Native Americans in World War 2

The material in this pamphlet was collected for the 1945 Memorial Number of Indians at Work, before the magazine was discontinued because of the paper shortage. Many devoted workers spent much time and effort to get these stories, and the families of the boys whose names will be found here loaned the photographs, which accompany the lists. We wish to express our gratitude to all of those who made this record possible.

The casualty lists and the lists of awards and decorations continue those begun in Indians at Work for May-June 1943 and carried on in the November-December 1943, May-June 1944, and September-October 1944 issues. They are not complete, and it is hoped that when the peace has come the whole story of the Indian contribution to the victory may be gathered up into one volume.

Awards of the Purple Heart have not been indicated here because every soldier wounded in action against the enemy is entitled to the decoration, and the award should be taken for granted.

Some 44,000 Native Americans served in the United States military during World War II. For every one drafted, one and a half volunteered; American Indian participation in the war per capita exceeded any other group. By 1940, a large fraction of American Indians lived off reservations; their experiences in the war mirrored the general population. Of special interest was the enormous impact the war had on Indians living on reservations, mostly in remote western areas. The war meant the draft for young men, and high paying war jobs in far-away cities for others. Most of those who left the reservations did not permanently return there after the war.

• Honor of Indian Heroism
• Indian Honors in World War 2
• Awards for Valor to WW2 Native Americans
• Ceremonial Dances in the Pacific by Ernie Pyle
• A Choctaw leads the Guerrillas
• An Empty Saddle – Pvt. Clarence Spotted Wolf
• We Honor these Dead
  • Arizona Indian Honored War Dead
  • California Indian Honored War Dead
  • Colorado Indian Honored War Dead
  • Idaho Indian Honored War Dead
  • Kansas Indian Honored War Dead
  • Minnesota Indian Honored War Dead
  • Mississippi Indian Honored War Dead
  • Montana Indian Honored War Dead
  • Nebraska Indian Honored War Dead
  • Nevada Indian Honored War Dead
  • New Mexico Indian Honored War Dead
  • New York Indian Honored War Dead
  • North Carolina Indian Honored War Dead
  • North Dakota Indian Honored War Dead
  • Oklahoma Indian Honored War Dead
  • Oregon Indian Honored War Dead
  • South Dakota Indian Honored War Dead
  • Utah Indian Honored War Dead
  • Washington Indian Honored War Dead
  • Wisconsin Indian Honored War Dead
  • Wyoming Indian Honored War Dead
• Navajo Code Talkers by MT/Sgt. Murray Murder
• Indians who Fought on Iwo Jima
• Wounded in Action
  • Arizona Indians Wounded in Action
  • California Indians Wounded in Action
  • Colorado Indians Wounded in Action
  • Idaho Indians Wounded in Action
  • Kansas Indians Wounded in Action
  • Louisiana Indians Wounded in Action
  • Michigan Indians Wounded in Action
  • Minnesota Indians Wounded in Action
  • Mississippi Indians Wounded in Action
  • Montana Indians Wounded in Action
  • Nebraska Indians Wounded in Action
  • Nevada Indians Wounded in Action
  • New Mexico Indians Wounded in Action
  • New York Indians Wounded in Action
  • North Dakota Indians Wounded in Action
  • Oklahoma Indians Wounded in Action
  • Oregon Indians Wounded in Action
  • South Dakota Indians Wounded in Action
  • Utah Indians Wounded in Action
  • Washington Indians Wounded in Action
  • Wisconsin Indians Wounded in Action
  • Wyoming Indians Wounded in Action
• Indians Work for the Navy by Lt. Frederick W. Sleight
• To the Indian Veteran
• Indian Women Work for Victory
• Prisoners of War Released
• A Family of Braves
• Indian Service Employees in World War 2

In grateful memory of those who died in the service of their country. They stand in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings.

Freedom lives, and through it they live in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

Franklin D. Rosevelt