Dakota Datebook: World War I heroes

July 19, 2018 — North Dakota’s history is filled with stories of brave soldiers and warriors. Throughout the spring and early summer of 1918, state newspapers were reporting stories of yet another—Charlie Rogers.

Rogers was a Sioux Indian from the Standing Rock Reservation. He entered into duty and served first in the 1st N.D. Regiment, then in the 18th U.S. Infantry. It did not take long for this soldier to prove his bravery. “Indian chases 20 Germans” reported a headline in the New Rockford Transcript on this day in 1918. “Indian goes over the top,” read another in the Sioux County Pioneer on June 27, 1918.

Although the stories were printed a few weeks apart, both stories came from the same source. Sergeant E.H. Tostevin, formerly of Mandan, wrote to the North Dakota newspapers about Rogers’ bravery in a battle. The letter, dated May 20, 1918, read: “Rogers leaped over the parapet swinging his old rifle over his head. He let out a yell that he had saved for years… The Germans were pretty close before we mixed. Rogers, of course, had his gun loaded with five rounds, and his bayonet fixed. After swinging his gun around his head a couple of times, he brought it down to his shoulders and emptied his shells at the enemy, swung it again, yelled and jabbed and used the butt of his gun to smash the skull of another.”

Tostevin and U.S. and German soldiers looked on as Roger’s fought his way through the oncoming enemies, whose actions seemed to be no match for the young Sioux. “Rogers’ actions terrorized the Huns, and they beat it for their lives,” wrote Tostevin. “I never saw a man move so fast in my life and I guess the Germans hadn’t either.”

Rogers later became a sniper for the U.S. Army, no doubt terrorizing his enemies with stealth and a sharp shot.

Around the same time, the newspapers were reporting the brave actions of another young man, Joe Young Hawk, an Arikara from Elbowoods. In a battle at the Soissons front, Young Hawk was captured by five Germans. According to the papers, these five Germans were no match for him. He killed three of his captors with his bare hands by breaking their backs over his knees.

Young Hawk was shot through both legs in this bout, but was still able to capture his other two captors and take them back to U.S. lines. Major Welch of his division said this of Young Hawk: “I am terribly proud of him. He ought to have a medal, for really it took all kinds of nerve.”

Young Hawk did receive that medal on his return back to the United States, but his bravery was not without consequence. Upon his return, Young Hawk began receiving treatment on his legs. He had three operations and each time, more of one leg was amputated. He also suffered injuries from being gassed. On June 23, 1923, Joe Young Hawk died from the wounds he suffered during his brave escape and capture of his captors.

“Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org.