World War II Honoree

Frank Davis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HE WAS 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. SERVED OVERSEAS AS AN INFANTRYMAN IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY C, 1ST BATTALION, 180TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. HE SUSTAINED A HEAD WOUND DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS, AND WAS MEDICALLY EVACUATED. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.