FORT SILL, Okla. (March 26, 2015) -- Fort Sill payed tribute to the service of Native Americans to the military with the dedication of its new Central Issue Facility as Code Talker Hall March 20.
The name honors the 400 Native American code talker heros from 33 tribes and nations who used their languages for secure combat communications in World War I and II. The facility overlooks Medicine Bluff -- a sacred site for Comanches and other tribes.
Dozens of local American Indian dignitaries, families and descendants of code talkers participated in the ceremony, which was hosted by Col. Glenn Waters, Fort Sill Garrison commander.
"These warriors selflessly served our nation, and we are forever in their gratitude," Waters said. "In a desperate hour, they gave their country a service that only they could give."
He noted of the 33 tribes who contributed to the code talker mission, 10 came from Oklahoma, including four tribes from Fort Sill.
"Many of the code talkers of World War I were not recognized as American citizens ... the code talkers of World War II, like African-Americans and Japanese-Americans, were often barred from full participation in the American way of live," the colonel said. "But they still served with pride, with patriotism and with honor and with sacrifice."
Waters said Code Talker Hall will inspire Soldiers who pass through the facility.
"As each new, young volunteer passes through these doors to receive their initial issue of a military uniform, and equipment, I know the name on this building and the monument standing proudly at the front will inspire them to emulate the warrior spirit of the code talker," Waters said.
Speaker Amber Toppah, Kiowa Tribe chairwoman, said the dedication of Code Talker Hall has added a sense of history to the tribes in Southwest Oklahoma.
"I stand amazed at this facility and know that these families of my people have a place they can commemorate when thoughts and memories remind them that they can share a sense to worth their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and for ... families to come," she said.
This day is a reminder of the bold courage of code talkers to defend this nation, and as a reminder of the roots the Kiowa brought to the table of freedom, the chairwoman said.
She noted that U.S. flags on Kiowa tribal lands were at half-mast March 20, and at 11:30 a.m. staff in Kiowa administrative offices observed a moment of silence in honor of Fort Sill and its dedication of Code Talker Hall.
Wallace Coffey, Comanche Nation chairman, said that in Nov. 2013, he received the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the Comanche code talkers.
"Little did I realize I realize that there would be a facility dedicated in their memory and their honor," Coffey said. "Those descendants [of code talkers] deserve this opportunity."
During the ceremony, Native American service and code talker history and contributions were read by Michael Simmons, program narrator. Highlights included:
- Natives Americans have a long record of service to the Army and other services dating back to 1834.
- During the Civil War four regiments of the Indian Home Guard served in the Army.
- From 1891 through 1897, the "L" Troop of Army cavalry regiments was made up of Native American Soldiers.
- In World War I, the 142nd Infantry Regiment had a company of American Indians who spoke 26 different languages and dialects.
- During World War II code talkers served in the Pacific and European theaters.
- A code talker could decipher a message in less than three minutes while it would take a Soldier using an encryption device hours to decipher the same message.
- Code talkers are credited with saving the lives of thousands of American and Allied servicemen.
- The codes were never broken, and the code talker mission was kept classified until 1968.
- Congress passed the Code Talker Recognition Act of 2008 to honor all code talkers.
Guest Jerry Tahsequah's great uncle Pvt. George Clark was a World War I Comanche code talker. He said Native American children were only allowed to speak English at their Fort Sill Indian schools.
"In school they couldn't speak their language, but when the United States went to war they used our language to help win the war," said Tahsequah, who is the Comanche Nation secretary/treasurer. "It's ironic."
The name Code Talker Hall had to go through three memorialization boards that went up to headquarters, and took about 14 months before it was approved, Waters said.
A CIF issues clothing and equipment to Soldiers, and the facility is operated by the Logistics Readiness Center.
At the hall, Soldiers can learn about code talkers from the monument, and displays of posters and artwork.
Karen Jordan, Fort Sill LRC director, said she was proud of the aptly named facility and because of its proximity to Medicine Bluff.
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