[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10549-10553]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CODE TALKERS RECOGNITION ACT

  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3250) to authorize the President to present a gold 
medal on behalf of Congress to the Sioux Indians who served as Sioux 
Code Talkers during World War II in recognition of their service to the 
Nation, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3250

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Code Talkers Recognition 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXPRESSION OF RECOGNITION.

       The purpose of the medals authorized by this Act are to 
     express recognition by the United States and its citizens and 
     to honor the Native American Code Talkers who distinguished 
     themselves in performing highly successful communications 
     operations of a unique type that greatly assisted in saving 
     countless lives and in hastening the end of World War I and 
     World War II.

                      TITLE I--SIOUX CODE TALKERS

     SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Sioux Indians used their native languages, Dakota, 
     Lakota, and Nakota Sioux, as code during World War II.
       (2) These people, who manned radio communications networks 
     to advise of enemy actions, became known as the Sioux Code 
     Talkers.
       (3) Under some of the heaviest combat action, the Code 
     Talkers worked around the clock to provide information which 
     saved the lives of many Americans in the Pacific and Europe, 
     such as the location of enemy troops and the number of enemy 
     guns.
       (4) The Sioux Code Talkers were so successful that military 
     commanders credit the code with saving the lives of countless 
     American soldiers and being instrumental to the success of 
     the United States in many battles during World War II.

     SEC. 102. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate 
     arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, 
     of a gold medal of appropriate design, to each Sioux Code 
     Talker, including the following:
       (1) Eddie Eagle Boy.
       (2) Simon Brokenleg.
       (3) Iver Crow Eagle, Sr.
       (4) Edmund St. John.
       (5) Walter C. John.
       (6) John Bear King.
       (7) Phillip ``Stoney'' LaBlanc.
       (8) Baptiste Pumpkinseed.
       (9) Guy Rondell.
       (10) Charles Whitepipe.
       (11) Clarence Wolfguts.

                    TITLE II--COMANCHE CODE TALKERS

     SEC. 201. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire attacked Pearl 
     Harbor, Hawaii, and the Congress declared war the following 
     day.
       (2) The military code, developed by the United States for 
     transmitting messages, had been deciphered by the Axis 
     powers, and United States military intelligence sought to 
     develop a new means to counter the enemy.
       (3) The United States Government called upon the Comanche 
     Nation to support the military effort by recruiting and 
     enlisting Comanche men to serve in the United States Army to 
     develop a secret code based on the Comanche language.
       (4) At the time, the Comanches were second-class citizens, 
     and they were a people who were discouraged from using their 
     own language.
       (5) The Comanches of the 4th Signal Division became known 
     as the ``Comanche Code Talkers'' and helped to develop a code 
     using their language to communicate military messages during 
     the D-Day invasion and in the European theater during World 
     War II.
       (6) To the enemy's frustration, the code developed by these 
     Native American Indians proved to be unbreakable and was used 
     extensively throughout the European theater.
       (7) The Comanche language, discouraged in the past, was 
     instrumental in developing one of the most significant and 
     successful military codes of World War II.
       (8) The Comanche Code Talkers contributed greatly to the 
     Allied war effort in Europe and were instrumental in winning 
     the war in Europe. Their efforts saved countless lives.
       (9) Only 1 of the Comanche Code Talkers of World War II 
     remains alive today.
       (10) The time has come for the United States Congress to 
     honor the Comanche Code Talkers for their valor and their 
     service to the Nation.
       (11) The congressional gold medals authorized by this title 
     are the recognition and honor by the United States and its 
     citizens of the Comanche Code Talkers who distinguished 
     themselves in performing a unique, highly successful 
     communications operation that greatly assisted in saving 
     countless lives and in hastening the end of World War II in 
     Europe.

     SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate 
     arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, 
     of a gold medal of appropriate design to each of the 
     following Comanche Code Talkers of World War II, in 
     recognition of their contributions to the Nation:
       (1) Charles Chibitty.
       (2) Haddon Codynah.
       (3) Robert Holder.
       (4) Forrest Kassanovoid.
       (5) Willington Mihecoby.
       (6) Perry Noyebad.
       (7) Clifford Otitivo.
       (8) Simmons Parker.
       (9) Melvin Permansu.
       (10) Dick Red Elk.
       (11) Elgin Red Elk.
       (12) Larry Saupitty.
       (13) Morris Sunrise.
       (14) Willie Yackeschi.

