Edmond Harjo facts for kids
Edmond Andrew Harjo (November 24, 1917 – March 31, 2014) was an American Seminole Code Talker during World War II. Code Talkers were special soldiers who used their native languages to send secret messages. This made it very hard for the enemy to understand what they were saying.
Harjo served in important battles like the Normandy landings and the Battle of the Bulge. He was the last surviving Code Talker from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. On November 20, 2013, many Native American tribes were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal. This is the highest award a civilian can get from the United States Congress. Edmond Harjo was the only living Code Talker there. He received a silver medal, which was a copy of the gold one given to his tribe.
Early Life and Education
Edmond Harjo was born in Maud, Oklahoma, on November 24, 1917. His mother was Yanna (Grant) Harjo, and his father was Tony Harjo. Edmond lived near Maud and Seminole, Oklahoma, for most of his life.
He went to Seminole High School. After high school, he continued his education. He earned both his first degree and a master's degree from Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City.
Serving His Country
Edmond Harjo and his brothers joined the United States Army during World War II. Harjo was part of the U.S. Army's 195th Field Artillery Battalion. He fought alongside his brothers in Normandy, France, in 1944. This was during the D-Day landings, a huge invasion that helped turn the tide of the war. He also served in the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, which was a major battle in Europe.
In 1944, while in France, Edmond Harjo heard another U.S. soldier singing in the Muscogee language. This language is also known as Muscogee. An army captain overheard them talking in their native language. The captain quickly realized how useful this could be. He put both soldiers to work, sending messages over the army's radio.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner later shared this story. He told it at the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for Harjo in 2013. Harjo's messages were spoken in the Seminole language. This made it almost impossible for the Axis (the enemy forces) to understand them. Harjo soon became a trained Seminole Code Talker. He used his native language to keep Allied communications secret during the war.
For his important work as a Code Talker, he received a silver Service star. He also earned a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. These awards recognized his service during the war.
Life After the War
After his military service, Edmond Harjo became a teacher. He taught in several schools, including Maud Public Schools, Justice Schools, and the Pickett Center school in Ada, Oklahoma. He taught for many years, helping many students.
He was also a church elder at the Achena Presbyterian Church. His father, Tony Harjo, had founded this church in 1884 in Maud, Oklahoma.
His Final Years
Edmond Harjo passed away from a heart attack on March 31, 2014. He was 96 years old. He died at Mercy Hospital in Ada, Oklahoma. At the time of his death, he was the last living Seminole Code Talker.
Edmond Harjo never married. He is remembered by his nieces and nephews. His funeral was held on April 1, 2014, in Seminole, Oklahoma. He was buried at the Seminole Nation Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Seminole, Oklahoma.
