Congressional Gold Medal presented to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. (Courtesy U.S. Mint)
More than half a century after risking their lives for their country, World War II Sioux code talkers were beginning to receive the recognition they deserved, according to the Nov. 11, 2001, edition of the Argus Leader.
Using Nakota, Lakota and Dakota languages, the soldiers kept the Japanese guessing, knowing their capture was one of the highest priorities of their enemy. But despite the enormous risks that the Sioux speaking soldiers took, the 2001 legislation introduced by then-Rep. John Thune to recognize those efforts would take years to come to fruition.
