Comanche code talker answered ‘Call to Duty’ (Remembering a Veteran)

He became a legend in the Army, as well as in his native Comanche tribe in Oklahoma.

Charles Chibitty, 84, the last of the Comanche “code talkers,” died July 20 this year in Tulsa, Okla. He also reportedly was the last hereditary chief of the Comanche, having descended from the great leader, Chief Ten Bears.

“Code talkers” is the term used to describe Soldiers from various Indian tribes who communicated on radios, telephones and telegraph during World Wars I and II. They spoke in their own languages and dialects, many of which were not written down and all of which were indecipherable by enemy forces. Chibitty was among the 17 Comanche code talkers who served throughout the European Theater during World War II with the 4th Signal Company, 4th Infantry Division.

Since there were many military words that had no meaning in the Comanche language, Chibitty and other Soldiers had to invent their own unique military lingo. For example, they used the Comanche word for “turtle” to signify “tank.”

Chibitty saw plenty of fighting during the landings at Utah Beach during the D-Day Normandy invasion in June 1944. He immediately put his skills to use, directing aircraft and naval gunfire to targets and informing other Comanche code breakers at higher headquarters of the tactical situation on the ground and relaying information back to his unit commander.

Chibitty survived the landings and saw a lot more action throughout France and during the Battle of the Bulge. He and his unit were among the first Americans to liberate Paris and later to enter Germany. In addition to code talking, Chibitty became a champion boxer in the Army. Later in life, he became a much acclaimed and prize-winning Comanche war dancer.

The French presented Chibitty and other Comanche code talkers with their second-highest medal for valor, the Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Merite.

In 1999, the Department of Defense recognized Chibitty, who was then 78, and the last surviving member of the Comanche code talkers. He was honored in the Hall of Heroes inside the Pentagon for his extraordinary bravery and achievements.

At the ceremony, he didn’t dwell much on his own combat actions, preferring rather to speak of the achievements of his fellow Comanche code talkers. He recounted the story of one code talker who was wounded in the back with shrapnel. That Soldier refused to be evacuated to the rear and continued to fight and code talk. His wounds were treated and he survived the war. Other Comanche code talkers were wounded as well, but all survived the fighting.

(PURE SARCASM!)

He's a traitor to his nation, I, like Ward Churchill do, and SHOULD count him a traitor! He was a representative of the US government, the little Hitlers who would subjugate the Indian races, by supporting the evil concept of America!.

This Traitor is BEST buried at Arlington, the home of other idiots who have supported the community of his birth.

(End Sarcasm)

These guys had REAL REAL REAL Balls. They were KBC, and anyone who has heard stories about "real security" know what KBC is. This is a man, who came from a society JUST STARTING to recover from a real war on race, and decided that he found good things in the US. He was a great man, like ALL the code talkers. Tell you the truth, I am American in and out, and vociferous in my support of it, and I served, but I don't know, I DON'T KNOW! if I would have served, if I had been a KBC.

This Man. Great Man, HUGE Balls, and a real American. A man who loves his life, but he was willing to give his ONE life, for the sake of many others. THAT is a GREAT GREAT thing, and it makes me embarrassed to be ONLY an EX-Serviceman, when this man? actually accomplished many things. I think he did more in that one day, than any politician in the last 45 years.

CHARLES CHIBITTY, COMANCHE CODE TALKER, RECOGNIZED AT PENTAGON CEREMONY

November 30, 1999

Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence) Arthur L. Money today recognized the last surviving member of the elite Comanche Code Talkers, Charles Chibitty, in a Pentagon ceremony. Chibitty was presented with the Knowlton Award in recognition of his significant contributions to military intelligence efforts.

Along with 16 other Comanche Indians, Chibitty was part of the Army's 4th Signal Company, also known as the Code Talkers. Like the Choctaws of World War I, and the Navajos in the Pacific Theater, the Comanche Code Talkers used their native language to prevent the enemies of the European Theater from intercepting messages of the allied troops during World War II. The unit was instrumental during the Normandy invasion.

Chibitty was born near Medicine Park, Okla. on Nov. 20, 1921. After attending Haskell Indian School at Lawrence, Kan., he enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1941. While in the Army, Cpl. Chibitty earned the World War II Victory Medal, the European Theater of Operations (5th Bronze Star) Victory Medal, the Europe African Middle East Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. In addition to his role as a Code Talker, Chibitty was a champion boxer in the Army.

In 1989, the French Government honored the Comanche Code Talkers, including Chibitty, by presenting them the "Chevalier of the National Order of Merit." In 1992, former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney presented Chibitty a certificate of appreciation for his service to the country. Chibitty has also received a special proclamation from the Governor of Oklahoma who honored him for his contribution both to Oklahoma and the United States. Nationally known for his Indian championship dancing, he currently resides in Tulsa, Okla.

The Knowlton Award was established in 1995 by the Military Intelligence Corps Association. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to Army Intelligence, who have high standards of integrity and moral character, and who display outstanding degree of professional competence. It is named for Lt. Col. Thomas Knowlton who performed distinguished military service during the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed by George Washington to form a regiment expressly for intelligence services.

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