Office of Indian Affairs 
 bulletin 15* (1922). 
 
 THE AME RICAN INDIAN IN THE WORLD WAR. 
 
 It is reported that Francis Lequier, a young Chippewa, in company 
 with two or three others, attacked a machine-gun nest, and when left as the 
 only survivor, faced all that remained of the machine gunners and killed or 
 captured the entire group. He was said to be recoveiing from 11 wounds re¬ 
 ceived in action* 
 
 -Tamoo M*.' El son (deceased), of the Tulalip Reservation, was cited by his 
 commanding officer for guiding sentry squads to an isolated post in Ho Ran 3 
 Land, and. for guiding patrol to outskirts of Briculles, securing information 
 of enemy occupation, and showing exceptional skill, courage, and coolness 
 under fire. 
 
 The superior officer of Richard Bland Breeding, a young Creek of Okla¬ 
 homa, said of him; "He was the most capable, daring, and fearless platoon 
 leader in the division," 
 
 Among those who v;on the croix de guerre was volunteer John Harper, a 
 full-blood Uncompahgre Ute~ of which details are lacking at this time; Chester 
 Amstrong Fourbear, a full-blood Sioux of South Dakota, cited for bravery m 
 swift running as a messenger at Belli court; Ordnance Sergt, James M, Gordon, 
 of Wisconsin, cited far rescuing while under shell fire a second lieutenant 
 of the French Army who was wounded while on an inspection tour; Nicholas E* 
 Brown, a full-blood Choctaw, who when killed was a corporal in,the 142d In¬ 
 fantry composed largely of Oklahoma Indians, the honor being posthumously 
 awarded; Marty Beaver, a full-blood Creek, on the military records asjBob 
 Carr, an orphan boy who enlisted in Company F, 142d Infantry, Thirty oixo 
 Division, details at present lacking* 
 
 Alfred G* Bailey, a Cherokee of Oklahoma, had been in regular service 
 with Gen. Pershing in Mexico* He was a sergeant when killed in action in 
 France and was awarded the distinguished service cross for creeping mo 
 the enemy’s lines alone far in advance of his regiment where, unai e , 
 killed two German machine gunners and captured a third together Wi 11 " £ u 
 
 Walter G„ Sevalia, of Brule, Wisconsin, a corporal in Company F, Be\tnth 
 Engineers, -was cited for "extraordinary heroism" in action near areui e °> 
 France, in November, 1918* He swam the Meuse under t errific fi rc 1 a ca 
 for a pontoon bridge, and later carried another cable over the Est ran an 
 across an open field covered by enemy machine guns* At 'this time he was 
 wounded but returned bearing a message of great importance* 
 
 Sergt* 0. W. Leader, a three-fourths bftood Choctaw, was foreman of a 
 cattle ranch in Oklahoma when we entered the war* Greatly to his chagrin an 
 idle rumor gained currency that he was.a Hun spy. He quit the cattle busi- 
 ness at once and enlisted as proof of Ms American loyalty* He was cited for 
 bravery in battle in the course of a brilliant record of wlii ch the following 
 is a synopsis; Fought at Cantigny, May 28, 1918; fought at Goissons, Chateau- ^ 
 Thierry, July 1'8, 1918; fought in Gt * Mi Mol salient, September 12, 1918;fough 
 at Argonne Forest, October 1, 1918* Tv.dce v/ounded and twice gassed* In addi¬ 
 tion to this military record is the interesting fact that Sergt* Leader was 
 
selected by the French Government as the model original American soldier of 
 whom an oil painting should be made to hang upon the walls of the French 
 Federal building where will be displayed types of all the allied races. 
 
