Posted on 07/22/2005 5:05:33 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
OKLAHOMA CITY - Charles Chibitty, the last survivor of the Comanche code talkers who used their native language to transmit messages for the Allies in Europe during World War II, has died. He was 83.
Chibitty, who had been residing at a Tulsa nursing home, died Wednesday, said Cathy Flynn, administrative assistant in the Comanche Nation tribal chairman's office.
The group of Comanche Indians from the Lawton area were selected for special duty in the U.S. Army to provide the Allies with a language that the Germans could not decipher. Like the larger group of Navajo Indians who performed a similar service in the Pacific theater, the Comanches were dubbed "code talkers."
"It's strange, but growing up as a child I was forbidden to speak my native language at school," Chibitty said in 2002. "Later my country asked me to. My language helped win the war and that makes me very proud. Very proud. "
In a 1998 story for The Oklahoman, Chibitty recalled being at Normandy on D-Day, and said someone once asked him what he was afraid of most and if he feared dying.
"No. That was something we had already accepted," he said.
"But we landed in deeper water than anticipated. A lot of boys drowned. That's what I was afraid of."
"I wonder what the hell Hitler thought when he heard those strange voices," he once told a gathering.
Chibitty was born Nov. 20, 1921, near Medicine Park and attended high school at Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kan. He enlisted in 1941.
In 1999, Chibitty received the Knowlton Award, which recognizes individuals for outstanding intelligence work, during a ceremony at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.
"We could never do it again," Chibitty told Oklahoma Today. "It's all electronic and video in war now."
This is an excellent article to share with your kids or grand kids. The last survivor, WOW!
I don't see why not. I doubt very many Chinese or Arabs speak Comanche.
Aw, bummer! He gave a presentation at the public library in Tulsa a few years back. Some of our homeschool association went, but I missed it because I had a baby.
PING
Just one of those stories that makes one want to check out the history channel, or send an email for them to show a documentary on these hero's.
The last surviving Code Talker dies, still chokes me up.
Probably even fewer Comanches speak Comanche, these days.
I could be wrong, but I believe there are still Apache codetalkers. This was the last surviving Comanche.
No, not the last surviving Comanche, just the last one who was in the service of our nation as a military code talker.
The famous Navajo Codetalkers were mostly in the Marine Corps in the Pacific. The Army in Europe had Comanches, Apaches, and Osages, among others, many drawn from the National Guard divisions from the Southwestern states.
I think you're right.
Thanks for posting this. FoxNews has been announcing in some way the last couple of days about Star Trek "Scotty"'s death, has anyone heard this death announced or discussed?
It's a shame that a TV or film character gets more coverage than a true hero does. I'll bet most kids in school these days wouldn't have a clue what this article is about.
I've had a facination with codes and crypto for a long time and the part these guys played can never be given enough credit.
Go to www.newsok.com to see a photo of him.
I had business around the Lawton area yesterday and wife went with me and I told a story about Geronimo in that area [the Apache war chief].
My wife chimed in to tell them I was one of Quanah's decendants [Quanah Parker, half-breed, last great warrior chief of the Comanches].
The ol'boy I was primarily doing business with jaw dropped for he knew an Araphaho decendant of Quanah's who was named Quanah as matter of fact.
Comanches are a fascinating study--even if you are not one.
"It's a shame that a TV or film character gets more coverage than a true hero does."
I thought it was a shame when they made a movie about these guys it revolved around a white guy(Nick Cage). Hollywood has a way of doing that. Code Talkers is one, The Last Samurai is another. It's just sad.
ping
Good point.
Using a mix of Klingon and Ferengi would accomplish the same thing in a modern conflict.
Probably very true and very much a shame. These men were true patriots and heroes and I honor their service and their memory. When The Call came they answered it, and served with honor.
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