By Tawsha Brinkley-Davenport
Up until the late 20th century the Choctaw code talkers were slowly becoming lost to history.
Corporal Calvin Wilson of Eagletown, Oklahoma. (Contributed photo.)
Many didn’t realize the contributions these few men made to help defeat the German army during WWI.
One of those famed Code Talkers was Corporal Calvin Wilson from Eagletown. Wilson isn’t as well-known as some of the other soldiers, but his grandson David Wilson would like to help to change that and for people to know about the bravery and courage with which his grandfather served his country.
Calvin Wilson and his fellow soldiers were present during the Meuse-Argonne Campaign of 1918. This was when the German Army broke the Allied communication codes. This made it possible for the German army to monitor American radio and telephone transmissions. The American army knew they immediately needed to secure this, or they would risk losing the war.
“It just so happened that a soldier overheard two Choctaw soldiers speaking in their Native language,” said David Wilson.
Soon after, the idea struck the American Army to use their Choctaw language as a means of communication. Choctaw-coded words were soon developed to use and were successfully transmitted by the Choctaw field telephone operators, (the code talkers) making it nearly impossible for the German Army to decode the messages.
Because of these actions, it led to a major success at the battles at St. Etienne and Ferme Forest areas of France. This helped to contribute to the end of WWI.
Calvin Wilson was a member of the 142nd Infantry Company E. Wilson and some of his fellow soldiers were sent from Camp Bowie in Texas to France. The code talkers were in the 141, 142E, and 142D Infantry Regiments of the 36 Infantry Division of WWI.
“I learned about my grandfather’s service in the fourth or fifth grade. We knew, of course, about his service, but we didn’t realize the depth of it. He never talked about it. The other code talkers, from what I have learned from other family members of those, didn’t talk much about their service as well,” said Wilson.
Wilson noticed that it seemed to him it wasn’t until the code talkers had passed away that people started talking about their service.
The code talkers originated from several areas of Oklahoma. Researchers have discovered today there were 20 Choctaw Native Americans who served as code talkers. Of the 20, seven were from McCurtain County.
The known code talkers from the county were Robert Bond, Wright City; James Edward, Glover; Robert Taylor, Idabel; Noel Johnson, Smithville; Joseph Oklahombi, Wright City; Soloman Louis, Hochatown and Wilson.
“An interesting fact I learned was that all 20 of them wanted to serve their country. Each of them enlisted. But at the time, none of them were considered United States citizens,” said Wilson.
About one-fourth of Native Americans during this period of history were not counted as citizens of the U.S.
“But they were enlisting to defend their homeland, and they were not even considered citizens at the time,” Wilson.
This week marks the 101st anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924.
“We are at a very important anniversary at this time for all Native Americans. My grandfather fought for his homeland, and it wasn’t until six years after WWI ended that the Native American code talkers were finally recognized as citizens of the homeland they fought to defend. I think about that a lot. I think about how they were so brave to enlist and defend their homeland without even being considered citizens,” said Wilson.
The act of 1924 is better known as the Snyder Act. It granted citizenship to all of the Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States. President Calvin Coolidge signed it into law June 2, 1924.
“I believe President Calvin Coolidge wanted to recognize them and the other tribes after the war. They were all born here and he recognized their bravery,” said Wilson.
According to the act, it was indeed part of the legislation to recognize the thousands of Native Americans that served during WWI, but it not only focused on the code talkers.
Wilson’s life after the war
Calvin Wilson was born on September 25, 1895. He was the son of David and Wicey Wilson.
Wilson is pictured with his grandchildren after retiring from military service. (Contributed photo.)
“On some of my grandfather’s military records it lists him as ‘Cabin,’ Wilson. On his enlistment paper it appears to look like ‘Cobin.’ But that was an error, his name was Calvin,” said David Wilson.
At the end of the war, Wilson was awarded the Episcopal Church War Cross “for his service in transmitting and receiving telephone messages in his native tongue.”
Calvin Wilson returned to Eagletown after the war. He joined his wife Cornelia Ward to raise his three sons, Grant, James and Randall. After the passing of his first wife, he raised his stepsons with his second wife.
Wilson continued to serve his community after the war.
He had previously donated land in Panki Boi to erect the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, outside of Eagletown.
“The original site of the church was in another spot than where it is today. He was incredibly supportive of the church. Church was always important to him,” said David Wilson.
There isn’t very much information available about his life just after the war. In the 1920 census he is listed as farming, while in the 1930 census he is listed as a laborer in a sawmill. In a later census his occupation isn’t listed.
“In later years I know he suffered from bronchial problems, possibly why no other occupations were known,” said Wilson.
David Wilson fondly remembers when his grandfather would come to visit his parents and siblings in Muskogee during the early 1970s.
“He would come to visit during the summers. My grandfather didn’t speak much. But my father and him would sit and converse with one another in the Choctaw language. I thought that was neat. During his visits he would give my sibling and I, there were seven of us, one dollar bill apiece. He told us we could only spend a dime a day. We had it all spent in three days. We could buy a lot with a dollar in those days.
Wilson commented that his grandfather enjoyed those visits as well as all of his family.
“After my grandfather’s second wife passed away, he moved to the Bethel and Battiest area to be near his son Grant. Uncle Grant stayed with him until he passed away,” said Wilson.
Calvin Wilson passed away February 8, 1972 and is buried in the cemetery across from the Panki Boi church.
All three of Calvin’s sons followed his lead into the military – Randall, James and Grant.
“Grant was known as one of the most decorated soldiers in the county,” said Wilson.
