Overview:
From the legendary Code Talkers of World War II to today’s Native service members, Native American veterans carry forward a proud tradition of courage, sacrifice, and protecting their communities, tribal nations, and country.
Opinion
On Veterans Day, communities throughout Indian Country come together to honor the thousands of Native American and Alaska Native men and women who have served—and continue to serve—in the U.S. Armed Forces. Native Americans have a long and distinguished history of military service, enlisting at rates that exceed those of any other racial or ethnic group in the nation.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, approximately 19% of Native Americans have served in the military, compared with about 14% of other ethnic groups. From the Revolutionary War to today’s military operations, Native people have answered the call to serve, often drawing on deeply rooted cultural traditions of courage, responsibility, community, and protecting their ancestral homelands.
More than 150,000 Native American veterans currently live in the United States, representing communities across 575 federally recognized tribes. Their legacy spans generations, from the legendary Code Talkers of World Wars I and II, who used Indigenous languages to transmit secure military communications, to Native service members who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts around the world.
During World War II, approximately 44,000 Native Americans served in the U.S. military. Among them were nearly 400 Navajo Code Talkers, whose use of their language to create an unbreakable communications system played a critical role in Allied operations throughout the Pacific. In the Vietnam War, an estimated 42,000 Native Americans served, many despite facing discrimination and barriers to full recognition of their citizenship and rights.
For many Native veterans, military service represents more than a commitment to the United States. It is also an expression of cultural identity and a continuation of warrior traditions that existed long before the nation’s founding. Service is deeply connected to the responsibility to protect family, community, tribal nations, and ancestral lands.
Despite their significant contributions, Native American veterans have historically encountered challenges accessing VA health care, housing assistance, and other earned benefits. Efforts to address these disparities have gained greater attention in recent years. In 2020, the dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., provided a permanent national tribute to the service and sacrifices of Native veterans.
Across Indian Country, Veterans Day is observed through ceremonies, parades, traditional songs, dances, prayers, and community gatherings. These celebrations recognize veterans not only for their military service but also for the enduring roles they play as protectors, leaders, and cultural representatives within their communities.
As drums echo across tribal nations and communities gather to honor those who have served, one truth remains unmistakable: Native American military service is a legacy deeply rooted in culture, identity, courage, and an enduring commitment to protecting the people and lands they call home.
This Veterans Day, we honor all Native American and Alaska Native veterans, past and present, and recognize the sacrifices of their families and communities. Their service deserves to be remembered, respected, and celebrated every day.