 Probably no more brilliant instance is recorded than that furnished 
 by Pvt, Joseph Oklahombi, a full-blood Choctaw* of Company D, 141st Infantry* 
 whose home is at Bisbarek, Oklahoma, and who received the croix de guerre 
 under the order of Marshal Petain, commander in chief of the French Armies 
 of the.east. A translation of the order follows: 
 
 Under a violent barrage, dashed to the attack of an enemy posi¬ 
 tion, covering about 210 yards through barbed-wire entanglements. He 
 rushed on machine-gun nests, capturing 171 prisoners. He stormed a 
 strongly held position containing more than 50 machine guns, and a 
 number of trench mortars* Turned the captured guns on the enemy, and 
 held the position for four days, in spite of a constant barrage of 
 large projectiles and of gas shells. Crossed No Man’s Land many times 
 to get information concerning the enemy, and to assist his wounded 
 comrades, 
 
 Not^ only did the Indian boys do their full duty during the World War, 
 but the World War had its own effect upon the Indians, as indicated in the 
 following report from an Indian school superintendent in northern California: 
 
 In every case that I have encountered where an Indian has returned 
 to his jurisdiction I have found that the Indian young man was greatly 
 bettered through his work in the Army, both physically and mentally. I 
 do not know of a single case where it has not benefited the Indian to 
 such a degree that it is plainly noticeable and commented upon by the 
 whites of his community. I was over at an Indian’s hcmfjjust the other 
 day who had returned from active service in the trenches of France. 
 
 This Indian, Phillip Jim, had the remarkable record of going over the 
 top more than 30 times. He walked into the recruiting office at Quincy 
 on his way home and laid down $100 for a Victory bond, saying that he 
 was done fight ang. nor/ he could help some other way. This Indian went 
 straight home to farm, and started hard work of putting in a garden, 
 repairing his fences, buildings, etc., that had gotten in bad condition 
 since he left, for his father was afflicted with an incurable disease 
 and his mother was ill. He says that he knows much more than he did 
 and that he wants to do more now than he ever did. 
 
 The following report is had from an Oklahoma reservation: 
 
 One Cheyenne, typical, no-account, reservation Indian with long 
 hair went to France, -was wounded, gassed, and shell-shocked* Was re¬ 
 turned, honorably discharged. He reported to the agency office square 
 shouldered, level—eyed, courteous, self-reliant, and talked intelli¬ 
 gently. A wonderful transformation, and caused by contact with the 
 outside world. He is at work* 
 
 The character of the Indian who has served in the World War has un¬ 
 dergone the following changes: 
 
 - 2 - 
 
He has lost much of his timidity* 
 
 He has greater self-confidence* 
 
 He is more courteous and more polite. 
 
 He has be eh made to feel that he is as capable of fulfilling his obli¬ 
 gations to his country as any other race of people* 
 
 He understands more fully his patriotic duty to his country* 
 
 He realizes more than ever that there is a place for him in the com¬ 
 munity; that he is a unit in the great Commonwealth. 
 
 He has seen and learned many things of educational value, and delights 
 in telling of his experiences whether in the Army camps, or the Navy, at 
 home, or abroad. 
 
 He has improved very perceptibly in the use of English, 
 
 His contact with the outside world and his associations with disciplin¬ 
 ed men has meant for him much mental discipline. As a result of such disci’" 
 pline he returns to school a better and more desirable student, and to his 
 home a better citizen* 
 
 One young man from the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota, who died while 
 at camp, was brought home for burial, and an official reporting the incident 
 says: 
 
 The boy's father's home is situated on a very high hill, so that 
 for a long time before we reached it we could see the great crowd of 
 Indians who had gathered to pay their last tribute. Long before we 
 reached the home we could also see Old Glory floating from a tall flag¬ 
 pole that had been set up since the news of his de; -h had reached the 
 reservation* Each of the five'young men who we re pallbearers had 
 lualified for military service, though some had been rejected on 
 account of physical unfitness and others had not yet been examined* 
 
 Each one of them, however, had pinned to the lapel of his coat streamers 
 of red, white, and blue, and they rode on swift Indian ponies behind the 
 automobile which carried the body of th e young soldier. Over this car 
 floated a very large flag* In front of the procession rode another 
 young Indian brave carrying Old Glory also* It was so impressive in 
 its complete demonstration of loyalty that one could not keep back the 
 t ears. 
 
 The above are but a f ew instances of the patriotism and bravery of the 
 (approximately) 10,000 Indian hoys who were engaged in the World War* 
 
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