Remove the Medals

PIERRE – Last week, both Native American and non-Native lawmakers introduced a bill to rescind the twenty Medals of Honor to the military men in action at the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890.

This bill named the Remove the Stain Act was introduced by Representatives Danny Heck (D – Washington), Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico), Sharice Davids, (D-Kansas) and Paul Cook (R-California).

The Wounded Knee Massacre took place on the morning of Dec. 29, 1890 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The event occurred following the alleged attempt to disarm a small camp of Mniconjou and Hunkpapa Lakota who were attempting to reach Chief Red Cloud following the death of Chief Sitting Bull.

The version of events has not been confirmed as many who were present on the morning of the massacre were among the three hundred (thereabouts) men, women and children killed during the massacre. Once the first shots were fired, eyewitness accounts state the victims began to run for cover in the ravine near Wounded Knee Creek. Four mountain Hotchkiss guns were used during the massacre, as well as military men on horseback and on foot to chase down and confirm the deaths of the Lakota.

What occurred at the Wounded Knee Massacre has been a source of mourning, confusion, depression and pain for several generations. The event has led to a cross-generational trauma which has led to symptoms experienced during the aftermath of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Many Lakota feel they are survivors of a government which designed and implemented ways of killing the culture by killing the individuals; thus opening up lands for settlement. These survivors have not forgotten the massacre and want to right the wrongs and remove the stain on America left by the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Support for The Removed the Stain Act has come in from all directions. The descendants of massacre victims and survivors have worked alongside lawmakers and have made pleas to many around the country seeking support for their movement. They also want to remove the stain on the Medal of Honor which is the highest honor given to enlisted individuals. This award is given to the best of the best, which have made decisions to save lives and protect the United States. This award was not meant to be in the hands of persons who committed murder of innocents, or massacres of unarmed persons.

Rep. Cook is a Representative in a state which recently apologized to California Indians for their mistreatment during colonial times. In a press release, Rep. Cook said, “The massacre at Wounded Knee was nothing less than a slaughter of Native Americans. No reading of the criteria for actions meriting a Medal of Honor – either historical or modern – can lead one to believe the United States should have awarded these twenty medals,” he said. “The contemporary citations for these twenty individuals are nonspecific acts of gallantry. I view it as vague language meant to cover up a slaughter, and I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation to correct the record.”

Rep. Cook was referring to the language used to justify the medals given to the twenty individuals in the list below. Awardees were recognized for being gallant, for their bravery, chasing and killing individuals taking shelter in a ravine, and rescuing wounded soldiers in an alleged fight with a group with was made up of half women and children.

The following individuals were awarded the Medal of Honor for their part in the Wounded Knee Massacre:

1. Sergeant William Austin (Calvary) – directed fire at Indians in ravine
2. Private Mosheim Feaster (Calvary) – extraordinary gallantry
3. Private Mathew Hamilton (Calvary) – bravery in action
4. Joshua Hartzog (Artillery) – rescuing commanding officer who was wounded and carried him out of range of hostile guns
5. Private Marvin Hillock (Calvary) – distinguished bravery
6. Sergeant Bernhard Jetter (Calvary) – “killing an Indian who was in the act of killing a wounded man of B Troop”
7. Sergeant George Loyd (Calvary) – bravery after having been severely wounded through the lung
8. Sergeant Albert McMillain (Calvary) – while engaged with Indians concealed in a ravine, he assisted the men on the skirmish line, directed their fire, encouraged them by example, and used every effort to dislodge the enemy
9. Private Thomas Sullivan (Calvary) – conspicuous bravery in action against Indians concealed in a ravine
10. First Sergeant Jacob Trautman (Calvary) – killed a hostile Indian at close quarters, and, although close to retirement from service, remained to close the campaign
11. Sergeant James Ward (Calvary) – continued to fight after being severely wounded
12. Corporal William Wilson (Calvary) – bravery in Sioux Campaign, 1890
13. Private Hermann Ziegner (Calvary) – conspicuous bravery
14. Musician John Clancy (Artillery) – twice voluntarily rescued wounded comrades under fire of the enemy
15. Lieutenant Earnest Garlington (Calvary) – distinguished gallantry
16. First Lieutenant John Chowning Gresham (Calvary) – voluntarily led a party into a ravine to dislodge Sioux Indians concealed therein, wounded during this action
17. Second Lieutenant Harry Hawthorne (Artillery) – distinguished conduct in battle with hostile Indians
18. Private George Hobday (Calvary) – conspicuous and gallant conduct in battle
19. First Sergeant Frederick Toy (Calvary) – bravery
20. Corporal Paul Weinert (Artillery) – taking the place of his commanding officer who had fallen severely wounded, gallantly served his piece, after each fire advancing it to a better position

Like many proponents of the bill, Rep. Cook feels the Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious military award and should be given to those service members who perform acts of “tremendous valor”. Rep. Cook goes on to say, “By allowing twenty individuals to retain Medals of Honor for the massacre at Wounded Knee, we dishonor every deserving Medal of Honor Recipient. This bill will correct the honor roll of awardees, rescinding the medals from the twenty individuals.”

During the time of Wounded Knee, South Dakota was still part of the untamed territory of the forming United States. The military was continuing its campaign of the Indian Wars. Wounded Knee took the lives of three hundred individuals and allegedly ended this dark part of American history.

Three hundred men, women, children and elders unknowingly sacrificed their lives for the freedom of American Indians for generations to come. Their lives have not been forgotten and this tragic day in history will never be forgiven by the descendants of victims and survivors. Wounded Knee is a symbol of the hate felt by many Native American tribal members who have had their own people killed in horrific ways. Many of these tales of murder and massacre remain hidden in the memories of the deceased.

Rep. Cook said, “While we can never undo the actions on that day, December 29, 1890, we owe it to the descendants of the Lakota Sioux and to the native peoples in general to make amends wherever possible. I thank my colleagues for joining me in introducing this legislation and hope that the House of Representatives will take action as soon as possible.”

Alongside descendants and supporters of the bill was Marcella LeBeau (1^st Lieutenant) who served in World War II in the Army Nurse Corps. LeBeau has been a proponent of The Remove The Stain Act and has been active fighting for the rights of Native Americans and supporter of programs related to the medical field, in particular, nursing.

Both Rep. Cook and LeBeau are decorated veterans. Cook has been given the Bronze Star Medals with “V” device and as well as two Purple Hearts. LeBeau has been awarded The French Legion of Honor. Marcella LeBeau is part of  the delegation who went to Washington DC last week; along with Oliver “OJ” Semans USN – Veteran, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Manny Iron Hawk – Chairman of HAWK 1890 (Heartbeat and Wounded Knee), Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Phyllis Hollow Horn – Oglala Sioux Tribal Member.

The Stain of Removal Act, if passed, would begin a healing needed for the Lakota bands.

(Contact Native Sun News Today Correspondent Richie Richards at richie4175@gmail.com)

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