Exhibit highlights unique talent of Meskwaki code talkers

By TAYLOR BERN

TAMA --- When they were growing up, earlier generations of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa weren't always allowed to use their native language.

Later though, the U.S. Army requested that specific skill from eight members of the Meskwaki Nation, and the code talkers helped the country and its allies win World War II.

This summer those soldiers are being recognized in a traveling exhibit from the National Museum of the American Indian and Smithsonian Institution. Native Words, Native Warriors will be at the Meskwaki Bingo-Casino-Hotel near Tama until July 31.

Code talkers were Native Americans in the Army who used a version of their own languages to relay important military messages. U.S. armed forces started developing the code talker program before the country entered World War II. And the Meskwakis' involvement predates the Navajos later role in the military.

In all, 18 tribal nations were represented in the code talkers program.

Twenty-seven Meskwaki men enlisted in the 168th Iowa Infantry 34th Red Bull Division in January 1941. Eight --- Edward Benson, Mike Waubaunasee, Judie Wayne Waubaunasee, Dewey Roberts, Dewey Youngbear, Frank Sanache, Willard Sanache and Melvin Twin --- were selected for special training with walkie-talkie radios.

The key to their success was the use of the Meskwaki language as a code used to communicate vital information, including enemy's location, battlefield tactics and other messages between units.

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