Thoughts of a Sprite

Friday, November 04, 2005

The Passing of a Hero

Charles Chibitty, 84, last of the Comanche code talkers from World War II, died July 20.

He became a legend in the Army, as well as in his native Comanche tribe in Oklahoma.

Charles Chibitty, 84, the last of the Comanche “code talkers,” died July 20 this year in Tulsa, Okla. He also reportedly was the last hereditary chief of the Comanche, having descended from the great leader, Chief Ten Bears.

“Code talkers” is the term used to describe Soldiers from various Indian tribes who communicated on radios, telephones and telegraph during World Wars I and II. They spoke in their own languages and dialects, many of which were not written down and all of which were indecipherable by enemy forces. Chibitty was among the 17 Comanche code talkers who served throughout the European Theater during World War II with the 4th Signal Company, 4th Infantry Division.

Since there were many military words that had no meaning in the Comanche language, Chibitty and other Soldiers had to invent their own unique military lingo. For example, they used the Comanche word for “turtle” to signify “tank.”

Chibitty saw plenty of fighting during the landings at Utah Beach during the D-Day Normandy invasion in June 1944. He immediately put his skills to use, directing aircraft and naval gunfire to targets and informing other Comanche code breakers at higher headquarters of the tactical situation on the ground and relaying information back to his unit commander.

Chibitty survived the landings and saw a lot more action throughout France and during the Battle of the Bulge. He and his unit were among the first Americans to liberate Paris and later to enter Germany. In addition to code talking, Chibitty became a champion boxer in the Army. Later in life, he became a much acclaimed and prize-winning Comanche war dancer.

The French presented Chibitty and other Comanche code talkers with their second-highest medal for valor, the Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Merite.

In 1999, the Department of Defense recognized Chibitty, who was then 78, and the last surviving member of the Comanche code talkers. He was honored in the Hall of Heroes inside the Pentagon for his extraordinary bravery and achievements.

At the ceremony, he didn’t dwell much on his own combat actions, preferring rather to speak of the achievements of his fellow Comanche code talkers. He recounted the story of one code talker who was wounded in the back with shrapnel. That Soldier refused to be evacuated to the rear and continued to fight and code talk. His wounds were treated and he survived the war. Other Comanche code talkers were wounded as well, but all survived the fighting.

In other news, I went to A's last night and had a blast. He made BLT's for dinner (my favorite!) and I got to play with a 3-4 week old kitten, held an iguana named the igganator (see photos below) we talked, and watched part of Star Wars III. Sadly we did not get to finish it, as I had to be up at the crack of dawn for a 12 hour shift today.

This is a terrible picture of me, but the lizard is cute, and A's not looking to bad either... I really need a digital camera. My camera phone does some wierd shit. Look how red I look, I am not pink at all, I am probably the fairest toned person you'll run into, well other than an albino.

My Mema is going in for surgery on Monday. She has had back problems since she had my mother. It is to the point now that it inhibits her walking. She is in excrutiating pain, so the doctor had her do an MRI, got her in for her appointment two days early, and scheduled her for Surgery Monday... I have taken the day off. I am worried, and would ask for prayers for her. It was around a year ago that she was rushed into emergency surgery for another medical problem that could have claimed her life. I will keep you posted on the details and recovery.

Still no word on my Methods test. I am getting worried. They Usually always have these things posted by Wednesday night... It is now Friday... Oh, it's Friday... I had not even realized until just then. Ha!

I have seaweed/ algae class tomorrow. I think we are just going to areas around here, lakes and ponds, to collect fresh water specimans, then back to the lab to identify and mount. I am not sure though... This class is so wierd, wierd but fun!

Useless fact of the day: The hundred billionth crayon made by Crayola was Perriwinkle blue.

Thought for the day: Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of other's are stiffened.

~Billy Graham

Well folks that is all for now! Blog ya later!

shes_a_sprite @ 10:06 AM.

2 comments

Unknown said...

Thanks for telling us about Charles CHibitty, wow! I never knew of him before this, it's sad to hear that he died.
That iguana is cute! My camera phone is nuts too, just like my webcamera, but my darlin' fiance bought me a nice dig camera and it's in the post. I think you like nice in your pics anway, pink is nice color!
I will be very sure to pray for your grandmother and will check back for updates on her.
Take care!

7:01 PM

Garry Nixon said...

A most excellent post. I'd heard of the Comanche code soldiers, but learned a lot from you today.

Buy a digital camera and join Flickr. You'll have such fun.

My positive energy for Grandma.

2:41 PM