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AMH 2020: United States History Since 1877
Professor Lindsey Maxwell
[Student Name]
The Impact of World War II on Native Americans
March 12, 2023
About Me
Use this section to inform the reader about yourself and why you chose this topic.
Title
The Impact of World War II on Native Americans
Introduction
Many Native Americans responded to the call of duty during World War II despite their troubled
past with the United States. This was caused by various factors, not the least among which was
the desire to defend one's people from such an adversary. The impact of Native Americans'
participation in World War II on the indigenous population would endure throughout the entire
20th century, significantly impacting how they cooperated with the government, lived on
reservations, upheld agreements, and maintained their territory. I'll argue in this essay that the
Native Americans contributed significantly to the victory in World War Two. In addition, I'll
contend that the advent of the atomic age and World War II changed Native American men's and
women's lives. Their experiences were similar to many other Americans'. Still, they were unique
from them, and the lives of the Native Americans before and after the War helped in their
survival in the future.
Section 1: Before the War
The number of Native Americans residing in the area that is now the United States at the time of
Christopher Columbus is estimated to be around one million. Over 250,000 Indians remained in
the area less than 400 years later. It increased to almost 350,000 by 1940. Among those, 44,000
served in the military during World War II. All confrontations involved Native People, who also
won many medals, honors, and citations. Lt. Van Barfoot, a Choctaw; Lt. Jack Montgomery, a
Cherokee Native; and Lt. Ernest Childers, a Creek, were the only three recipients of the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
The Iroquois Confederacy launched a war against Germany back in 1917. They were more than
prepared to battle when the Second World War started and still had not reached a peace
agreement. The other tribes were also prepared. Several individuals were prepared to stand
outside inclement weather for hours to sign their draft cards. Others came prepared to engage in
combat using their guns. A quarter or even more of the Mescalero Apaches are thought to have
recruited voluntarily. Several of the surviving tribes in the US had similar experiences. These
Native Americans were willing to set aside their grudges and sadness from the past. They
understood the importance of protecting one's possessions. By the middle of 1942,
approximately 7,500 Native Americans enrolled yearly.
Native Americans were fully willing to participate in the War to help the Americans.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:General_douglas_macarthur_meets_american_indian_t
roops_wwii_military_pacific_navajo_pima_island_hopping.JPG
Section 2: During the War
The yearly average increased to 22,000 at the start of 1945. According to a 1942 report by the
Military Conscription, 99% of all Native Americans who qualified again for the draft—healthy
males between the ages of 21 and 44—had done so. In the troops that day, which was the attack
on Pearl Harbor, there were about 5,000 Indians. By the conflict's conclusion, that total had risen
to nearly 44,000 (both on and off reservations). This constituted more than 10% of the Indian
people during the conflict. Including the Indian men who participated in the battle, some of the
tribes' women also made a significant donation by entering the WACS, WAVES, and Army Nurse
Corps.
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The war underway needed expertise; most of them were the Native Americans.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/81418
video description
MCU Tanker refueling a cruiser is underway.MCU Mail is being transferred by
breeches buoy.MCU is the Same as the first scene.CU Midship section of the tanker
in heavy seas, with cold-weather conditions (SV). LS DDs and CA are on the horizon
as planes circle and land aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6).MCU Bow of DD underway
in heavy seas; another DD ahead of it.GV SOC in flight. GV SOC circles a DD, USS
ENTERPRISE & USS HORNET (CV-12) in BG.LS Plane is taking off from the
ENTERPRISE.GV SOC comes alongside a CA and is hoisted aboard. GV SOC flies by
cruiser. GV SOC lands in a slick cruiser. GV SOC hooks on the sled.GV Hook catches
SOC and hoists it aboard. GV SOC lands in the sea and taxis toward the aircraft
crane. GV SOC being hoisted aboardLS Aircraft landing on the ENTERPRISE.GV F4F
lands aboard the ENTERPRISE; DE in BG.GV SBD lands aboard the ENTERPRISE. MCU
F4F lands and nose-dives into the deck. GV SBD is receiving a wave-off. GV SBD"s &
F4Fs"s landing aboard (SV). GV SBD lands and flies into gun sponsorship.GV Flight
deck crew gathers around crippled aircraft(SV).GV More landing of aircraft; one F4F
goes over the side.CU Lookout silhouetted against the sun. LS B-25 is taking off of
the HORNET in overcast weather.