                    TITLE III--CHOCTAW CODE TALKERS

     SEC. 301. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) On April 6, 1917, the United States, after 
     extraordinary provocations, declared war on Germany, thus the 
     United States entered World War I, the War to End All Wars.
       (2) At the time of this declaration of war, Indian people 
     in the United States, including members of the Choctaw 
     Nation, were not accorded the status of citizens of the 
     United States.
       (3) Without regard to this lack of citizenship, many 
     members of the Choctaw Nation joined many members of other 
     Indian tribes and nations in enlisting in the Armed Forces to 
     fight on behalf of their native land.
       (4) Members of the Choctaw Nation were enlisted in the 
     force known as the American Expeditionary Force, which began 
     hostile actions in France in the fall of 1917, and 
     specifically, members of the Choctaw Nation were incorporated 
     in a company of Indian enlistees serving in the 142d Infantry 
     Company of the 36th Division.
       (5) A major impediment to Allied operations in general, and 
     American operations in particular, was the fact that the 
     German forces had deciphered all codes used for transmitting 
     information between Allied commands, leading to substantial 
     loss of men and materiel during the first year of American 
     action.
       (6) Because of the proximity and static nature of the 
     battle lines, a method to communicate without the knowledge 
     of the enemy was needed.
       (7) An American commander realized the fact that he had 
     under his command a number of men who spoke a native 
     language. While the use of such native languages was 
     discouraged by the American Government, the commander sought 
     out and recruited 18 Choctaw Indians to use for transmission 
     of field telephone communications during an upcoming 
     campaign.
       (8) Because the language used by the Choctaw soldiers in 
     the transmission of information was not based on a European 
     language or on a mathematical progression, the Germans were 
     unable to understand any of the transmissions.
       (9) The Choctaw soldiers were placed in different command 
     positions, to achieve the widest possible area for 
     communications.
       (10) The use of the Choctaw Code Talkers was particularly 
     important in the movement of American soldiers in October of 
     1918 (including securing forward and exposed positions), in 
     the protection of supplies during American action (including 
     protecting gun emplacements from enemy shelling), and in the 
     preparation for the assault on German positions in the final 
     stages of combat operations in the fall of 1918.
       (11) In the opinion of the officers involved, the use of 
     Choctaw Indians to transmit information in their native 
     language saved men and munitions, and was highly successful. 
     Based on this successful experience, Choctaw Indians were 
     being withdrawn from frontline units for training in 
     transmission of codes so

[[Page 10550]]

     as to be more widely used when the war came to a halt.
       (12) The Germans never succeeded in breaking the Choctaw 
     code.
       (13) This was the first time in modern warfare that such 
     transmission of messages in a native American language was 
     used for the purpose of confusing the enemy.
       (14) This action by members of the Choctaw Nation is 
     another example of the commitment of American Indians to the 
     defense of our great Nation and adds to the proud legacy of 
     such service.
       (15) The Choctaw Nation has honored the actions of these 18 
     Choctaw Code Talkers through a memorial bearing their names 
     located at the entrance of the tribal complex in Durant, 
     Oklahoma.

     SEC. 302. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate 
     arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, 
     of a gold medal of appropriate design honoring the Choctaw 
     Code Talkers.

                      TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

     SEC. 401. MEDALS FOR OTHER CODE TALKERS.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--In addition to the gold 
     medals authorized to be presented under section 102, 202, and 
     302, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate 
     arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, 
     of a gold medal of appropriate design to any other Native 
     American Code Talker identified by the Secretary of Defense 
     pursuant to subsection (b) who has not previously received a 
     congressional gold medal.
       (b) Identification of Other Native American Code Talkers.--
       (1) In general.--Any Native American member of the United 
     States Armed Forces who served as a Code Talker in any 
     foreign conflict in which the United States was involved 
     during the 20th Century shall be eligible for a gold medal 
     under this section.
       (2) Determination.--Eligibility under paragraph (1) shall 
     be determined by the Secretary of Defense and such Secretary 
     shall establish a list of the names of such eligible 
     individuals before the end of the 120-day period beginning on 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 402. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL MEDALS UNDER THIS ACT.

