[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 80 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3581-H3582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                H.R. 3250, CODE TALKERS RECOGNITION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam Speaker, my State of South Dakota has had a long 
history that extends back before the founding of our country by western 
explorers, back to a time when buffalo roamed the land and Native 
American culture was the way of life. Regrettably, the important and 
revered culture of these great people was nearly erased from American 
history.
  However, at a time when Sioux Indians were discouraged from 
practicing their native culture, a few brave men used their language to 
help change the course of our Nation's history. These men are known as 
the Sioux code talkers. They served our country with distinction in 
both the Pacific and European theaters of World War II. These code 
talkers used their Lakota, Dakota and Nakota dialects to send coded 
communications that the enemy was unable to crack.
  They were often sent out on their own to communicate with 
headquarters regarding enemy location and strength without protection 
from the enemy. Sometimes they spent over 24 hours in headphones 
without sleep or food, in terrible conditions.
  Today, military commanders credit the code talkers with saving the 
lives of countless American soldiers and being instrumental to the 
success of the United States military during World War II.

[[Page H3582]]

  Two of these Sioux code talkers are still alive today: Clarence Wolf 
Guts of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Charles Whitepipe, Sr., of the 
Rosebud Sioux Tribe.
  Unfortunately, the nine other known Sioux code talkers, John Bear 
King of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Simon Broken Leg and Iver Crow 
Eagle, Sr., of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Eddie Eagle Boy and Philip 
LaBlanc of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Baptiste Pumpkinseed of the 
Oglala Sioux Tribe, Edmund St. John of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, and 
Walter C. John of the Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, have passed away.
  In a time in which we fully understand the meaning of the world 
``hero,'' I believe we can all agree that these 11 men are truly heroes 
of our country.
  Clarence Wolf Guts and Charles Whitepipe can tell us the stories of 
the trials and tribulations that they faced as they served our country. 
Families of the other Sioux code talkers can pass on the stories told 
them by their husband, father or uncle. These code talkers provided 
safety to fellow Americans who were fighting so hard for our Nation. 
They did so by using their culture and their native language which had 
been passed down to them through the generations.
  Last year we rightly honored and recognized the Navajo code talkers 
for the important role that they played and their heroism during World 
War II. It is now time to honor and to recognize the Sioux code talkers 
for their contributions.
  Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce H.R. 3250, The Code Talkers 
Recognition Act, to honor the men who had risked their lives to save 
others. Congress should recognize these courageous men for their 
bravery and heroism in the face of adversity. Tomorrow we will consider 
this important bill and finally recognize these men for their heroic 
efforts. I encourage Members to support this legislation to give honor 
to these brave men.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).
  Mr. HUNTER. Madam Speaker, I heard the gentleman's discussion on the 
floor about the code talkers and their value to the U.S. military 
efforts, and I just wanted to add my voice in support for the 
gentleman's bill.
  We knew one of the great code talkers, Carl Gorman, who was a Navajo 
who fought in major campaigns in the South Pacific. Later while he was 
recovering from wounds in the war, he became an artist. Part of the 
rehab was to learn art at the rehab center in Los Angeles, and he 
became one of the Native American leaders in art, and his son, R.C. 
Gorman, is now one of the leading artists in the world. Carl was a 
wonderful guy. He told many great stories, which I know is now 
reflected in a film that is now playing across America.
  I think it is long overdue that all of the code talkers, Navajos and 
the gentleman's constituents, be given the recognition that they are 
due. I am happy to offer my full support for the gentleman's efforts.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California, who 
has been a strong advocate for America's military and recognizing the 
heroes, those in our veteran community who have fought and served.
  I would simply add that as we look at the contributions that have 
been made by the Native American culture to our success in a lot of 
different conflicts throughout our Nation's history, that these 
particular men made an enormous contribution in helping America through 
very turbulent times in succeeding and winning a war that literally 
liberated the world from nazism.
  As we consider this legislation tomorrow, I hope Members will support 
it and pay the tribute and recognition that is long overdue to the code 
talkers. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) for being 
here.

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