Historical records matching Joseph Oklahombi, Choctaw Code Talker
About Joseph Oklahombi, Choctaw Code Talker
Code Talker Joseph Oklahombi, 141st Infantry, was born May 1, 1894. From Wright City, Oklahoma, he has been lauded as oklahoma's greatest war hero of World War I. he walked from his home to enlist as Idabel, the county seat. After his basic training he was sent to France. A member of Company D, 14st Infrantry, 36th Division, a month before the armistice in 1918, He and his buddies were cut off from the rest of the company. Coming across a German machine gun emplacement with 50 trench mortars and crossing "No Mans Land", the Choctaw warrior assisted his wounded friends and carried information back to headquarters about the enemy. Oklahombi moved 200 yards over open ground against artillery and machine gun fire, rushing a machine gun nest and capturing on of the guns. Turning the weapon on the enemy, the American held the Germans down with blistering fire for four days until their surrender. Of the enemy, 171 were taken prisoner. General orders cited him for bravery for his actions. He was awarded the Silver Star to be worn on the Victory Ribbon by General Pershing, and the Croix De Guerre from Marshall Pertain.
Oklahombi, returned hom from the war with no triumphant entry into the port of New York, no bands playing nor ticket tape parade. merely another soldier from the war. He nested back into his home in the Kiamichi Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma, with his wife and son.
The Choctaw hero was always reluctant to talk about his war experiences. Refusing to even speak English in public, Oklahombi, spoke in his own Choctaw language at a reception honoring him at Southeastern State College. In 1992, his medals we reissued to his son, Jonah. They are on display at the Choctaw Capitol Meseum at Tushka Homma.
He was killed in an accident near his home on April 13, 1960.