       (a) Medals Awarded Posthumously.--Medals authorized by this 
     Act may be awarded posthumously on behalf of, and presented 
     to the next of kin or other representative of, a Native 
     American Code Talker.
       (b) Design and Striking.--
       (1) In general.--For purposes of any presentation of a gold 
     medal under this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     strike gold medals with suitable emblems, devices, and 
     inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
       (2) Designs emblematic of tribal affiliation.--The design 
     of the gold medals struck under this Act for Native American 
     Code talkers of the same Indian tribe shall be emblematic of 
     the participation of the Code Talkers of such Indian tribe.
       (3) Indian tribe defined.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term ``Indian tribe'' has the same meaning as in section 
     4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
     Act.

     SEC. 403. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell 
     duplicates in bronze of the gold medals struck under this Act 
     in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may 
     prescribe, and at a price sufficient to cover the costs 
     thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
     and overhead expenses, and the cost of the bronze medal.

     SEC. 404. STATUS AS NATIONAL MEDALS.

       The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals 
     for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

     SEC. 405. FUNDING.

       (a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to 
     be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise 
     Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of 
     the medals authorized by this Act.
       (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of 
     duplicate bronze medals under section 403 shall be deposited 
     in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).


                             General Leave

  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3250.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3250, the Code Talkers 
Recognition Act. This legislation celebrates a relatively unknown 
aspect of American history, acts of bravery and heroism by Native 
American soldiers in the world wars of the last century, acts which 
saved the lives of many Allied servicemen.
  Mr. Speaker, in any war, battles turn as much on information or on 
secrecy as on pure military might. If you know what your enemy is 
planning, you have a good chance to stop it. In both the First and 
Second World Wars, our enemies were skilled code breakers, and the 
ability to crack our communications costs many Allied lives.
  In both conflicts, however, a relatively small band of Native 
Americans were able to use their unique tribal languages to baffle 
enemies. Speaking to each other either on field radios or field 
telephones, or occasionally even communicating with written messages, 
these men were able to quickly and accurately relay complex military 
messages and orders that could not be understood by enemies even if 
intercepted. Based neither on European languages or on mathematical 
formulas, these tribal languages were so impenetrable to the German and 
Japanese military intelligence units that they are said never to have 
been cracked.
  Mr. Speaker, the best known of these code talkers were the Navajo, 
honored with congressional medals in the last Congress. But a number of 
other tribes, including the Sioux, Comanche and Choctaw, also provided 
code talkers, and the legislation we consider today seeks to recognize 
them as well.
  The bill we are taking up was introduced by the gentleman from South 
Dakota (Mr. Thune) and incorporates language in similar bills by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger) and the gentleman from Oklahoma 
(Mr. Watkins).
  Mr. Speaker, as the sponsors of the language in this bill will tell 
us, the critical role played by the Native American code talkers in the 
battles of the First and Second World Wars were critical to the success 
of Allied efforts. It is long overdue that Congress recognize their 
heroic efforts with congressional gold medals. This bill will do that, 
recognizing the Comanche, Sioux and Choctaw code talkers, as well as 
asking the Secretary of Defense to identify any other soldiers from 
other tribes who also served valiantly in the defense of this country 
and then awarding them medals.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask strongly for the support of this legislation.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives honors many unsung 
American heroes whose contributions to America's freedom are without 
parallel in American history, the Sioux, Choctaw, Comanche and other 
Native American code talkers of World War II.
  Without the valiant efforts of these patriotic members from many of 
our Native American communities, our Armed Forces would not have been 
able to deceive our enemies as effectively as they did. The rare beauty 
and intricacy of our Native American languages turned out to be our 
most secret of weapons, and to our code talkers, America owes a great 
debt of gratitude.
  Our code talkers are an example of how the richness of our American 
heritage became a strength that no adversary could possibly match or 
overcome. America's freedom endures because our military commanders 
turned the linguistic heritage of our Native American tribes into an 
unprecedented asset of warfare.
  Last year, in a Capitol Rotunda ceremony, Congress and President Bush 
honored code talkers from the Navajo Nation with a Congressional Gold 
Medal, the highest civilian honor that Congress can bestow. John Brown, 
Jr., speaking on behalf of the Navajos, said at that ceremony, ``I am 
proud that at this point in American history our native language and 
the code we developed came to the aid of our country, saving American 
lives and helping the other U.S. Armed Forces to ultimately defeat the 
enemy.''

