VIEWPOINT | A matter of honor

Guest column by Sens. Shawn Bordeaux and Brent Hoffman

You’ve probably heard of the Medal of Honor, as it is a famously revered military decoration. Earned for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty,” it is our nation’s highest military honor and often presented posthumously. But it hasn’t always been that way.  In the past, this peerless decoration has sometimes been awarded for political purposes or less than honorable reasons. Which brings us to the topic of the Wounded Knee Massacre.

In December of 1890, about 500 cavalry soldiers of the U.S. Army corralled a band of Lakota peoples, mostly women and children, near Wounded Knee Creek in Southwest South Dakota. Tensions were high, as the “Ghost Dance” movement concerned settlers, Sitting Bull had been killed just weeks prior and the defeat at Little Big Horn still stirred the memories of the U.S. 7th Cavalry.  At some point, while the encampment was being disarmed, shots rang out and the soldiers opened fire, supported by mounted, rapid-fire Hotchkiss mountain guns. In the slaughter that followed, nearly 300 of the 350 Native Americans were killed along with about 25 soldiers, though it’s believed many of the soldiers were killed by “friendly fire” due to the circular formation.

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To add insult to injustice, 20 of the soldiers who participated in this “battle” were awarded the Medal of Honor, even though Commanding General Miles called it “the most abominable criminal military blunder and a horrible massacre of women and children.” While we understand it was a different time and place, it’s difficult to reconcile an honorable award with dishonorable action and in such disproportionate numbers. Consider that in the Battle of Little Big Horn, in which nearly 300 U.S. soldiers were killed, only 24 medals were awarded.

It has now been more than a century since Wounded Knee. It has been more than 30 years since Congress passed a resolution of “deep regret,” though recently our state Senate twice passed resolutions calling to “investigate each Medal of Honor awarded.” We’ve also been lobbying the Department of Defense and were pleased to learn Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered a review of the decorations awarded at Wounded Knee. We’re thankful for his leadership, as “it’s never too late to do the right thing.”

While this may seem a distant historical issue, it remains one of important concern to our state and particularly among our Native American population.  We’re hopeful this fair and balanced review can right a wrong and lead to healing and unity within our great state. It’s about time.

Sen. Hoffman, a Republican and former military officer, served two tours in the Pentagon.  He represents District 9.  Sen. Bordeaux, a Democrat, previously served in the House, and is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.  He represents District 26.