WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley today said that legislation he co-sponsored to recognize the Meskwaki Code Talkers with commemorative gold medals for their service to the United States during World War II has cleared both the Senate and the House of Representatives and is now being sent to the president to be signed into law.
Grassley said the legislation authorizes Congress to present gold medals to honor Native Americans who served as Code Talkers during foreign conflicts in which the United States was involved during the 20th century.
"Our success in World War II was due in part to the vital role played by the Code Talkers, including those from the Mesqwaki Tribe in Iowa, and their brave efforts were often the difference between life and death for many American soldiers," Grassley said. "It's only right that the Meskwaki Code Talkers be honored for their sacrifices."
In 2000, Congress voted to give congressional gold medals to the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers who developed a code used in World War II. Because of the secret nature of their mission, Native American Code Talkers had not previously received public recognition for their efforts. Grassley said that it was important to also award medals to the other tribes, including the Meskwaki Tribe, which had Code Talkers in the war effort.