Meskwaki Code Talkers, Who Would Cording to the Press, Save Many Lives Using Their Unique Language to Com­ the Young Men, Who Municate Vital Military Messages

by M a r y Bennett

rmchair military historians know all about the 1941 newspaper explains, they "were trained to trans­ critical strategic importance of the Mediterra­ late messages from English to their own language and nean campaign during World War II. The Brit­ relay them by radio or phone to an Indian who in turn A will turn the message back into English for officers." ish fought the Italians for control of North Africa, only to lose ground when German field marshal Rommel's The headline proclaims "Army Indians to Foil Enemy Afrika Korps secretly invaded North Africa in April Listeners," while the accompanying photo depicts the 1941. Even with the formal entry of the United States Meskwaki wearing stereotypical feather headdresses into the war at the end of 1941, it took nearly a year more representative of western Plains Indians than the before troops and home front forces could be mobilized Meskwaki's traditional regalia. and outfitted. The eight Meskwaki—brothers Frank and Willard Ready for action, but with no easy way to invade Sanache, Dewey Roberts, Edward Benson, Melvin Twin, German-occupied Europe, and under pressure from Dewey Youngbear, and brothers Judy Wayne Stalin to open a second front, the Americans made their Wabaunasee and Mike Wayne Wabaunasee—joined first large-scale appearance as Allies—landing in North Company H, the heavy weapons company of the 168th Africa in November 1942 under the leadership of Gen­ Infantry, just three eral Eisenhower. Among the soldiers in the 34th Divi­ SWSI (IOWA CiTY) MARSHALLTOWN T1UES-REPV8UCAN. FEB 26. 1941 weeks before the unit sion making the initial advances on the beaches of Al­ was mobilized. Ac­ geria were several Meskwaki code talkers, who would cording to the press, save many lives using their unique language to com­ the young men, who municate vital military messages. ranged in age from Twenty-seven young Meskwaki men had enlisted 18 to 22, were "in­ in the Iowa National Guard in January 1941, probably duced to join up only motivated by economic circumstances as much as by when they realized patriotism or a chance to learn new skills. No doubt that they were to play Americans could sense the tension of war on the hori­ a strategic part help­ zon, even though the cataclysmic effect of Pearl Har­ ing the 168th main­ bor was almost a year away. As new recruits of the 168th tain a valiant tradi­ Iowa Infantry, eight Meskwaki were selected for spe­ Willard Sanache straps a radio unit tion in battle." Their cial instruction in elements of walkie-talkie radio and on Dewey Youngbear. The Febru­ initial training was at machine gunning. This training and experimentation— ary 1941 caption read: “Man-nwe- Camp Dodge in using a code derived from Native American languages net-da-mon! It’s an Indian way of Johnston, Iowa, but for secret communications—predate American entry saying,‘We don’t like it’ in his na­ they were soon sent into the war and even the use of Native speakers of the tive Mesquakie and what he really to Camp Claiborne, Navajo language, who are more commonly celebrated means is that he doesn’t like to have Louisiana, for more people ask too many questions as World War II code talkers. about his language, now that he intensive training in The Comanche and the Meskwaki were probably knows it will play a strategic part the use of the walkie- among the first to be trained as code talkers, although in regimental communications of talkies. As the news­ more than a dozen tribes were involved. As a February the 168th infantry.” paper reported, the