David’s father James became a paratrooper and was awarded his Gold Wings for over 50 jumps.
“Code talkers weren’t able, I don’t think, to talk about some of their service. One reason is that I feel we have limited knowledge of his time there. But then another reason, my grandfather was like, he was thankful he did it all. But it was done. There was no reason to talk about it anymore. They didn’t always talk about their escapades or battles. Growing up as a child and understanding what he accomplished didn’t mean too much to me. But as I grew up, I began to think about his history. I wish I had talked to him during his summer visits about the war then. I often wonder to myself what stories he might have shared. I think about the time they all served and how faithful they were to their country.”
Recognitions for code talkers
“When I was in college during 1989, officials from France came to the Oklahoma State Capitol and for the first time the Choctaw code talkers were officially recognized by another country,” said Wilson.
The French government presented the Choctaw Nation with the “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite (Knight of National Order of Merit) in recognition of their crucial role during World War I.
“I remember that day vividly with my two uncles and the pride I had of the code talkers being recognized,” said Wilson.
In 2008 the Code Talkers Recognition Act was passed, which led to the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to all of the Native American Code Talkers.
The United States recognized the code talkers officially in 2013.
“It took them that long for their own country to recognize them,” said Wilson.
He believes one reason for their being recognized at that time was because of the Nicolas Cage movie “Windtalkers,” bringing the code talkers into the limelight, to a bigger audience.
“In the movie, Cage is a Navajo code talker which many believe were the first code talkers, but the Choctaws came first,” said Wilson.
A special honor was bestowed on November 20, 2013, when Calvin Wilson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor along with the other Code Talkers, including the Seminole, Comanche, Navajo and Cherokee tribes.
“The Choctaw Nation helped to advocate for that,” said Wilson.
Calvin Wilson’s oldest granddaughter accepted the award.
“We all attended the ceremony. There were 33 different tribes in attendance from across the country. It was really something, seeing them all together. It was impressive for all of them to be a part of the ceremony,” said Wilson.
His congressional medal is in a museum in Oklahoma.
In 2018 it marked the 100-year anniversary of the first Choctaw code talkers. During this time the Choctaw Code Talkers Association helped to bring to fruition the bridge project to light.
This project made it possible for 23 bridges from Antlers to McCurtain County to be named in honor of a code talker.
“The bridge near Eagletown that crosses the Luksuklo Creek is named after Calvin Wilson,” said Michael Poole, Eagletown historian.
Most recently the Choctaw Nation unveiled a new bronze sculpture honoring the World War I Code Talkers at the Choctaw Cultural Center at Durant in May 2025.
The sculpture is six feet by eight inches and eight feet wide. The artist is Jane Semple.
“It is impressive. I appreciate all the Choctaw Nation does in honoring the code talkers,” said David Wilson.
Wilson honors his grandfather
“I feel a great sense of pride about my grandfather, as do my siblings and cousins. It is a great sense of pride we all share. I enjoy sharing my grandfather’s story.
Wilson attends code talker events where other family members meet up to talk about their shared history.
“It’s fun being able to visit with one another,” said Wilson.
Wilson honors the code talkers by introducing them to students, groups and churches wherever he visits to speak.
“I am a Methodist Bishop of the Great Plains Annual Conference. I am over 700 churches in Kansas and Missouri. That gives me a wonderful opportunity to visit with a lot of people and share the code talker story,” said Wilson.
After the ceremony in Washington D.C., the Choctaw Nation provided medal duplicates to award family members.
“I take mine along with a little comic book someone wrote about the code talkers to share with others when I visit. The students I just visited with they enjoyed learning more about this history,” said Wilson.
Looking forward
Wilson would like to see the church at Panki Boi preserved. The denomination still owns the property.
“It would be really nice if the church could be saved. Then possibly in the future, a historical marker be placed in honor of my grandfather.”
Wilson estimates the church hasn’t been used for about 25 years.
“For many years the caretaker was Mildred Ashalintubbi. She helped to care for it. But sadly, she passed away several years ago. None of my family lives there anymore that can care for it. When we used to go down to visit, we would mow and try to work on it a little bit, like fixing places to keep the rain out, repairing a broken window, that sort of maintenance,” said Wilson.
Kenny Sivard, president of the McCurtain County Historical Society, said it is possible to place a monument marker at the site of the church, the only problem being it would require funding.
“I would love to see it saved and something done with it. There has been an effort over the years to repair the church, but nothing major enough to make a real difference. A plaque is a possibility for the church and for Calvin Wilson. A state historical marker could indeed be erected there. The cost though would be approximately $2,500,” said Sivard.
With enough interest perhaps a fundraiser could be organized.
Calvin Wilson had previously donated land in Panki Boi to erect the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, outside of Eagletown. Wilson is buried in the graveyard across from the church. The church itself is now in desperate need of repairs. To have the church declared an historical site would cost approximately $2500, according to local historian Kenny Sivard. (Contributed photo.)
“Preserving it with a marker would be a wonderful tribute to my grandfather. These 20 young men, some of whom their parents had to sign for them to be enlisted, were instrumental in winning WWI. Our Choctaw people and all of us are very proud of what they accomplished. People ask me all of the time, ‘as bad as this country has treated Native Americans at that time and before, why would he ever want to serve in a war fighting for it?’ Simple answer, it is because he wanted to preserve and protect his homeland.
“To date, I have researched, more Native Americans have participated in more wars than any other. That is really something to think about, that sense of pride and service,” added Wilson.
