It started out when an officer overheard a conversation between two Choctaw soldiers during World War I. That turned into a language code that helped end the war and save lives.
Now, 90 years later, the Texas Military Forces honored families of the first U.S. code talkers with an exhibit at the museum at Camp Mabry.
Less well known than the Navajo Code Talkers in the Pacific during World War II, the Choctaws pioneered the U.S. military’s use of a Native American language to baffle enemy code-breakers.
"Everybody talks about the Navajos and the Comanches in World War II, but they forget that the Choctaw were the first ones," Betty Ketcheshawno of the Choctaw Nation said.
During World War I, Native Americans were not considered U.S. citizens, but 10,000 served regardless. The Choctaw soldiers became communicators for the military, using Choctaw in place of military terms.
"The codes were getting broken. The lines were getting tapped by the Germans and the code talkers brought a security to the forces because the Germans couldn't break their language," Sgt. Jason Colbert said.
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Choctaw Code Talkers
The Texas Military Forces honored the very first U.S. Army code talkers.
 
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Sixteen soldiers were members of the 143rd Infantry Regiment and two were members of the 141st Infantry Regiment, both part of the Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division.
While on the western front in France, an officer overheard two Choctaw soldiers talking to each other in their own language. Since American units had suffered losses because the Germans were able to listen to their radio and telephone conversations, the thought struck him that none of the Germans would understand the Choctaws’ language.
Eighteen Choctaws were quickly trained to become communicators. They developed a code that used Choctaw words for certain military terms and were assigned to different headquarters. During the German’s major 1918 offensive in the Meuse-Argonne region, their communications resulted in a successful counterattack against the Germans, whose offensive – their last – ultimately failed.
Their families were honored Sunday at Camp Mabry with the Lone Star Medal of Valor, and an exhibit showcasing the brave men who cut the war short and saved lives. Families of the code talkers say recognition has been a long time coming.
"Having this exhibit open is just wonderful. It's a beautiful thing to have my tribe recognized for all their hard work," Sgt. Jason Colbert said. "If my grandfather were still alive I think he would love to see this and the Choctaw people being recognized for all their hard work."
Lt. Gen. Charles G. Rodriguez presented 18 Lone Star Medals of Valor to the families of the Choctaw Code Talkers. The Lone Star Medal of Valor is the second-highest decoration awarded by Texas Military Forces.