154 Iowa Heritage Illustrated SHSI (IOWA CITY) MARSHALLTOWN TIMES REPUBLICAN. FEB 21. 1941 soldier'sback,collapsible three havea a and antenna carried "arepackina radiosshortwave strapped to a electronics,mechanics, theandinner workingsof ara­ operatorstohadlearn touse the code understandand milerange." Besides masteringschool,gunnery radio dio, such as vacuum tubes, amplifiers, transformers, and ae bu nm top movements,sages troopenemyabout battlefield tac­ r vd sn h Ida oelnug t ed mes­ Indiansendlanguage tocodetheproved using im­ vastly were Field communications transmitters. code talkers. From left, front row: Mike Wayne W abaunasee, Edward Benson, Dewey Dewey Benson, Edward abaunasee, W row: Mike Wayne left, front From talkers. code tics,anddirections for artilleryfire. in the rear are Willard Sanache and Dewey Youngbear. Dewey and Sanache Willard are rear inthe etn hr i terqatr i Fbur 14 ae h egt ekai rie as trained Meskwaki eight the are 1941 February in quarters their in here Resting eet o i mutios ein lk Iay The Italy. like regions mountainous in or desert, Roberts, Frank Sanache.Judy Wayne Wabaunasee (reclining),and MelvinTwin. Standing (reclining),and Wabaunasee Wayne Sanache.Judy Frank Roberts, skills, were assignedto the 168thInfantry, 34thRed Bull Sanache described as "the worst place this side of hell." language special their withMeskwaki talkers, code municationposts, whether in open,flat country,inthe A beenassigned to Northern Ireland, butthey were soon dispatchedto the deserts of North Africa, aplace Frank Mike Wayne WabaunaseeDivision. (andprobably By the others) October had 1942,it was reportedthat Judy and nisia,the greenrecruits were decimatedby the veteran Landingin Algiers movingand eastward towardsTu­ anyterraintoestablish observation com­and ctingasscouts, thosetheleadin assaults had tomove quicklywith heavy equipment across GermanPOW camps. The Meskwaki,like other POWs, couldnotunderstand or speakto the GermanItal­and eachother. Youngbear received "roughtreatment from Youngbear,who no doubt paida heavy price eachtime guardsnoticed that Youngbear Wabaunaseeand knew whenhe arrived theat same prisoncamp in Germany, didn't treat themdidn't well. They worked themto death." lce i te utpe sae md b Dewey by made escapes multiple the in flected a slir wo prahd i. uy Wayne Judy him. Wabaunasee approached also who escaped his captorsin soldiers Italy, ian butlater, ated Romeated on June 4,1944. Wanatee, Frank of sonSanache, adopted "They said, respondto a command, they would be beaten.Donald hadto learn the German language quickly;if they didn't near starvation,nearAmerican Indians, rarely theseenon ing at alocal restaurant, only to be discoveredwhen he to find anItalian soldier's uniform tohewasrecaptured. wear hisOnthird attempt,hemanagedas a disguise. the otherMeskwaki code talker. the refusingGermans" for information give to about fighting because of themountains northof Naples and European continent, faced racialprejudice inItalian and Drivenby hunger, Youngbear risked eating anddrink­ mighty German defenses, but the Alliesmighty the defenses,German finally but liber­ t la cmag mvd owr slowly, forwardItalian heavy moved campaign with e ie sfeig as tetet baig, and beatings, treatment,Besides harsh suffering The re­ is men these felt bysensedesperation of joinedthe service a year earlier. The Salernoto the Naples areawe lost a nearNaples While in March 1944, captured." and Roberts wounded, hwd p" e eald "From recalled. he up," chewed rs eebrd o te troops the how remembered erts his younger brother,Ernie, who had hadthe opportunity to meet up with killed, were They men. of lot while thegettingallshelled byar­ short time before moving forward— capturedby the Germans. ol avne pt p defense a up put advance, would tillery. "The 34th Division got got Division 34th "The tillery. and JudyWayneand Wabaunasee were siain 1943, while Dewey Youngbearcapturedby Italian soldiers in Tuni­ ie dg ohls ad tp o a for stop and foxholes, dig line, American fleet, airpower, and and Allies troops, the regained ground airpower, fleet, American anhn atcs n h cat of coast the on attacks launching before Africa North in territory fia op. rn Snce was Sanache Frank Korps. Afrika Italy in September 1943.Dewey Rob­ i h h spot f h vast the of support the With Winter 2003 Winter

