Native Americans: America's Natives Published Dec. 2, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Paula St. Hill 90th Force Support Squadron F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Native Americans have dedicated their lives to this country. Native Americans were not granted citizenship for many years after they began serving the United States. Many men and woman such as the Navajo Code Talkers, Ely Samuel Parker, Elva Tapedo Wale and Ola Mildred Rexroat have done many important things in the military. To honorably serve in the U.S. military means to serve with strength, bravery, pride and wisdom. These same characteristics match those of Native American warriors. Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924, but they heroically served in the military throughout World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and have continued to serve ever since. The Navajo Code Talkers transmitted and translated codes during World War II. No enemy was ever able to break their codes. The code talkers' method of breaking codes was to first hear a string of unrelated Navajo words, then they would translate the Navajo words into English, and then they used only the first letter of the English translation to spell out the coded message. Parker was the first Native American to hold a federal office. He was in the militia during the civil war and was awarded the rank of captain in June 1863, to which he was appointed to be an assistant adjunct general. Parker was later commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. cavalry in 1866, and in 1868 he became a commissioner. Parker passed on August 30, 1895. During World War II, about 800 Native American women served in the military, Wale being one of them. She was a Kiowa and from an Oklahoma reservation. Wale joined the Women's Army Corps where she was named Private Tapedo, and later, she served as an "Air WIC." Wale worked at Army Air Bases across the U.S. During the 1950s and the 1960s, fewer women joined the military; however, Rexroat decided to serve. She was of the Oglala Sioux tribe and came from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota. Rexroat became a member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots immediately after high school and was responsible for towing targets for aerial gunnery students at Eagle Pass Army Air Base, Texas -- a dangerous responsibility she said she enjoyed because she was able to contribute to the war effort in a meaningful way. The Native American always stands ready when needed by his or her country. Native Americans have fought many battles of their own, as well as having fought many battles alongside other American citizens. Without the strength, bravery, pride and wisdom possessed by the Navajo Code Talkers, Parker, Wale and Rexroat, the U.S. might not be what it is today.