Existing comment:
Recruiting from Chilocco Indian School
In the late 1800s, the U.S. government founded boarding schools where American Indian children were sent to be assimilated into mainstream American culture. Many of the schools were run in a military style, with organized companies, uniforms, and strict discipline. This made them a target of recruitment for the U.S. armed forces.
Founded in 1884, the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School educated boys and girls from tribes across the United States. In 1923, the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, of the Oklahoma National Guard recruited from local National Guard units, which included many current and former Chilocco students. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many of Chilocco's staff and students enlisted in all military branches. Two notable Chilocco graduates who joined the 45th Division are Ernest Childers (Muscogee [Creek]) and Jack Montgomery (Cherokee), both of whom earned the Medal of Honor. |