Appreciation for American Indian Military Service - 1924 by Marilyn Hudson

On July 4, 1924, Gen. W. Irving Glover presented testimonials signed by Pres. Coolidge and Gen. Pershing for the service men of the Mandan, Gros Ventres and Arikara Indians. Gen. Pershing declared the American Indian the bravest of all American soldiers in France and said the French General Marshal Foch has also commented upon their skill in scouting and bravery in action. Sitting Crow of the Mandans, Foolish Bear of the Gros Ventres and Charges Alone (Tom Rogers) of the Arikara accepted the parchment documents on behalf of their respective tribes. The photo below was taken on Main Street in Mandan in front of the NP Railway station. A large delegation of Indians including 13 former U. S. Scouts attended the ceremony. Some are included in the below photograph.

Seated in front: Major A. B. Welch. Kneeling front row: Three Fox, Plenty Fox (behind Three Fox), Adlai Stevenson, Pat Star, Little Sioux, Foolish Bear, Running Wolf, Little Crow. Back row, standing: Frank White Calf, Charlie Burr, Crows Heart, Sitting Crow, W. Irving Glover, Joe Reed, Coffee, Sitting Owl, Tony Birdsbill, Jack Rabbit.

In the rear of the photo is the “Roughrider” statue honoring Theodore Roosevelt. This statue was unveiled earlier in the July 4 celebration. The statue still stands in its

1 original setting on Main Street. The NP Depot was sold in 1979 to the City of Mandan. Today several businesses including the Five Nations Art occupy the remodeled building.

I took this photo of the statue of the “Roughrider” about 10 years ago. In the background is the Lewis and Clark Hotel, once the premier lodging place “where the west began.” In the 1970’s, it was converted into subsidized apartments and now houses businesses as well. This hotel and the NP Depot were landmarks for the Fort Berthold people coming to do business in the area in the 1940’s and 1950’s. They often parked by the depot and had lunch at this hotel. I have heard that the hotel displayed the art work of Arikara artist Miles Horn (White Crow) in its dining room. The city is named after the Mandan people who once inhabited this area in several large earthlodge villages including Slant which is just to the south of Mandan.

2 Dated: Feb. 3, 2017