World War II Codetalkers Custer, SD (June 27, 2024)

Custer, South Dakota
1881 Courthouse Museum
June 27, 2024

The 1881 Courthouse Museum in Custer, South Dakota, preserves the history of the Black Hills region with exhibits on pioneer life, Native American culture, and the gold rush era. It includes a tribute to Clarence Wolf Guts, honoring his service as a Lakota Code Talker during World War II, showcasing his contributions to both military history and the preservation of indigenous heritage. His inclusion highlights the significant role Native Americans played in U.S. history, emphasizing cultural pride and resilience.

As I toured the 1881 Courthouse Museum in Custer, SD, I came across a very brief display relating to Clarence Wolf Guts, an Oglala Lakota Native American who served in the US Army during World War II as a "Codetalker."  And it struck me that after touring various museums in Minnesota and in South Dakota and seeing how their way of life was superseded as European immigrants began to spread across this continent and how treatment of Native Americans through the centuries and up to present doesn't  seem to support Native Americans fighting and potentially sacrificing their lives for a country that continues to marginalize them.  So again, I write this to honor a man who despite having long historical grievances displayed patriotism and loyalty to the US exemplifying a strong tradition of the warrior elements of bravery, honor, and service to community.

Clarence Wolf Guts, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, is best known for his role as a Native American Code Talker during World War II. The Code Talkers were Native American soldiers who used their indigenous languages to transmit coded messages that were nearly impossible for enemy forces to decipher. Clarence Wolf Guts' contributions to this effort were significant, and his life story is a testament to resilience, patriotism, and the importance of cultural heritage.

Early Life

Clarence Wolf Guts was born on February 28, 1924, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He grew up during a time when Native American cultures were heavily suppressed, and many indigenous children were sent to boarding schools that sought to eradicate their native languages and customs. Despite these challenges, Wolf Guts retained his fluency in the Lakota language, which would later become a crucial asset during the war.

Contribution as a Code Talker

In 1942, at the age of 18, Clarence Wolf Guts enlisted in the United States Army. He was part of a select group of Native American soldiers recruited for their unique linguistic skills. The Code Talkers developed an unbreakable code based on their native languages, which played a pivotal role in U.S. military communications.

Wolf Guts was specifically assigned to the Pacific Theater, where he used the Lakota language to convey vital information on troop movements, enemy positions, and other critical data. The complexity and obscurity of the Lakota language made it nearly impossible for Japanese forces to decode the messages, providing a significant advantage to the Allies.

Challenges and Recognition

The contributions of the Code Talkers remained classified for many years after the war, and they did not receive immediate recognition for their heroic efforts. Clarence Wolf Guts returned to a life of relative obscurity on the Pine Ridge Reservation. It wasn't until the late 20th century that the Code Talkers began to receive the recognition they deserved.

In 2007, Clarence Wolf Guts was honored by the South Dakota National Guard, and in 2008, he received the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards in the United States, along with other Code Talkers from various tribes.

Later Life and Legacy

Clarence Wolf Guts continued to advocate for the preservation and teaching of the Lakota language throughout his life. He believed that the language was a vital part of his people's identity and cultural heritage. In his later years, he worked with the Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, helping to develop Lakota language programs.

Wolf Guts passed away on June 16, 2010, at the age of 86. His death marked the end of an era, as he was the last surviving Lakota Code Talker from World War II. His legacy, however, lives on through the continued efforts to preserve and promote the Lakota language and through the recognition of the crucial role that Native American Code Talkers played in securing victory during World War II.

Conclusion

Clarence Wolf Guts' life and contributions as a Code Talker during World War II exemplify the critical and often overlooked role of Native Americans in U.S. history. His dedication to his country, his cultural heritage, and his language has left an indelible mark on both military history and the ongoing efforts to preserve indigenous cultures.

LAST OF WORLD WAR II LAKOTA CODE TALKERS DIES

When the towers of the World Trade Center fell on Sept. 11, 2001, Clarence Wolf Guts asked his son to call the U.S. Department of Defense to see if the country needed his code talking abilities to find Osama Bin Laden.

Wolf Guts was in his late 70s at the time, so his son, Don Doyle, did not make the call, but said the request personified his father's love of country.

"He still wanted to help. He was trying to still be patriotic," Doyle said.

Wolf Guts, 86, the last surviving Oglala Lakota code talker, died Wednesday afternoon at the South Dakota State Veterans Home in Hot Springs.

A Native American code talker from World War II, Wolf Guts helped defeat Axis forces by transmitting strategic military messages in his native language, which the Japanese and Germans couldn't translate.

"He's the last surviving code talker from the whole (Lakota) nation. It's going to be a little like the passing of an era," Doyle said.