World War II Honoree

Edmond Harjo

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Maud, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

A MEMBER OF THE SEMINOLE INDIAN NATION OF OKLAHOMA, HE ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AND WAS TRAINED AS AN ARTILLERYMAN. HIS BATTALION SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON FEBRUARY 11, 1944, AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON FEBRUARY 23, 1944. LANDED IN FRANCE ON JUNE 16, 1944, AND SERVED AS AN ARTILLERYMAN AND 'CODE TALKER' OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), WITH THE 195TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION DURING THE WAR. HE BECAME A 'CODE TALKER' DURING OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE IN 1944. HE HEARD ANOTHER AMERICAN INDIAN SOLDIER SINGING IN A CREEK INDIAN DIALECT WHILE MOVING THROUGH AN ORCHARD. HE APPROACHED HIM AND THEY BEGAN TALKING IN THEIR NATIVE TONGUES. AN OFFICER HEARD THEM TALKING AND PUT THEM TO WORK AS RADIO OPERATORS, USING THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE AS A CODE TO RELAY MESSAGE TRAFFIC AND PREVENT ENEMY FORCES FROM INTERCEPTING VITAL COMBAT COMMUNICATIONS. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN 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 WITH 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR (5 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.