Native Americans in United States Military

superbee · Apr 14, 2014

I am currently reading A Perfect Hell by John Nadler, which is about the First Special Service Force. A number of Native Americans distinguished themselves while serving in this unit.

Were Native Americans drafted into the United States military, or were they all volunteers? Specifically, if an individual was a registered member of a tribe recognized by the United States government, and living on a reservation, could they (and would they) have been drafted to serve in the military during World War 2?

lwd · Apr 14, 2014

Well according to wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_and_World_War_II

For every ten drafted, fifteen others volunteered.
Click to expand...

And:
http://www.defense.gov/specials/nativeamerican01/wwii.html

A 1942 survey indicated that 40 percent more Native Americans voluntarily enlisted than had been drafted.
...
The Iroquois Confederacy, having declared war on Germany in 1917, had never made peace and so automatically became party to World War II. The Navajo and other tribes were so eager to go to war that they stood for hours in bad weather to sign their draft cards, while others carried their own rifles so they would be ready for battle when they joined up. Unwilling to wait for their draft numbers, one-fourth of the Mescalero Apaches in New Mexico enlisted. Nearly all the able-bodied Chippewas at the Grand Portage Reservation enlisted. In a story that has been attributed to many other tribes as well, Blackfeet Indians mocked the need for a conscription bill. "Since when," their members cried, "has it been necessary for Blackfeet to draw lots to fight?"
The annual enlistment for Native Americans jumped from 7,500 in the summer of 1942 to 22,000 at the beginning of 1945. According to the Selective Service in 1942, at least 99 percent of all eligible Indians, healthy males aged 21 to 44, had registered for the draft. War Department of ficials maintained that if the entire population had enlisted in the same proportion as Indians, the response would have rendered Selective Service unnecessary. The overwhelming majority of Indians welcomed the opportunity to serve. On Pearl Harbor Day, there were 5,000 Indians in the military. By the end of the war, 24,521 reservation Indians, exclusive of officers, and another 20,000 off-reservation Indians had served. The combined figure of 44,500 was more than ten percent of the Native American population during the war years. This represented one-third of all able-bodied Indian men from 18 to 50 years of age. In some tribes, the percentage of men in the military reached as high as 70 percent. Also, several hundred Indian women served in the WACS, WAVES, and Army Nurse Corps.
...
The Iroquois took it as an insult to be called up under compulsion. They passed their own draft act and sent their young braves into National Guard units.
There were many disappointments as well-intentioned Indians were rejected for the draft.
Click to expand...

superbee · Apr 14, 2014

This is excellent information - thank you!

Their (Indian's) response to the manpower needs of their country in World War 2 was certainly admirable, especially in light of the treatment Native Americans had received, in general, from the United States government during the preceding 165 years.

Perhaps this topic could be the basis of a book, although I suppose it has already been done.

Thanks again.

CAC · Apr 14, 2014

Proud Americans...outstanding.

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Native Americans in United States Military

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