Stone Gardens: PFC Joseph Oklahombi. a Choctaw native, won a Silver Star for bravery while under fire in WWII

Private First Class Joseph Oklahombi was born on May 1, 1895, in Bokchito, Indian Territory (what is now Bryan County). A full-blood Choctaw, he grew up in a time when Native Americans were not yet recognized as U.S. citizens. Despite this, he would go on to become one of Oklahoma’s most decorated World War I veterans.

In October 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France, Oklahombi and 23 fellow soldiers from Company D, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, launched a daring assault on a heavily fortified German position near St. Étienne.

Under heavy fire, he crossed 200 yards of open ground, stormed enemy trenches, and helped capture 171 German soldiers. He and his unit held the position for four days, using captured weapons to repel counterattacks.

For his actions, Oklahombi received the Silver Star and France’s Croix de Guerre. His citation noted his bravery under fire, his role in capturing enemy positions, and his repeated trips across no man’s land to aid wounded comrades.

He was also one of the original Choctaw Code Talkers, using his native language to transmit secure military communications—an early and effective use of unbreakable code in modern warfare.

After the war, Oklahombi returned to Wright City, in McCurtain County. He declined a Hollywood offer to appear in a war film, choosing instead a quiet life of farming, hunting, and family.

In 1940, as the world edged toward another global conflict, he spoke publicly about the need for American preparedness, though he remained personally opposed to war.

On April 13, 1960, Oklahombi was struck and killed by a truck while walking along a road. He was buried with military honors in Yashau Cemetery, a small rural burial ground northwest of Broken Bow in McCurtain County.

The cemetery, in use since at least the early 20th century, serves as a final resting place for many local families and veterans, reflecting the deep roots of the Choctaw and rural communities in the region.

Today, his medals are displayed at the Choctaw Capitol Museum in Tuskahoma. Though he never received the Medal of Honor, efforts continue to secure that recognition posthumously.

His story remains a powerful reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the quiet dignity of a man who served his country with distinction--then returned home to live in peace.