CU ADM. HALSEY in foul-weather gear on bridges (SV). LS B-25 takes off from the
HORNET. CU ADM. HALSEY"s face in foul-weather gear. LS More B-25"s taking off
from the HORNET (many views).CU Army sergeant salutes the planes aloft as Army
private (wearing earphones) stands by.GV Sailor (in a peacoat and watch cap)
waving goodbye to Doolittle fliers.MCU Two mess attendants are waving goodbye
and good luck.MCU Two sailors are waving goodbye; one carries the signal flag. See
also No. 10891. XX The raid over Tokyo took place in April 1942
Fig: As President Roosevelt declared War on the Axis, it felt as if he were speaking to each and
every citizen individually. The Indian tribes interpreted this as meaning all would be permitted to
participate. The native Americans mostly participated to gain the attention of the Americans in
case the eruption would be directed to their side.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/514315
"For
Your Country's Sake Today - For Your Own Sake Tomorrow"
An estimation of 40,000 Indians (men and women, ages 18 to 50) left their reservations for an
initial time and pursued employment in the defense sector due to the authorized recruiting and
participation. As a result, they acquired practical skills, became more culturally sophisticated,
and became more aware when interacting with non-Indians which was employed later after the
War.
Fig: Additional support from the Tribes came from their large purchases of Treasury Stamps and
Bonds and donations to the Red Cross. In 1944, it was estimated that Indians purchased close to
$50 million in bonds.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/514010
"Buy War Bonds"
The Native Americans directly participated in the War in which their expertise was used.
National Air and Space Museum, WWII Oral Histories, aviation air space national museum
smithsonian airplane NASA Rocket Jet Discovery SR-71 Blackbird "Space Shuttle" History
Science STEM astronaut,
https://www.si.edu/object/wwii-oral-histories:yt_NRCyPWDW1cg
Some other countries voluntarily participated in the War to help the Americans, which enhanced
their relationship with them after they were noted as American Allies;
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/95134134
describes the major countries that were willing to align
with the Americans in the War fully.
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Folder, "Deployment of Major U.S. Forces to Vietnam, July 1965, Volume 7, Tabs 421-438,"
NSC Histories, NSF, Box 43
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/95134134
describes the memos,
agreements, letters, and conversations of the World War II.
Section 3: After the War
Many Native Americans continued to live in society just after the War (as opposed to returning to the
reservation). It wasn't an act of denial of their ancestry to abandon their customary way of life.
Conversely, they learned to recognize and accept the many ways they were different from the white
man. Some decided to go back to their reservation even after learning how to adapt to life in white
America. Many Indians remained unwilling to give up the security provided by the reservation, despite
possessing access to better housing conditions, employment prospects, and educational chances.
Fig: The training skills were retained after the War, which enhanced the civilization of the Native
Americans,
https://www.utm.edu/staff/jmiller/honors2005/11silko/christaww2.htm
Conclusion
Despite the challenges they had as both individuals and a group, there is no doubt that Native Americans
contributed greatly to America's victory in World War Two. They left the comforts of the only country
they had ever recognized and ventured to remote, exotic locations where locals did not share their
cultural traditions. They had to become accustomed to working for a "white guy," giving up their dances
and ceremonies in the meantime. The Native Americans surmounted all this and fit in with their varied
World War II professions, changing from American Indians to Indian Americans.
Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
Record Group 428: General Records of the Department of the NavySeries: Moving Images
Relating to Military Activities (1942) DOOLITTLE RAID Fliers Take Off From USS
ENTERPRISE & USS HORNET - NAID: 81418 Local ID: 428-NPC-19508, National
Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration.
Available at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/81418 (Accessed: March 13, 2023).
This is a video from the
National Archives and Records Administration
in 1942 during World War II.
The video aims to illustrate the processes undertaken during the War. Since there was more complicated
machinery to be used during the War, the video offers an illustration of how the natives during the War
employed their expertise in the War. I will employ this video in the essay to illustrate the main activities
that the Native Americans were involved in during the war Progress.
NSC Histories, NSF, Box 43 (no date) Presidential Libraries and Museums of the National Archives and
Records Administration. Folder, "Deployment of Major U.S. Forces to Vietnam, July 1965, Volume 7,
Tabs 421-438," NSC Histories, NSF, Box 43 Available at:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/johnson/593557/593557-nsf-
nsch-b43-f5.pdf (Accessed: March 13, 2023).
