World War II Honoree

Dixon Palmer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Anadarko, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

A NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN OF KIOWA AND CHOCTAW INDIAN DESCENT, 'TSAIN-SAY-HAY' (BLUE HAIL) ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AND PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY DURING THE WAR. WHILE STATIONED IN MASSACHUSETTS, HE FORMED AN INDIAN DANCE GROUP THAT PERFORMED ALL OVER THE EAST COAST, INCLUDING TO A CROWD OF SOME 90,000 AT A RACETRACK. HIS UNIT STAGED AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 26, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 3, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON JUNE 22, 1943. SERVED 511 DAYS IN COMBAT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. HIS DIVISION PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.