--- title: "6 interesting facts about American Indians in the US military" description: "As a people, American Indians are disproportionately dedicated to the defense of the United States; yet, they don't always get a fair shake." date: "2021-03-03" modified: "2021-03-04" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-life/american-indians-in-the-us-military/" categories: - "Army" - "History" --- # 6 interesting facts about American Indians in the US military ![]() America's first warriors are also the first to defend America. As a people, American Indians are disproportionately dedicated to the defense of the United States; yet, as it has been pointed out many times, [they don't always get a fair shake.]() ### Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzHtM_6JfJA But they deserve our respect. Our warrior culture starts with their warrior culture. No other group in America gave so many of their own as selflessly. ### 1. American Indians enlist in wildly disproportionate numbers. During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Natives were 1.7 percent of the U.S. military, more than [twice their population proportion of the entire United States](), which is .8 percent. ![]() During WWII, the War Department estimated that if every racial segment of the American population enlisted like Native Americans did, they [wouldn't have needed a draft](). ### 2. They served in greater numbers than any other group since the founding of America. Per capita, more American Indians serve than any other ethnic group. This includes during World War I, when [they weren't even citizens of the United States](). ![]() Depending on which state they were in, some tribal members [weren't able to vote until 1957](). ### 3. American Indians claim 27 Medal of Honor recipients. Recipients include legendary Marine Corps fighter ace and original Flying Tigers pilot "Pappy" Boyington. ![]() The first American Indian Medal of Honor was awarded to Co-Rux-Te-Chod-Ish, a Pawnee scout accidentally killed by his own unit. They then [spelled his name wrong]() on his award citation. ### 4. One of the Iwo Jima flag raisers was an American Indian. He was one of the six men photographed by Joe Rosenthal on Iwo Jima. Many know this story from Clint Eastwood's film "Flags of Our Fathers." Johnny Cash sang a song about him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdNV9JX-Xi8 ### 5. Unlike other Vietnam vets, American Indians were welcomed back as heroes. Call it a true "warrior culture." Despite the ongoing anti-war protests, whenever American Indians in the U.S. military returned home from Vietnam they were [welcomed as warriors](). ![]() Some Vietnam vets were spit on and called "baby killers," even if they were drafted. While 90 percent of American Indians who fought in Vietnam were volunteers, their people still welcomed them back. ### 6. The first American Indian female to die in combat was killed in Iraq. Lori Piestewa of Arizona was from the Hopi tribe. She was killed by Iraqi forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. She died in the ambush in which Jessica Lynch's unit was captured. ![]() She was wounded in the head near Nasiriyah and died from her wounds due to poor electricity in Iraqi civilian hospitals. Arizona's Squaw Peak was renamed Piestewa Peak in her honor. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()