The
Folder "Deployment of Major U.S. Forces to Vietnam, July 1965, Volume 7, Tabs 421-438," NSC
Histories, NSF, Box 43 is a folder with the presidential Memorandums, notices, and notes during world
war II. This folder will be utilized as a primary source since it entails numerous content important for the
discoveries of the Native Americans' involvement in World War II; for instance, it includes all the
agreements that were signed, the requirements, the willingness treaties of the countries that were
willing to take part and much more. I will use this folder in recording and undertaking the evidence on
the agreements and the reasons that the Native Americans had towards participating in World War II.
Smithsonian Institution (2020) WWII oral histories: aviation air space national museum smithsonian
airplane NASA Rocket Jet Discovery SR-71 Blackbird "Space Shuttle" History Science STEM astronaut,
Smithsonian Institution. Available at: https://www.si.edu/object/wwii-oral-
histories:yt_NRCyPWDW1cg (Accessed: March 13, 2023).
The WWII oral histories: aviation air space national museum smithsonian airplane NASA Rocket Jet
Discovery SR-71 Blackbird "Space Shuttle" History Science STEM astronaut, Smithsonian Institution is an
oral interview recorded sessions used to track the progress of World War II. The Interview sessions offer
an overview of the activities undertaken by the Native Americans and how they affected them in the
future. The war fever's traumas and stress and the War's benefits in the future of World War II. I will
employ this source to help in understanding the role of The Native Americans in World War II.
"Buy War Bonds" (Uncle Sam) (1941) Record Group 44: Records of the Office of Government
ReportsSeries: World War II Posters: "Buy War Bonds" (Uncle Sam): NAID: 514010 Local ID: 44-PA-531,
National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration.
Available at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/514010?objectPage=2 (Accessed: March 13, 2023).
This post, Record Group 44: Records of the Office of Government ReportsSeries: World War II Posters:
"Buy War Bonds" (Uncle Sam), is a post that illuminates the benefits of the Native Americans to the War.
In this, the
additional support from the Tribes came from their large purchases of Treasury Stamps
and Bonds and the way of donations to the Red Cross. In 1944, it was estimated that Indians
purchased close to $50 million in bonds. This offered some financial support towards the war
purchases. I will use this post to offer insight into the importance of the Native Americans in
World War II.
"For Your Country's Sake Today - For Your Own Sake Tomorrow" (1941) Record Group 44:
Records of the Office of Government ReportsSeries: World War II Posters: "For Your
Country's Sake Today - For Your Own Sake Tomorrow" NAID: 514315 Local ID: 44-PA-820,
National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records
Administration. Available at: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/514315?objectPage=2 (Accessed:
March 13, 2023).
The post "For Your Country's Sake Today - For Your Own Sake Tomorrow" is a post that offered
insight for the Natives towards joining the American Forces. This Statement in this post offers
the insight that the Americans would stand with them in case of any issue in the future.
Furthermore, I will utilize the source to describe the insights of the Native Americans towards
joining the American troops.
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General Records of the Department of the Navy (1945) General Records of the Department of
the Navy, 1941–2004 NAID: 717 Collected: 1941–2004, National Archives and Records
Administration. National Archives and Records Administration. Available at:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/717 (Accessed: March 13, 2023).
The General Records of the Department of the Navy include the Navy reports, memos, and
communications on the progress of World War II. These reports offer explanations of what was
happening, the countries that assisted the American troops, and the role of the Native Americans
in the Navy troops. I will employ the source to outline the Native American Groups that aligned
with the Americans and their roles in the troops, including what they made successful in their
roles.
Secondary Sources
Projects, C.to W. (2022) Douglas MacArthur, Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Foundation,
Inc. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur (Accessed: March
13, 2023).
The source is a Wikimedia picture showing the recruited Native Americans during the War. This post is
imperative in that it explains that the Native Americans were willing to take part in World War II and that
they undertook all the training, including the machinery training, to be part of the Americans
In the
War. I will ultimately use this post to describe the willingness of the Native Americans to take part in
World War II.
Christa Cordrey (no date) Native Americans in WWII. Available at:
https://www.utm.edu/staff/jmiller/honors2005/11silko/christaww2.htm (Accessed: March 13,
2023).
The Source
Native Americans in WWII by
Christa Cordrey is an article that contains explanations that the
Native Americans due to their willingness to join World War II, inquired about several skills that they
retained even after the War. This article outlines the impact of the Native Americans post World War II
since they could utilize the skills they obtained during their quest for World War II recruitment. I will
employ this source to outline the aftermath of the Native Americans in World War II from their acquired
skills.