Meech Tahsequah
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force

Meech Tahsequah was born on 27 October 1918, the son of Charley Komah (AKA Tahsequah) and Mable Sapcut Craig. His foster parents were Charles and Vera Komah of Walters, OK, and he entered the service from Walters.

On 14 July 1941, Tahsequah became the first Comanche to enlist into the US Army Air Forces as an Air Cadet. He trained as a pilot at Tarrant Field Airdrome, Fort Worth, TX, with the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command for B-24 Liberator and B-26 Marauder Bombers. After his training he was assigned to the 376th Bombardment Group, known as the “Liberandos” and based in Egypt. They focused on destroying enemy airfield and port facilities along Axis supply lines between Italy and North Africa. Long-range raids were then made against oil refineries, marshaling yards and ordinance factories in Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.

On 1 August 1943, the 376th Bombardment Group participated in one of the most daring raids in the war; Operation Tidal Wave, a raid against Ploiesti, Romania’s nine oil refineries that were furnishing petroleum-based fuel to the Axis powers. The bombing run was made at treetop level. With 53 aircraft and 660 aircrew lost, it was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday." Five Medals of Honor and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to crew members participating in Operation Tidal Wave. Tahsequah was the recipient of one of the DFCs after successfully returning his B-24D Liberator bomber and crew to its base in Libya.

Following the liberation of North Africa in late 1943, the 376th moved to San Pancrazio, Italy, where they participated in an accelerated campaign against Axis targets in southern Europe and the Balkans. Sorties extended as far a Vienna, Austria, and Regenburg, Germany. The 376th destroyed 220 enemy aircraft during aerial combat, lost 169 aircraft and suffered 1,179 causalities. Lt Col Tahsequah flew 31 combat missions totaling over 300 combat hours. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross three times and also received three Purple Hearts for wounds he sustained.

In Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Tahsequah was a member of the 3rd Maintenance Squadron, U.S. Air Force. On 6 December 1950, he was a passenger in a B-26B Invader bomber assigned to the 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group. The aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed 30 miles north of Susa, Korea. The crew bailed out. The Navigator, Capt Jack Lewis, who bailed out said, “Tahsequah and the other crewmember, SSgt Claude McFee also bailed out before crashing.” It was thought at one time that Lt Col Tahsequah was a prisoner of war as his name was mentioned by North Korean propaganda. Capt Lewis was rescued on 21 May 1951. Tahsequah was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 28 February 1954.

His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
American Defense Medal
American Theater Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal with Service Star
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Senior Pilot Badge

Honors

In March 2012, the Comanche Nation and Comanche Indian Veterans Association (CIVA) honored the memory of Lt Col Tahsequah by presenting his daughter, Paula Neubauer, with a framed photo and bio of her father and a Numu Pukutsi citation along with the Honorable Service, Combat Service and Gallantry, Heroism, Valor Medallions and Veterans Gift Bag.

There is always hope that one day Lt Col Tahsequah's body will be recovered and returned to Comanche Country. Until then the Comanche Indian Veterans Association has dedicated the area around the large U.S. and Comanche Nation flagpoles in front of the HQ's entrance in Lt Col Tahsequah's honor and memory, as Tahsequah Garden. The POW/MIA flag will also fly below the US flag until he comes home. On the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action emblem the words “You are not forgotten” are inscribed. CIVA will ensure that the Comanche Nation honors those words and the memory of this Numu Pukutsi. *

* Numu Pukutsi

Twenty known Comanches have been decorated for Gallantry, Heroism and Valor, or have fought and killed the enemy in Hand to Hand Combat; they have carried on the tradition of the Numu Pukutsi of old.

This Honoree Record was prepared with the valuable assistance of Lanny G. Asepermy, Sergeant Major, U.S. Army (Ret.) [Honoree Record ID 227117], Historian for the Comanche Indian Veterans Association in Lawton, OK. Photos are courtesy of SMG Asepermy and the Comanche Nation Museum.