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55 SHSI (IOWA CITY) DCSM&NESREGISTER. OCT 11. 1942. SEC. 5, P Annie [Waseskuk] Wabaunasee displays a service flag in her flag her in service a displays Wabaunasee [Waseskuk] Annie atr a ttoe nteWetCat(coe 1942). (October Coast est W the on stationed was Walter, third, the talkers, and code were two Forces: in Armed son the Germany as aPOW. Other Meskwaki veterans also had bodiesravagedrelease, their theirsufferedafter and home on the Meskwaki Settlement. Each star represented a represented star Each Settlement. Meskwaki the on home berculosis,Wanatee recalled, adisease he contractedin war-relatedhealth problems. lingering effects.Dewey Youngbeardied in1948 of tu­ had purchasedhad thesettlement land inthe 19th century economicallyimpoverished inthe 1940s, thetribe had few encroachments from whitecivilization. The tribe guage, ceremonies customs, and years. the Ap­ over ratherthanlive on agovernment reservation. Though out modern amenitieslike telephones, electricity,proximately 420 orin­ Meskwakilived in frame houses with­ retained a rich culturalheritage by preserving their lan­ overopenanfire. Younger members ofthetribe scat­ wickiuptheirnearhomes because liked they tocook doorplumbing. Most ofthewomen traditionala had B teredduring the war, joining the military or moving to 156 The author wishes to thank Meskwaki historian Johnathan L Buffalo, who conducted oral histones with Frank Sanache and Dewey Roberts in 1978 and shared useful newspaper newspaper useful shared and 1978 in Roberts Dewey Sanache and Frank with histones Moines oral conducted Buffalo, who L Johnathan historian Meskwaki thank to wishes author The talkers, conducting oral history interviews with Frank Sanache and others from a dozen different tribes. Upcoming traveling exhibitions developed by the Smithsonian Institution Institution Smithsonian the by developed exhibitions traveling Upcoming tribes. different adozen from others Sanacheand Frank with interviews history oral conducting talkers, articles and photos. Donald Wanatee also graciously shared his insights. Also useful were articles in the the in articles were useful insights. his Also shared graciously also Wanatee Donald photos. and articles Traveling Exhibition (SITES) will showcase photographs, te x t and artifacts such as radios and uniforms. Untranscnbed oral histories with the code talkers and other lowans in the inthe lowans other and talkers code the with histories code oral the f liveso Untranscnbed the researching uniforms. and been assuchhave radios D.C., artifacts and t in Washington, x Indian te photographs, American f the showcase (SITES)o will Museum Exhibition Traveling National the from staff and Jones City).Timothy (SHSI-lowa Project Clippings 34th Infantry, held at the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge, may yield more information. Robin Roberts (Dewey Roberts's nephew) and others have been working with Iowa's with working been have others and talkers. nephew) code Roberts's Meskwaki the (Dewey for Roberts Honor Robin f o Medal information. Congressional more the yield may Dodge, obtain Camp to U.S.at senators Museum Star Gold the at held Infantry, 34th

