stereotypes  “Indians are good warriors and can accomplish feats the ordinary soldier could not.”  550 Indians died trying to live up to this image. 40% were Sioux, who had a reputation of being fierce warriors.

Shift to Urban Areas  While Indians fought bravely on the field of battle and earned great respect, the war did something to further damage the Indian way of life.  The war department did not want Indians kept in segregated units because this would hinder attempts at assimilation.

Assimilation  Indians went to war and proved that they could survive and fit into mainstream society.  They proved to the American government that Indians could be assimilated.

Home Front  Indians returned to their reservations that were riddled with poverty. The tribal land could not support the hunting and fishing needs of the Indians. They went off reservation where they were often arrested and jailed or at least fined.  This began a large movement off the reservation and into cities.

Pow wow  Veterans of WWII became some of the most honored people in their communities.  Soldiers of all wars are still recognized at tribal functions such as pow wows Image from Eagle Creek Park Pow Wow, Copyright: Zibiodey Association. For larger image click the following link: