Levi Oakes facts for kids

Louis Levi Oakes (born January 23, 1925 – died May 28, 2019) was a Canadian-born Mohawk code talker. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He was also a member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation. Louis Levi Oakes was the very last living Mohawk code talker.

Louis Oakes' Early Life and War Service

Louis Levi Oakes was born on January 23, 1925. His birthplace was on the Quebec side of the Akwesasne Reserves. These reserves are special because they are located across Quebec, Ontario, and New York.

Before joining the army, Oakes worked as a steel worker. He lived and worked in Buffalo, New York. In 1944, he decided to join the United States Army.

During World War II, Oakes was a special kind of soldier called a "code talker." Code talkers used their native languages to send secret messages. This made it very hard for enemies to understand what they were saying. Oakes served with the 442nd Signal Heavy Construction Battalion. He helped in important places like Western New Guinea and Luzon, Philippines. After the war ended, he also helped with the occupation of Japan. He finished his military service in 1946.

Life After World War II

After the war, Louis Oakes went back to his job as a steel worker. He worked on big construction projects in cities like Buffalo and New York City. He spent about 30 years working in Buffalo.

Later, Oakes returned to the Akwesasne Reserves. There, he worked on road construction projects. He helped with the equipment used to build roads.

Louis Levi Oakes passed away on May 28, 2019. He died in Snye, Quebec, which is part of the Akwesasne community.

Family and Special Recognition

Louis Oakes was married and had 10 children. His brother, Sam Oakes, also served in the Pacific War. They were stationed not far from each other.

For his brave service, Louis Oakes received a very important award. He was given the Silver Star. This medal is given for bravery in combat.