Willard Bolduc, an Ojibwa airman from Ontario, earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his brave actions as an air gunner during bombing raids over occupied Europe. Indigenous service members would receive numerous decorations for bravery during the war.
Another Cree-speaking "code talker" would then translate the received messages back into English so they could be understood by the intended recipients. One unique example was being a "code talker." Men like Charles “Checker” Tomkins of Alberta translated sensitive radio messages into Cree so they could not be understood if they were intercepted by the enemy.
While Indigenous soldiers again served as snipers and scouts, as they had during the First World War, they also took on interesting new roles during this conflict. Photo: Library and Archives Canada PA-130065.
Huron Brant receiving his Military Medal in Italy.