World War II Honoree

Brummett T. Echohawk

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HE IS ONE OF THE LEGENDARY PAWNEE CODE TALKERS FOR THE ARMY DURING WORLD WAR II. ONE OF SOME NINE PAWNEE INDIANS SELECTED TO PERFORM SPECIAL DUTIES USING THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE AS A CODE TO PREVENT ENEMY FORCES FROM INTERCEPTING VITAL COMBAT COMMUNICATIONS. THE PAWNEE CODE WAS A COMBINATION OF U.S. MILITARY AND PAWNEE TERMS AND DESCRIPTIONS, TRIBAL TONES AND DIALECTS, AND INFORMAL SHORT-CUT CODE WORDS. THE CODE WAS NEVER BROKEN AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN COMMUNICATING SECURE CRITICAL MESSAGES DURING THE HEAT OF BATTLE. THEIR CODE-TALKING WAS A KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF COMBAT OPERATIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS. ENLISTED IN THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD IN 1939, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. HIS REGIMENT WAS INDUCTED INTO ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940, AND ASSIGNED TO THE 45TH DIVISION. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA; CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS; FORT DEVENS AT AYER MASSACHUSETTS; PINE CAMP AT WATERTOWN, NEW YORK; AND CAMP PICKETT AT BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 25, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 8, 1943, LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA ABOUT JUNE 22, 1943, AND WENT INTO TRAINING AT ARZEW, ALGERIA. SERVED AS AN INFANTRYMAN OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH B COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO, AND ROME-ARNO CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SCOGLITTI, SICILY ON JULY 9, 1943; ASSAULTED SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943, AND FROM NOVEMBER 3, 1943-JANUARY 9, 1944, FOUGHT TO TAKE VENAFRO AND KEY MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS INCLUDING HILL 769, AQUAFONDATA, AND SANT’ELIA FIUMERAPIDO DURING OPERATIONS NEAR CASSINO, ALONG THE GUSTAV LINE; AND LANDED AT ANZIO, ITALY ON JANUARY 22, 1944 AND FOUGHT TO DEFEND THE BEACHHEAD, INCLUDING WITHSTANDING A MAJOR GERMAN COUNTERATTACK ON FEBRUARY 18, 1944 THAT PUSHED HIS REGIMENT BACK TO THE FINAL BEACHHEAD LINE. TREATED FOR WOUNDS IN THEATER AND RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED AT AN ORDNANCE DEPOT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS (3 AWARDS) FOR MULTIPLE WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE ARROWHEADS (2 AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDINGS) AND 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (4 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS DIVISION AT ACQUAFONDATA, ITALY DURING THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON AUGUST 15, 1945 AT CAMP CHAFFEE AT FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.