NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS AWARDED THE US MEDAL OF HONOR

Woodrow W. Keeble (Sioux)

Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble (1917-1982) was a U.S. Army National Guard veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. He was a full-blooded member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, a Sioux Native American tribe.

Master Sergeant Keeble, a highly-decorated U.S. war veteran, didn't receive his Medal of Honor until some 16 years after his death (below).

WHITEHOUSE, March 3, 2008 — President George W. Bush applauds after presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to family members of U.S. Army Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble, Monday, March 3, 2008 in the East Room of the White House, in honor of Master Sgt. Keeble’s gallantry during his service in the Korean War. Kurt Bluedog, left, Keeble’s great nephew, and Russ Hawkins, a step-son, accepted the award honoring Keeble, the first full-blooded Sioux Indian to receive the Medal of Honor (source wikipedia.org).

Van T. Barfoot (Chocktaw)

A Choctaw from Mississippi, and a Second Lieutenant in the Thunderbirds. On 23 May 1944, during the breakout from Anzio to Rome, Barfoot knocked out two machine gun nests and captured 17 German soldiers. Later that same day, he repelled a German tank assault, destroyed a Nazi fieldpiece and while returning to camp carried two wounded commanders to safety.

Army Colonel Van Thurman Barfoot (1919-).

Col. Van T. Barfoot (ret.) WW II Medal of Honor
Mr. Barfoot served in the WW2, Korean and Vietnam wars...then his neighborhood association told the 90-year-old warrior to take down his flag pole...

A Creek American Indian from Oklahoma, and a First Lieutenant with the 45th Infantry Division, Childers received the Medal of Honor for heroic action in 1943 when, up against machine gun fire, he and eight men charged the enemy. Although suffering a broken foot in the assault, Childers ordered covering fire and advanced up the hill, single-handedly killing two snipers, silencing two machine gun nests, and capturing an enemy mortar observer.

Ernest L. Childers, Muscogee (1918-2005).

Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. (Winnebago)

A Winnebago from Wisconsin, and a Corporal in Company E., 19th Infantry Regiment in Korea. On 5 November 1950, Red Cloud was on a ridge guarding his company command post when he was surprised by Chinese communist forces. He sounded the alarm and stayed in his position firing his automatic rifle and point-blank to check the assault. This gave his company time to consolidate their defenses. After being severely wounded by enemy fire, he refused assistance and continued firing upon the enemy until he was fatally wounded. His heroic action prevented the enemy from overrunning his company's position and gained time for evacuation of the wounded.

Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. (1924-1950).

Charles George (Cherokee)

A Cherokee from North Carolina, and Private First Class in Korea when he was killed on 30 November 1952. During battle, George threw himself upon a grenade and smothered it with his body. In doing so, he sacrificed his own life but saved the lives of his comrades. For this brave and selfless act, George was posthumously award the Medal of Honor in 1954.

Medal of Honor recipient Charles George (1932-1952).

Jack C. Montgomery (Cherokee)

A Cherokee from Oklahoma, and a First Lieutenant with the 45th Infantry Division Thunderbirds. On 22 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy, Montgomery's rifle platoon was under fire by three echelons of enemy forces, when he single-handedly attacked all three positions, taking prisoners in the process. As a result of his courage, Montgomery's actions demoralized the enemy and inspired his men to defeat the Axis troops.

Medal of Honor recipient Jack C. Montgomery (1917-2002).

Ernest Edwin Evans (Cherokee-Creek)

A Cherokee/Creek from Oklahoma, during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, 24-26 October 1944, Commander of the USS Johnston, he formed a part of the screen for escort aircraft carriers of the SEVENTH Fleet which on 25 October encountered off Samar the Center Force of the Japanese Fleet after it had transited San Bernardino Strait during the night of 24-25 October. The USS Johnston waged a gallant fight against heavy Japanese fleet units but was sunk by the enemy ships. Lieutenant Commander Evans was awarded the Navy Cross, later recalled and replaced by the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously by Umited States Congress.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal and Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Commander Evans had the China Service Medal, American Defense Medal, Fleet Clasp, and was entitled to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with six engagement stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Defense and Liberation Ribbons with one star (study resource). Wikipedia.

Medal of Honor recipient Ernest E. Evans (1908-1944).

A U.S. Navy destroyer war ship, the USS Evans (DE-1023), was named in honor of Commander Evans.

Crew ship patches, USS Evans DE 1023.

John N. Reese, Jr. (unknown)

A work in progress... no official tribal affiliation available, but born in Muskogee, Oklahoma...posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on October 19, 1945.

Medal of Honor recipient John N. Reese, Jr. (1923-1945)