MSgt Woody Keeble
Medal of Honor Recipient
Yesterday the Jenkinson-Skogen duo hosted another of their Conversations at BSC, the topic being "Changing Interpretations of Native American and Western History." Their guest was Dr. Herman Viola, curator emeritus at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. He discussed some very interesting points regarding the service of Indians in the U. S. military.
Navajo code talkers in World War II generated a lot of interest in the past because of their ability to mystify the enemy, but he said code talkers actually originated in World War I and soldiers from many tribes contributed knowledge and use of their language to fool the German translators. Thousands of Indians volunteered in World War I, and they weren't even considered citizens. But they were an asset; the Germans were afraid of them, they took scalps.
The warrior code of showing no fear in the face of an enemy and counting coup lived on. Viola's story of this was amusing. In World War II an Indian wanted to do the ultimate and capture a horse. It so happened he was in hiding with a small patrol when they spotted an SS unit ride up, corral their horses, and bed down for the night. He asked permission from his officer if he could approach the horses in the dark. He and another man crept up to the horses and the Indian gave him instructions that when he was mounted he would holler his Cherokee war cry and the other was to open the gate. Apparently the action succeeded.
Another instance of this happened in Viet Nam, the only problem: the Viet Cong never used horses. One night an Indian waiting in ambush spotted an elephant loaded with supplies being led along the trail. He eliminated its handlers and captured the elephant. When he got home and reported this to the tribal elders to get his acknowledged credit, they told him, "Nice try, but it wasn't a horse."
Dr. Skogen, a retired Air Force officer, at one-time in his career taught at the Air Force Academy. He took a class of cadets in full uniform on a field trip to a powwow. When they entered the large hall they were impressed with the large number of U. S. flags hanging on the walls. They learned they hung in commemoration of their many tribal members who had served in the military. Skogen said the cadets expressed surprise at the patriotism shown by the Indians.
Woody Keeble, whose picture is at the top of this post, earned many medals for heroism in World War II and the Korean War. They included the bronze star, silver star, distinguished service cross, and the medal of honor, plus two purple hearts. The medal of honor was awarded for his bravery on a Korean battlefield where he was seriously wounded but refused to leave for medical attention. Instead he stayed with his men and went on to destroy three machine gun nests. A member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux he worked many years at the Wahpeton Indian School.
Medal of Honor Recipient
Yesterday the Jenkinson-Skogen duo hosted another of their Conversations at BSC, the topic being "Changing Interpretations of Native American and Western History." Their guest was Dr. Herman Viola, curator emeritus at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. He discussed some very interesting points regarding the service of Indians in the U. S. military.
Navajo code talkers in World War II generated a lot of interest in the past because of their ability to mystify the enemy, but he said code talkers actually originated in World War I and soldiers from many tribes contributed knowledge and use of their language to fool the German translators. Thousands of Indians volunteered in World War I, and they weren't even considered citizens. But they were an asset; the Germans were afraid of them, they took scalps.
The warrior code of showing no fear in the face of an enemy and counting coup lived on. Viola's story of this was amusing. In World War II an Indian wanted to do the ultimate and capture a horse. It so happened he was in hiding with a small patrol when they spotted an SS unit ride up, corral their horses, and bed down for the night. He asked permission from his officer if he could approach the horses in the dark. He and another man crept up to the horses and the Indian gave him instructions that when he was mounted he would holler his Cherokee war cry and the other was to open the gate. Apparently the action succeeded.
Another instance of this happened in Viet Nam, the only problem: the Viet Cong never used horses. One night an Indian waiting in ambush spotted an elephant loaded with supplies being led along the trail. He eliminated its handlers and captured the elephant. When he got home and reported this to the tribal elders to get his acknowledged credit, they told him, "Nice try, but it wasn't a horse."
Dr. Skogen, a retired Air Force officer, at one-time in his career taught at the Air Force Academy. He took a class of cadets in full uniform on a field trip to a powwow. When they entered the large hall they were impressed with the large number of U. S. flags hanging on the walls. They learned they hung in commemoration of their many tribal members who had served in the military. Skogen said the cadets expressed surprise at the patriotism shown by the Indians.
Woody Keeble, whose picture is at the top of this post, earned many medals for heroism in World War II and the Korean War. They included the bronze star, silver star, distinguished service cross, and the medal of honor, plus two purple hearts. The medal of honor was awarded for his bravery on a Korean battlefield where he was seriously wounded but refused to leave for medical attention. Instead he stayed with his men and went on to destroy three machine gun nests. A member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux he worked many years at the Wahpeton Indian School.
