WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Congressman Dan Boren (D-Okla.) are pleased to announce Senate passage last night of legislation to award Congressional Commemorative Medals to the Code Talkers of the Choctaw, Comanche, and other tribes in recognition of their service during World Wars I and II. Oklahoma Senators Inhofe and Dr. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) sponsored the bill in the Senate and Congressman Boren sponsored the bill in the House.  The Code Talkers Recognition Act honors Native American Code Talkers from World War I and World War II by issuing a gold medal for their respective tribe and a duplicate silver medal to each Code Talker. In addition, bronze medals will be available for purchase by the public. The House passed the legislation last week by unanimous consent.

Senator Inhofe has worked to honor these heroes since first introducing the ‘Code Talkers Recognition Act' in 2002 and has introduced similar measures in each Congress since the 107th Congress.  In the 109th Congress, the U.S. Senate passed the legislation by unanimous consent.  Last year's measure gained passage in the Senate with 79 bi-partisan cosponsors.  

Senator Inhofe: "Code Talkers from these tribes are true American heroes whose accomplishments have for too long been forgotten. This legislation finally recognizes and honors a group of people who made a real difference in the fight for freedom during World Wars I and II.  Their service on the front lines helped propel the allied forces to victory and saved countless lives in the process.  I am pleased to have worked with Congressman Boren to pass this legislation through Congress honoring their service."

Congressman Dan Boren (D-Okla.) has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives in the 109th and 110th Congress.  During the 110th Congress, Boren gathered the support of an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 300 House members. 

Congressman Boren: "I am pleased this important measure cleared the final legislative step and will be signed into law.  More importantly, I am pleased that all Native American Code Talkers will finally be honored for their significant and brave contribution to our nation's victories in the greatest military conflicts our world has ever witnessed.  Every American can be proud of the service of these brave men in the name of liberty and justice.  This would never have been possible without the help of Senator Inhofe and his staff carrying the effort in the Senate."

Chief Pyle of the Choctaw nation expressed his appreciation for the work done by Senator Inhofe and Congressman Boren saying today, "The Choctaw Nation is very proud that Code Talkers are to be recognized with Congressional medals.  I am thankful for the tremendous teamwork of people from across the United States who contacted their Senators and Congresspersons to request support for this legislation. Congressman Boren has worked many hours on the passage of HR 4544 and his dedication to the military heroes of our tribe is evident. I was confident that Senator Inhofe would remain vigilant in his effort to get the Code Talker Recognition Act passed in the Senate. Both Congressman Boren and Senator Inhofe are great Oklahomans and I am proud to know they were the sponsors of such historic legislation.  The Choctaw people, especially descendants of the Code Talkers, are grateful to them for this commemoration of a unique use of our language by 18 Choctaw soldiers. We are now looking forward to the process of designing, minting and presenting the medals."

Though at the time not yet considered citizens of the United States, 18 members of the Choctaw Nation were recruited to become the very first soldiers to use their native language to transmit messages over the radio that were unintelligible to the enemy. During World War I, the Germans captured one out of four messengers who ran between companies on the battle line until the "Choctaw Code" was put into use. Their heroic effort is credited with saving countless lives.

Similarly, 14 members of the Comanche tribe were recruited to be Code Talkers during World War II and served in both the European and Pacific theaters. Transmitting vital messages in languages the enemy could not decipher, the Code Talkers of World War II ensured the integrity of our military's essential communications.

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