i e ay Os te rqie hospitalization POWs,Like required many they ov Hrtg lusr ed te stra Illu Heritage loiva Register ackhomein Iowa, life theonMeskwaki Settle­ mentin Tama County remainedhad essentially thesamefor generations,many relativelywith ( 10 /11/42, section 4, p. I); a February 18, 19 4 1. clipping (newspaper not known); and several clippings rescued by the volunteers working on the W orld W ar II ar W orld W the on working volunteers the by rescued clippings several and known); not (newspaper 1. 19 4 18,clipping February a I); 4,p. section /11/42, 10 ( OE SOURCES N O NOTE Mary Bennett is Special Collections Coordinator at the State n dpe ain ❖ andadopted nation. country, fighting warriorsasforboth their homeland HistoricalSociety of Iowa. as recentlyas 1924.as Yet theyhonorably defended this ofU.S. citizenship, tograntedNative Americans only the first generationof Meskwakito enjoythe fullrights optd ih l. oe hn it Meskwaki had fifty than More old. with competed 1944 because of the war. Tama Indians were thejoiningwhether about Hitler. especially after the swastika caused an uproar in nearby Indiancansymbol long before Hitlerwasborn—was educational opportunities. Ward became thefirst for­ gionpostintributeto Robertyoung Morgan, thefirst servedin the military duringWorld War II, andthe re­ ofthe life on theMeskwaki Settlement, andnew ideas ae Nre op n atnig h University of the attending and Corps Nurse Cadet onrailroadslocalat and factories incommunities like downin 1942, andno celebration powwows was powwow annual were the held atAttendance in 1943 and replaced by a thunderbird on powwow advertisements, vegetables,and contributed to the war effort inthe no­ Meskwaki casualty of the war.Ironically, these men were largecitiesindustries. warinworkto Others worked blestmannerby sending warriors off to fight die.and turningveteransestablished American theirown Le­ a l tand ekai us atrelsig n the inenlisting after Meskwaki nurse trained mally Marshalltown,whilesome like Nell G. Ward pursued Iowa. Becauseof the waroverseas, theswastika—an Ameri­ rm ul ogr ,document and culur his­ l ra ltu u c d n ,a ts n e m u c o d s, h p ra g to o h p f o full gram able fo r d is trib u tio n in th e fall o f 2004. C o n ta c t M ary ary M t c avail­ ta n o be C ill 2004. w f o M fall O e -R th D in C n ry tio u to is trib H is d r aki fo eskw able M e h T . ry to c o n tin u in g its active ro le in d o c u m e n tin g th e cu ltu ra l l ra ltu cu e th g tin n e m t u u c o o b Iowa, d a f o in le ociety available S ro l is a ric n to active is tio its H a g rm State in u fo e in th tin n o l c a aki,and ric to is eskw h M f o the lth a e w A eiaeoft ti a pr n nt actve pr ­ ro p e tiv c ra te in an d e c u d ro p has , e trib e th f o heritage t 31 335- 6 or e i or i . n tio a rm fo in re o m r fo 16, 9 -3 5 3 -3 19 3 tt, e n n e B TheMeskwaki participated in scrap drives, canned After the war, people movedmore freely in and out Marshalltown Times-Republican Marshalltown 2/ 941 . 1 /61 1, 11);Des 4 p. 1 1. 11; 19 4 2/26/19 p. /2 (2 /

SHSI (06S MOINES) DES MOINES REGISTER ANO TRI8UNE The war broke traditions and brought new ideas— and faces— to Iowa. Above: Sgt. Joseph W. Donahey came home to his family in Clinton with a Filipino wife in February 1945. A survivor of the Bataan Death March, Donahey had organized a guerrilla band. Among the Filipinos fighting with him was Corajon Mangrovang, the woman he married.

Right: Women acquired new skills during the war. Here.WACs at Fort Des Moines learn to operate a transmitter in radio and tele­ vision school (undated).

SHSI (DES MOINES)

Winter 2003 157 f V« SHSI (OES MOINES) OES MOINES REGISTER AND TRIBUNE

Wearing helmets, boys play war with toy soldiers, tanks, and airplanes, while two girls look on (August 1942, probably Des Moines).The war fueled the imagination of American chil­ dren— some dreamed of becoming war heroes, others had nightmares of being bombed or losing their fathers.

158 Ioum Heritage Illustrated SHSI (DES MOINES)

Three basic training companies from the WAC training center at Fort Des Moines march down Locust Street in Des Moines (Memorial Day, 1945).

Winter 2003 159 I

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« f SHSI (OES MOINES): L H DAVIS COLLECTION • ■ - ” M Hi Opposite: Boy Scout Bill Free milks cows on the Rex Helfinstine farm near Farrar. Some 50 scouts from Polk County worked on farms in the summer of 1942 to help build United Nations' H,A food supplies. I

Left: Students in Hampton contrib­ ute scrap metal to a salvage drive in November 1942. The photograph was captioned: “ Barbed wire was hard to handle but the students brought it in just the same."

ALL THREE PHOTOS SHSI (OES MOINES) DES MOINES REGISTER AND TRIBUNE

Baby Helen Marie Radosevich holds a let­ Christmas Day. 1944: Susan Minkel opens a Dressed in a pint-size military uniform and ter from her father,Tony P Radosevich, sta­ card from her father, bearing the "Red Bull" with his white toddler’s shoes peeking out tioned in Ireland since before her birth.The icon and the silhouette of Italy. Newton phy­ the bottom, David Carroll Veach studies the letter read in part: "We have to make our sician Roger Minkel had been overseas since controls of a tiny tank in a toy store in Des country a safe and peace-loving state so we February 1941. Susan and her mother were Moines (November 1942). can all live happily” (October 1942). living in Fort Dodge for the duration.

160 Iowa Heritage Illustrated