Just last week Chief Gilbert Horn Sr., honorary chief of the Assinibione Tribe of Montana passed away. He was 92, and was a decorated WW II hero, one of the famous Code Talkers. Chief Gilbert served a nation that in so many ways denied this man his own heritage and dignity.
Then, on Sunday (April 3) another famous Native American, Joe Medicine Crow, the last surviving war chief of the Crow nation, crossed from this life into the next. Chief Joe was also a decorated WW II veteran and served his adopted nation with honor in that war. Chief Joe was unique among his people in that he earned graduate college degrees, one of the few Native Americans of his generation to attend college.
Chief Joe never truly adopted "White ways" but did help his people adjust and conform where necessary, while holding on to the old ways. He was described by people over the years as a man of two worlds. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2009 by President Obama. This honor is the civilian version of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and as such is the highest civilian honor this nation has to offer.
The passing of the these two men, along with their fellow World War II colleagues, represents the twilight of an era, the end of our "Greatest Generation." I am not sure how many World War II veterans remain alive as of today, but one of our nation's greatest treasures is fading quickly. How they will be missed, and how they inspired us.
Native Americans who opted to serve in America's wars are inspiring as well. Many, if not MOST, of these men were treated poorly by their White neighbors before and after the war, and possibly DURING the war as well. And to be sure, they had nothing to gain by helping America fight another war. But these Native Americans took the high road, for many different reasons, and stood strong for this nation when they were needed. And there may have been another reason as well. It may have been that many Native Americans of that time knew that they would only have the one opportunity to prove themselves in war - a matter of pride with many Native Americans even after they were "conquered" and placed on reservations after the various Indian Wars.
These two great men, Chief Gilbert Horn, Sr., and Chief Joe Medicine Crow, deserve the honors they respectively received, and they deserve to be honored through the years when people talk about the history of this nation and that of Native America.
Thank you Chief Gilbert and Chief Joe for your service and your accomplishments, and may God Bless America.
Then, on Sunday (April 3) another famous Native American, Joe Medicine Crow, the last surviving war chief of the Crow nation, crossed from this life into the next. Chief Joe was also a decorated WW II veteran and served his adopted nation with honor in that war. Chief Joe was unique among his people in that he earned graduate college degrees, one of the few Native Americans of his generation to attend college.
Chief Joe never truly adopted "White ways" but did help his people adjust and conform where necessary, while holding on to the old ways. He was described by people over the years as a man of two worlds. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2009 by President Obama. This honor is the civilian version of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and as such is the highest civilian honor this nation has to offer.
The passing of the these two men, along with their fellow World War II colleagues, represents the twilight of an era, the end of our "Greatest Generation." I am not sure how many World War II veterans remain alive as of today, but one of our nation's greatest treasures is fading quickly. How they will be missed, and how they inspired us.
Native Americans who opted to serve in America's wars are inspiring as well. Many, if not MOST, of these men were treated poorly by their White neighbors before and after the war, and possibly DURING the war as well. And to be sure, they had nothing to gain by helping America fight another war. But these Native Americans took the high road, for many different reasons, and stood strong for this nation when they were needed. And there may have been another reason as well. It may have been that many Native Americans of that time knew that they would only have the one opportunity to prove themselves in war - a matter of pride with many Native Americans even after they were "conquered" and placed on reservations after the various Indian Wars.
These two great men, Chief Gilbert Horn, Sr., and Chief Joe Medicine Crow, deserve the honors they respectively received, and they deserve to be honored through the years when people talk about the history of this nation and that of Native America.
Thank you Chief Gilbert and Chief Joe for your service and your accomplishments, and may God Bless America.
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