World War I Code Talker
Posthumously awarded the Choctaw Medal of Honor and France's Fifth Republic's Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite"
Born in Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory, he was the son of Reason and Susan Payne Frazier.
____________________
Tobias Frazier helped break Hindenberg Line
According to an interview with The Antlers American in 1966, Tobias Frazier was a crucial player in the Allied Forces' success during World War I. The credit for who was first to come up with the idea of speaking in the Choctaw language to transmit messages across the field telephone lines* and also by runners has been given to several different men. Frazier is one of those Choctaws who is said to have had the brainstorm of carrying on the conversations in Choctaw, using Choctaws serving in units further back from the front. According to Frazier in the 1966 interview, the ability to speak Choctaw helped break the Hindenberg line. In October 1918, the American Forces were trying to break the strong defensive line of the Germans with no success. Every time they prepared to go "over the top" to assault the line, the Germans were prepared for them. It was apparent the enemy had tapped and decoded the American communications lines. The Germans were not able to decode the American messages given in Choctaw and the result is a glorious part of history. Frazier was wounded and sent to the hospital but was called out to make use of his linguistic talent again when the Americans were to assault another German stronghold at Metz. Thankfully, the Armistice was signed before this became necessary. According to his granddaughter, Alicia Frazier Standefer, Tobias Frazier received the Purple Heart. He was raised near Rattan in McCurtain County. Frazier had three children, Evelyn White, Ruth McMillan and T.W. "Bill" Frazier, Jr.
Bishinik, March 2000
*The phrase "Code Talker" did not exist during World War I, and Tobias Frazier was not known to refer to himself as one. The phrase was later coined during or after World War II.
Posthumously awarded the Choctaw Medal of Honor and France's Fifth Republic's Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite"
Born in Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory, he was the son of Reason and Susan Payne Frazier.
____________________
Tobias Frazier helped break Hindenberg Line
According to an interview with The Antlers American in 1966, Tobias Frazier was a crucial player in the Allied Forces' success during World War I. The credit for who was first to come up with the idea of speaking in the Choctaw language to transmit messages across the field telephone lines* and also by runners has been given to several different men. Frazier is one of those Choctaws who is said to have had the brainstorm of carrying on the conversations in Choctaw, using Choctaws serving in units further back from the front. According to Frazier in the 1966 interview, the ability to speak Choctaw helped break the Hindenberg line. In October 1918, the American Forces were trying to break the strong defensive line of the Germans with no success. Every time they prepared to go "over the top" to assault the line, the Germans were prepared for them. It was apparent the enemy had tapped and decoded the American communications lines. The Germans were not able to decode the American messages given in Choctaw and the result is a glorious part of history. Frazier was wounded and sent to the hospital but was called out to make use of his linguistic talent again when the Americans were to assault another German stronghold at Metz. Thankfully, the Armistice was signed before this became necessary. According to his granddaughter, Alicia Frazier Standefer, Tobias Frazier received the Purple Heart. He was raised near Rattan in McCurtain County. Frazier had three children, Evelyn White, Ruth McMillan and T.W. "Bill" Frazier, Jr.
Bishinik, March 2000
*The phrase "Code Talker" did not exist during World War I, and Tobias Frazier was not known to refer to himself as one. The phrase was later coined during or after World War II.
World War I Code Talker
Posthumously awarded the Choctaw Medal of Honor and France's Fifth Republic's Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite"
Born in Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory, he was the son of Reason and Susan Payne Frazier.
____________________
Tobias Frazier helped break Hindenberg Line
According to an interview with The Antlers American in 1966, Tobias Frazier was a crucial player in the Allied Forces' success during World War I. The credit for who was first to come up with the idea of speaking in the Choctaw language to transmit messages across the field telephone lines* and also by runners has been given to several different men. Frazier is one of those Choctaws who is said to have had the brainstorm of carrying on the conversations in Choctaw, using Choctaws serving in units further back from the front. According to Frazier in the 1966 interview, the ability to speak Choctaw helped break the Hindenberg line. In October 1918, the American Forces were trying to break the strong defensive line of the Germans with no success. Every time they prepared to go "over the top" to assault the line, the Germans were prepared for them. It was apparent the enemy had tapped and decoded the American communications lines. The Germans were not able to decode the American messages given in Choctaw and the result is a glorious part of history. Frazier was wounded and sent to the hospital but was called out to make use of his linguistic talent again when the Americans were to assault another German stronghold at Metz. Thankfully, the Armistice was signed before this became necessary. According to his granddaughter, Alicia Frazier Standefer, Tobias Frazier received the Purple Heart. He was raised near Rattan in McCurtain County. Frazier had three children, Evelyn White, Ruth McMillan and T.W. "Bill" Frazier, Jr.
Bishinik, March 2000
*The phrase "Code Talker" did not exist during World War I, and Tobias Frazier was not known to refer to himself as one. The phrase was later coined during or after World War II.
Posthumously awarded the Choctaw Medal of Honor and France's Fifth Republic's Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite"
Born in Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory, he was the son of Reason and Susan Payne Frazier.
____________________
Tobias Frazier helped break Hindenberg Line
According to an interview with The Antlers American in 1966, Tobias Frazier was a crucial player in the Allied Forces' success during World War I. The credit for who was first to come up with the idea of speaking in the Choctaw language to transmit messages across the field telephone lines* and also by runners has been given to several different men. Frazier is one of those Choctaws who is said to have had the brainstorm of carrying on the conversations in Choctaw, using Choctaws serving in units further back from the front. According to Frazier in the 1966 interview, the ability to speak Choctaw helped break the Hindenberg line. In October 1918, the American Forces were trying to break the strong defensive line of the Germans with no success. Every time they prepared to go "over the top" to assault the line, the Germans were prepared for them. It was apparent the enemy had tapped and decoded the American communications lines. The Germans were not able to decode the American messages given in Choctaw and the result is a glorious part of history. Frazier was wounded and sent to the hospital but was called out to make use of his linguistic talent again when the Americans were to assault another German stronghold at Metz. Thankfully, the Armistice was signed before this became necessary. According to his granddaughter, Alicia Frazier Standefer, Tobias Frazier received the Purple Heart. He was raised near Rattan in McCurtain County. Frazier had three children, Evelyn White, Ruth McMillan and T.W. "Bill" Frazier, Jr.
Bishinik, March 2000
*The phrase "Code Talker" did not exist during World War I, and Tobias Frazier was not known to refer to himself as one. The phrase was later coined during or after World War II.
Inscription
CPL US ARMY
PURPLE HEART
CHOCTAW CODE TALKER
WORLD WAR I
