Several members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe who served in World War I are shown in 1917. Photo from Facebook
Six members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine who fought in World War I were finally recognized for their service. Charles Lola, Moses Neptune, Samuel J. Dana, George Stevens Sr., Henry Sockbeson and David Sopiel all volunteered to defend the United States. But they were never honored by their own country even though one of them -- Lola, who died while fighting at the age of 22 -- was posthumously awarded a medal by the French government. "Our veterans went and served in the war, and we couldn’t vote," William J. Nicholas Sr., the chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, told The Bangor Daily News reported. "[Passamaquoddys] weren’t recognized really as citizens of the United States, but yet we carried that and we fought for the country and fought for the people and fought for their rights.” The families of the six men, who either were wounded or died during the war, were presented with a Silver Star Medal from the U.S. The tribe gave each family a decorated eagle feather during a ceremony in front of the Indian Township offices. The six were among the many tribal soldiers whose military service was featured in a film made possible by the Passamaquoddy Historical Preservation Office [Part 1 | Part 2]. In all, 25 tribal members served in World War I, The Quoddy Tides reported. Get the Story:
Nearly 100 years later, Passamaquoddy Army veterans honored for service (The Bangor Daily News 7/19)
WWI veterans from tribe to be recognized (The Quoddy Tides 7/8)
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