[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 102 (Monday, July 12, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S5737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING CODE TALKER MOSE BELLMARD

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, it was 2 years ago that I worked to pass 
and have signed into law by the President the Code Talkers Recognition 
Act, a bill to give Congressional Medals to the many Native American 
Code Talkers who served in World Wars I and II. Today, I wish to honor 
an original Code Talker, Mose Bellmard, a Kaw Indian who bravely served 
our country during World War I. As a veteran and ardent supporter of 
the armed services, I always take pride when I have the opportunity to 
recognize the service of fine Oklahomans like him.
  Bellmard, considered by many to be one of the last hereditary chiefs 
of the Kaw Indians, was born on February 16, 1891, to Josephine and 
Leonard Bellmard in Indian territory. U.S. involvement in World War I 
began when Bellmard was 26, and, even though Native Americans were not 
yet considered full citizens of the United States, he was one of the 
first to volunteer. He trained at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK, was made a 
1st lieutenant with Company E in Oklahoma's 1st Infantry Unit.
  After a few weeks of training, he deployed to the frontlines of the 
war in France. The setting was dangerous, and a number of his men were 
quickly killed during routine patrols of their area. Upon 
investigation, Bellmard realized that the Germans had painted sections 
of barbed wire that allowed them to easily spot his patrolmen's 
movements. Creatively, he thought to use a large bed mattress--instead 
of a person--to draw fire so his units could locate and neutralize the 
enemy. The scheme apparently worked, and in addition to saving lives 
his unit was able to use the tactic to destroy a number of German gun 
installations along the Western front.
  But this would not be Bellmard's only contribution to the war effort, 
nor would it be his most impactful. When Bellmard entered the war, the 
Germans had been able to decipher nearly every one of the Allies' 
codes, making it difficult for them to operate in secrecy. Bellmard 
recognized this problem, and as the leader of the Native American unit 
saw a tremendous asset in his soldiers' diverse languages. These 
languages were completely foreign to Europeans and had never been 
written down. They were ideal candidates for new codes.
  Lieutenant Bellmard suggested to his superiors that his unit's men be 
scattered throughout troop dispatch points as communications officers. 
There, he reasoned, they would be able to disseminate orders in their 
native tongues and then translate them back into English. His plan was 
put into practice and quickly proved to be reliable and secure. 
Bellmard and his original Code Talkers of Oklahoma allowed many Allied 
forces to move safely through battle zones without fear of 
interception, and to this date there are no records of the Central 
Powers ever cracking their ``code.''
  Bellmard's suggestion carried over into World War II, during which 
Code Talkers were widely recruited and were critical to the Allied 
Forces' victory in the Pacific theater. Bellmard's simple idea to use 
Native American tongues to thwart and confuse enemies proved a lasting 
and effective tool for the U.S. military. It is fitting he was promoted 
to the rank of captain for his role.
  Unfortunately, Captain Bellmard died before we could thank him 
personally for his contribution to our freedom. But our thanks are 
still important, especially as we remember Independence Day and the 
cost of securing that freedom. We owe our sincere gratitude to all 
American heroes like Mose Bellmard, and I pray that more emerge in 
generations to come.

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