World War II Honoree

Grant 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. ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1940 IN RESPONSE TO THE NATION’S CALL FOR SOLDIERS TO MEET THE LIMITED EMERGENCY CONDITIONS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. TRAINED AND SERVED WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD UNTIL THE 45TH DIVISION WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 16, 1940 AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA AND MOVED TO FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ABOUT SEPTEMBER 23, 1940. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT SILL IN 1940-41; CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS IN 1941-42; CAMP EDWARDS AT FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1942; 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 THE REGIMENT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MAY 25, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON JUNE 22, 1943, AND WENT INTO TRAINING AT ARZEW, ALGERIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS AN INFANTRYMAN WITH THE 157TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SCOGLITTI, SICILY ON JULY 9-11, 1943; ASSAULTED SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943; FOUGHT AT ANZIO, ITALY BEGINNING ABOUT JANUARY 30, 1944 AND SPENT THE NEXT 3 MONTHS DEFENDING THE BEACHHEAD; AND ASSAULTED SAINT MAXIMIN IN SOUTHERN FRANCE ON AUGUST 15, 1944. SERGEANT GOVER WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON NOVEMBER 1, 1944, DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN NORTHEASTERN FRANCE EAST OF RAMBERVILLERS, ACROSS THE MORTAGNE RIVER IN THE VOSGES FOOTHILLS, DURING THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN. POSTHUMOUSLY 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 1 SILVER AND 1 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (6 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH BRONZE PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS DIVISION IN COMBAT IN ITALY.