James Paddlety, Jr.
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Kiowa Code Talker

James Paddlety, Jr. was the son of James and Annie Blackbear Paddlety.

Paddlety entered the U.S. Army on 22 November 1940. He served in the European Theater of Operations from 13 December 1944 to 26 October 1945 as a Heavy Machine Gunner.

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.

Medals and Awards

Good Conduct Medal
American Theater Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars
World War II Victory Medal

He was also awarded the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Honors

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

PFC James Paddlety, Jr. died on 22 November 1973. He is buried at Red Stone Cemetery in Anadarko, Caddo 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.