World War II Honoree

Phillip 'Ruk-Ta-Chu-Re-Sha-Roo' Gover

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. ENLISTED IN OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. SERVED WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD UNTIL HIS REGIMENT WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA IN 1940-41; CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS IN 1941-42; CAMP BOWIE AT BROWNWOOD, TEXAS IN JUNE, 1941, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VIII CORPS TEXAS MANEUVERS; MANSFIELD, LOUISIANA IN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1941, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOUISIANA MANEUVERS; FORT DEVENS AT AYER, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1942; PINE CAMP AT WATERTOWN, NEW YORK IN 1942-43; AND CAMP PICKETT AT BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA IN 1943. 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 ON JUNE 22, 1943 AND WENT INTO TRAINING AT ARZEW, ALGERIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS AN INFANTRY PLATOON SERGEANT WITH B COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION, INCLUDING IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, AND ITALY IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NATOUSA). PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, AND NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SCOGLITTI, SICILY ON JULY 9, 1943, AND SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943. HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED IN ACTION ON NOVEMBER 14, 1943 DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN VENAFRO, ITALY, SOUTHEAST OF CASSINO, DURING THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN. HE LOST HIS LEFT ARM AS A RESULT OF HIS WOUNDS. 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 WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD (AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDINGS) AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1944 WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.