The Poteau Valley Genealogical Society hosted a Choctaw Code Talkers event at the Patrick Lynch Public Library in Poteau July 18th. David Batton from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Historic Preservation Department was on site to do the presentation “Choctaw Code Talkers” and answer questions from the audience. Adam Salazar was also available for questions and discussion following the presentation.
The twenty original code talkers were members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and US citizens. They played a vital role in World War I serving in the U.S. Military and using their native tongue to transmit messages as part of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. Because there were no Choctaw language words for the military terms necessary in war, a substitutionary vocabulary was created. For example, “big gun” meant artillery and “corn” meant battalions.
The first messages were sent by the Code Talkers during the withdrawal of two companies of the 2nd Battalion from Chufilly to Chardoney. during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in October 1918. Preparations were then made for the assault on Forest Farm when the “Code Talkers” proved that the Native American language was unknown to the enemy, who had been successful at listening to previous messages and knowing what the Allies’ plans were to be.
Less than twenty-four hours after the “telephone warriors” as they were known began using the Choctaw language for coded radio transmissions, the Allied forces began turning the course of the battle and had the Germans in full retreat within only seventy-two hours. The Code Talkers were credited with helping decrease the numbers of casualties in each successive battle of the war after that.
After the initial training and use of the Choctaw Code Talkers, the US military began training and using other Native American tribal languages. To date, members of over thirty Native American tribes have been recognized for their service to the United States as Code Talkers.
The original Choctaw Code Talkers of World War I were: Solomon Bond Lewis; Mitchell Bobb; Robert Taylor; Calvin Wilson; Pete Maytubby; James M. Edwards; Jeff Wilson; Tobias William Frazier; Benjamin W. Hampton; Albert Billy; Joseph Davenport; Jonas Durant, George Davenport; Noel Johnson; Victor Brown; Ben Carterby, Ben Colbert, Otis Leader; Joseph Oklahombi and Walter Veach.
Two of the original Choctaw Code Talkers, Albert Billy and James Edwards, are buried in LeFlore County. Mr. Billy was from the Howe area and is buried at the Vaughn Cemetery near Monroe. Mr. Edwards was not from LeFlore County originally but is buried near Muse.
Native American Code Talkers have received recognition from several entities in the US, as well as France. The Code Talker Recognition Act, HR 4544, signed in October 2008, by President George W. Bush, recognized every Native American Code Talker who had bravely served the United States Armed Services with a Congressional Gold Medal for their respective Tribe and a duplicate Silver Medal to the Code Talker or family, if deceased.
On November 3, 1989, the Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) Medal was presented in honor of the Code Talkers by French Government on the steps of the Oklahoma State Capitol by former Prime Minister of France, Pierre Mesmer.
In 2016, the U.S. Mint released a Native American $1 coin featuring Code Talkers.
For more information about the Choctaw Code Talkers, see the Code Talkers booklet at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma website or contact Judy Allen, Choctaw Nation Historic Projects Officer 800-522-6170 ext. 2249 or 580-924-8280 ext. 2249 | PO Box 1210 Durant, OK 74702.
Get Local News!
