Governor Bill AnoatubbyOur enduring freedom built on acts of greatness
By Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
This is May, the time of year when the living things around us begin to show themselves once again. Trees come to life and flowers are in bloom. The sun warms the Earth and everywhere there is a sense of renewal and a refreshing of the spirit.
On May 26 we will commemorate the sacrifices of the American men and women who have died in service to our country. They will not be with us to enjoy the genesis of one more summer, but we will remember them on Memorial Day. We will honor the actions each undertook to keep our great nation a place of freedom and liberty.
We know there have been thousands upon thousands of Indian veterans who have gone before us. Many fought with American soldiers in the late 18th Century as the new country turned back the challenges from the French and British. During the War Between the States, Indian warriors fought on both sides of the conflict. Chickasaws were allied with the Confederacy, and many fought bravely in battles across Indian Territory and beyond.
Thousands of Indian men served in the U.S. military during the First World War. Many Chickasaws, Choctaws and Cherokees saw action in France with the 142nd Infantry and the unit was widely recognized for it battlefield accomplishments.
World War II saw a surge in Indian men and women in the military. Conscription alone cannot account for the large number of Indian servicemen and women during the war years of 1941-1945. It is estimated more than 44,000 Indians served with distinction during World War II, a huge proportion of, at that time, a small Indian population.
Additionally, Indian men and women not in the military at that time left homes and reservations to work in the American war industry, including ordnance plants, aircraft factories, railroads and more. It is estimated Indian people invested more than $40 million of their own money during the war to purchase U.S. war bonds, which helped fund the war effort.
Many Chickasaws became fighting men and women of the U.S. Army 45th Infantry Division, the division famous for its many battlefield accomplishments. The division was formed in 1940 and saw extensive action across Europe during World War II.
During the Korean War, many Chickasaws fought as infantrymen, tank crewmen, artillerymen and more. Chickasaw and Indian veterans were again called on during the Vietnam War, the first Iraq War and the current conflict in Iraq.
Chickasaw and Indian military decorations are too numerous to list. Many Indian veterans have been awarded the Silver Star or the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat. Countless thousands are Purple Heart recipients.
We know there have been at least six Indian military men who have received the country's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. One of those men was U.S. Army Maj. Raymond Harvey, a Chickasaw, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while engaged in combat during the Korean War.
Memorial Day has its origins in the War Between the States, during which time Confederate women began honoring Confederate war dead with regular decorations of graves. The Union side soon took up the practice following the war. The day in May was originally known as Decoration Day.
Today, Memorial Day is observed the last Monday of May. To many, the day signifies the beginning of the summer season. However, for each of us who has served, and for each of us who appreciate the liberty and freedom our country guarantees, we honor and we remember those men and women who paid the price required of them.
This Memorial Day, let's take time out from our activities and commemorate those American heroes, now fallen. Their sacrifices have provided for each of us a wonderful and enduring freedom.
