The original Nazi flag, captured by Garfield T. Brown, is held by Richard Brown and Aliyah Pond. Photo by Richie Richards

Lakota Code Talker captured Nazi flag
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Staff Writer

PINE RIDGE –– When Garfield T. Brown volunteered for the Army at Fort Crook, Neb. in 1942, he did not realize he would play such a pivotal role in World War II and bring back an original flag of the Nazis captured in Aachen, Germany in 1944.

The Oglala Lakota soldier, and all 128 pounds of him, served in many conflicts during WWII; including North Africa, Omaha Beach, Normandy, Belgium, and the Battle of the Bulge.

Garfield Thomas Brown, Sr. Mato He Che Cha, 1924-2001. Photo from Geni

The family of Garfield T. Brown did not know the extent of his service during World War II. The humble “radio man” would share stories sporadically with his 11 children, Elgin, Rosiland, Fred, Lester, Dorothy, Bonnie, Serena, Doreen, Garfield Jr., Harold, Richard and wife Zona Wilcox.

It was not until Brown passed away on Jan. 5, 2000, when his youngest son, Richard, began to probe through his personal papers and found a “Warrior’s Award” presented by the Hot Springs VA Domiciliary to Garfield Brown on Apr. 24, 1996, “in honor of your service in World War II as a Sioux Code Talker.”

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(Contact Richie Richards at staffwriter@nsweekly.com)

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