John T. Tsatoke
Private, U.S. Army
Kiowa Code Talker

Tsatoke enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, OK, on 17 February 1942. He had three years of high school and at the time of his enlistment was single and working as a farm hand. He served in the European Theater of Operations from 9 July 1944 to 30 November 1945 as a Cannoneer.

During World War II, three Kiowas, Private First Class Leonard Cozad, Sr., Private First Class James Paddlety, Jr., and Private John Tsatoke were either assigned, or attached to, the 689th Field Artillery Battalion, XX Corps, under Generals Walker and Patton in the Third Army. These soldiers, called Code Talkers, used their language for communication transmissions. Although no formal training or encoding was used, the periodic use of such battlefield communications undoubtedly helped to minimize the danger of successful enemy interception.

PVT Tsatoke received his honorable discharge on 7 December 1945.

Medals and Awards

Good Conduct Medal
American Theater Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars
World War II Victory Medal

He was also awarded the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Honors

Tsatoke was awarded (posthumously) the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal on 1 January 1998.

On 15 October 2008, PFC Leonard Cozad, Sr., Private First Class James Paddlety, Jr., and Private John Tsatoke, who were used as Code Talkers by the 689th Field Artillery Battalion, XX Corps, during World War II, were awarded (posthumously) the Kiowa Tribe Congressional Gold Medal, one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States. It is awarded to persons "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement."

Death and Burial

Private John T. Tsatoke died on 2 November 1989. He is buried at Saddle Mountain KCA Intertribal Cemetery in Mountain View, Kiowa County, OK.

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. Photo is courtesy of SMG Asepermy.