[[Page 10551]]



                              {time}  1230

  It was a fitting tribute that the House now extends to the Choctaw, 
Comanche, and to other Native American code talkers through passage of 
this important legislation.
  During World War II, America and its allies fought a massive war on 
several fronts and the code talkers protected the allies' secrets 
communications on most, if not all, of these fronts. From the Comanche 
and the Choctaw against the German Army and France, to the Navajo in 
the Pacific theater, more than 17 tribes in all made immeasurable 
contributions to the war effort. These include Cheyenne, Comanche, 
Cherokee, Choctaw, Osage, Yankton Sioux, Chippewa, Creek, Hopi, Kiowa, 
Menominee, Muscogee-Seminole, Javajo, Oneida, Paunee, Sac and Fox, and 
the Sioux, from both the Lakota and Dakota dialects.
  The compelling story of how the rich heritage of our Native American 
peoples, their language, and their heroes ultimately played a major 
role in our winning World War II unfortunately took more than a half a 
century to be told. And it took as long for one of our Nation's highest 
honors to be bestowed upon these Native American heroes.
  Today we honor their patriotism and their selflessness and their 
heroic actions, and America is grateful and proud for their 
contributions to our freedom. As proven by the code talkers, it is our 
heritage, and our people, that will always make America a great Nation.
  I only regret that we as a Congress are so late in recognizing the 
contributions of American Indians to the allies' victory in World War 
II and that not all of the code talkers who served are alive today to 
accept this important honor. Even so, I am pleased we are taking this 
action today; and as the daughter of a World War II veteran, I am also 
heartened by the progress we can all see on the national memorial now 
under construction on the Mall just blocks from here.
  As time passes, we cannot let the magnitude of the great victory our 
veterans achieved over the fanaticism of our World War II enemies fade 
from the national memory. As we face new military challenges today, 
from terrorists who also target and hate free societies, we can take 
extra inspiration from the bravery of our World War II veterans and the 
special place in history for the Native American code talkers. These 
brave soldiers went to war for the United States despite the historic 
mistreatment of Native Americans by the very government they were 
fighting to defend.
  I am honored to stand and honor the Sioux code talkers this morning. 
Congress has stipulated that recipients of this award shall have 
``performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and 
culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the 
recipients' field long after the achievement.'' The contribution of the 
code talkers to our great victory in World War II meets this high 
standard, and I am very pleased to join with my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle to recognize them today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune), who is the 
primary principal author of this bill and who has worked very 
diligently on this effort.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time and thank him for his efforts in bringing this legislation to the 
floor, as well as the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), in 
giving us the opportunity to recognize these great American heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, South Dakota has a long history that extends back before 
the founding of our country by Western explorers. Native American 
culture was a way of life based upon four key values: generosity, 
bravery, fortitude, and wisdom. Whether they were hunting for food, 
interacting with family members, or facing the trials of life, they 
always displayed these great and important values. Regrettably, the 
importance and revered culture of these great people was nearly erased 
from American history.
  However, later, during the middle part of the last century, at a time 
when Indians were discouraged from practicing their native culture, a 
few brave men used their cultural heritage, their language, to help 
change the course of history. These men are known as the code talkers. 
They served our country with distinction in both the European and the 
Pacific fronts of World War II. The Sioux code talkers, who I 
represent, used their Lakota, Dakota and Nakota dialects to send coded 
communications that the enemy was unable to crack. These brave men 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 deplorable conditions.
  Today, military commanders credit the code talkers with saving the 
lives of countless American soldiers and being instrumental to the 
success of the U.S. military during World War II.
  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 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 Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska have passed away.
  Clarence Wolf Guts and Charles Whitepipe can tell us the stories of 
the trials and tribulations they faced as they served our country. The 
families of the other Sioux code talkers can pass on the stories told 
to them by their husband, father or uncle.
  The legislation before us today finally honors the Sioux code talkers 
for their distinguished service to our country. In addition, the bill 
recognizes two other groups of code talkers who served our country with 
distinction. This bill distinguishes 14 Comanche code talkers for their 
dedication and service during World War II, and it also pays tribute to 
the Choctaw code talkers who served not only during World War II, but 
were known to have been used for their transmission of field 
communications in their native languages during World War I. I 
appreciate the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger) and the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins) working with me to recognize these heroes.
  At a time in which we fully understand the meaning of the word 
``hero,'' I believe we can all agree the code talkers are truly heroes 
of this country.
  All of the 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. Above all, these code talkers brought respect to their 
Nation and victory to our country.
  Last year, we rightly honored the Navajo code talkers for the 
important role that they played and for their heroism during World War 
II. It is now time to honor and recognize the Sioux, Comanche and 
Choctaw and code talkers for their contributions by awarding them 
Congressional Gold Medals.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be the sponsor of H.R. 3250, the Code 
Talkers Recognition Act, to honor the men who had risked their lives to 
save the lives of others. Congress should recognize these courageous 
men for their bravery and heroism in the face of adversity. Today, we 
will consider this important bill and finally recognize these men for 
their heroic efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, and I encourage all of my 
colleagues to support this important legislation. I thank the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) for his work in bringing it to the floor 
today and say to my colleagues on the floor that it is high time that 
we gave honor and due recognition

[[Page 10552]]

to these brave men and the cultures that they represent.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), another one of the 
authors of this important piece of legislation.
  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, millions of people poured into movie 
theaters this weekend to see the movie ``Wind Talkers'' with Nicholas 
Cage. The movie is set during World War II against the backdrop of the 
horrific battle of Saipan; the drama revolves around the Navajo ``code 
talker.''
  The so-called code talkers were Native Americans who used their 
native dialect to radio important messages in code to our allied 
troops. The movie ``Wind Talkers'' focuses on a Navajo code talker who 
was the Marines' first new secret weapon against the Japanese. The 
movie explores just how far our Marines were willing to go to protect 
the code.
  We all know that in our fast-paced, modern world, movies are our 
storytellers. Hollywood often misses some of the facts, but in this 
case I am proud to see the tale of these code talker heroes being told 
so publicly. In my mind, the Native American code talkers are some of 
the Nation's greatest heroes.
  Today, it is time for Congress to give all of the Native American 
code talkers the recognition they deserve for their contribution to 
U.S. victories in World War I and World War II.
  Like the Navajo code talkers who were recognized for services last 
year, the Comanche, Choctaw and Sioux Indians also served as code 
talkers in both the Pacific and European theaters during World War II. 
We also know that the Choctaw code talkers served our country as early 
as World War I.
  These code talkers were sent out on their own to provide 
communications on enemy location and strength. They sometimes spent 24 
hours using headphones without sleep or food. Many of these men endured 
terrible conditions without protection from the enemy. Military 
commanders credit the code talkers with saving the lives of countless 
American soldiers and ultimately to the success of the United States in 
many battles.
  The story of the code talkers was highlighted for me last year by a 
constituent of mine, Ben Tahmahkera. He came to me and pointed out that 
in July, President Bush honored the Navajo code talkers for their 
contribution to the United States Armed Forces as radio operators in 
World War II. Mr. Tahmahkera was very pleased to hear about the Navajo 
recognition, but he wanted to make sure the sacrifices of the Comanche 
code talkers and other code talkers were not forgotten either.
  Ben Tahmahkera suggested that I learn more about Charles Chi-bitty, 
who today is the only surviving Comanche code talker. Charles Chi-bitty 
lives near Tulsa, Oklahoma, today and he is 80 years old. In January of 
1941, Chi-bitty enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to 
the Army's 4th signal company. Chi-bitty probably himself saved 
thousands of lives during the Normandy invasion alone and he can still 
remember the messages he received and sent out on D-Day. On that day he 
identified where our troops were, protected them from being fired on by 
our own troops and, in general, completely confused the Germans. Chi-
bitty specifically remembers saying in code to our men, ``Okay, we know 
where you are, just keep doing what you are doing.''
  The code that Chi-bitty used was never broken and, for a long time, 
the Germans believed it was just gibberish. Eventually, the Germans 
sent spies to training grounds in Fort Gordon and to reservations in 
Oklahoma to try and crack the code. None of the spy missions were 
successful.
  Charles Chi-bitty, a true American hero, was also a loyal friend. He 
once turned down the Medal of Honor because it did not include all 
members of the 4th signal company whom he considers his brothers. Chi-
bitty says, ``I am glad I am still here, but I miss my comrades. I know 
that my comrades that have already gone before me are listening and 
laughing right now. I know when I go up there some day, they will be 
there waiting.''
  Mr. Speaker, today we honor Charles Chi-bitty and all of the other 
Native American code talkers who so valiantly fought for our country 
and protected our Nation. H.R. 3250 authorizes the President to present 
a Congressional Gold Medal to these Native Americans who served as code 
talkers during both World War I and II. H.R. 3250 gives these men the 
honor they so richly deserve. Please support H.R. 3250.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins), who was raised 
among the Choctaw in eastern Oklahoma.
  Mr. WATKINS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Maloney) for their efforts in getting this here. I would like to 
especially thank the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune), my 
friend, and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), my good friend 
and neighbor, who represents Fort Worth quite capably.
  As the gentleman from Oklahoma stated, I had the distinct privilege, 
although one does not realize it as much when one is growing up, of 
growing up among the Choctaw Indians in southeast Oklahoma. I heard 
many of my elders talk about the days of using code talkers in World 
War I, and they were also utilized in World War II.

                              {time}  1245

  So it is with a great deal of pride and nostalgia as I think back to 
what a lot of the elderly Native Americans with Choctaw ancestry were 
saying for me to be part of bringing this legislation, H.R. 3250, to 
the floor. I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Oxley) 
from the Committee on Financial Services and the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) on that committee that combined several of these 
code talker bills so we could bring this legislation together and move 
it at this time.
  Many people know the history of the code talkers of World War II; 
however, few people know the history of the code talkers of World War 
I. In the closing days of World War I, several members of the Choctaw 
Nation were helpful in winning key battles. The Choctaws were the first 
Native American code talkers used in battle and to win wars.
  The Germans had broken the code of the American forces, and they had 
captured a messenger who was running information between several of the 
companies in the Army. The Army commander overheard two of his men 
conversing in their native Choctaw language, and due to his smart 
thinking, the use of the Native Americans' tribal language as a code 
was born.
  An additional number of Choctaw Indians were located in the 
battalion, and within a period of hours after getting them all 
together, they were relocated to strategic locations. In less than 72 
hours, the Germans were retreating, and the Allies were in full attack 
and moving forward.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been a long time since these men did this great 
service for their Nation. It has been a long time for me even to be 
sitting at the knees of some of these elderly Choctaw chiefs and others 
and listening to them tell this story.
  I believe we should pass H.R. 3250 to honor these code talkers and 
their service to this country. I urge my colleagues in a unanimous way 
to support this legislation to bring honor to the code talkers of World 
War I and World War II.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, the gentleman from South Dakota 
(Mr. Thune), the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), and the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins), for their efforts.
  Clearly, the generation that went off to Europe in 1917 and 1918 is 
now all but gone, and the young men who went off to fight the Second 
World War between 1941 and 1945 is starting to show the

[[Page 10553]]

ages and seasons of time. But, my colleagues, by making this effort to 
acknowledge these brave and valiant efforts, we do this House great 
service and do this Nation the same service.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution.
  Until recently the very existence of Sioux and Navajo code-talkers 
had remained yet another classified war secret.
  These proud code-talkers lived with the quiet dignity of knowing that 
they did a great service for their nation, but could never speak of 
their heroic deeds.
  These Sioux code-talkers worked under some of the heaviest combat 
conditions and worked around the clock, often without sleep, to provide 
coded information that saved the lives of countless American soldiers.
  The Sioux code-talkers were so successful that military commanders 
credit the code for many victories in battle.
  These brave and heroic men deserve our deepest respect. We owe a debt 
of gratitude to these men. We must honor them and teach our children, 
so that their quiet dignity is silent no more. So we may now honor them 
as what they are--American heroes.
  It took an act of Congress to honor the Navajo code-talkers, we 
should at least pay the same tribute to these other defenders of our 
freedom.
  Let us never forget the 44,000 Native Americans who served in World 
War II. They fought for a nation that has mistreated historically their 
people. That is the ultimate sign of valor and sacrifice.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3250, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read:

       ``A bill to authorize the presentation of gold medals on 
     behalf of Congress to Native Americans who served as Code 
     Talkers during foreign conflicts in which the United States 
     was involved during the 20th Century in recognition of their 
     service to the Nation.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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