PAWNEE SCOUT CO-TUX-A-KAH-WADDE (TRAVELING BEAR) BECOMES FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
Born in 1847, in Nebraska, Co-Tux-A-Kah-Wadde entered the U.S. Army as an Indian Scout. Because his name was misinterpreted as Co-Rux-Te-Chod-Ish, Mad Bear is the name that has been incorrectly documented in his Medal of Honor and other references to this day. His medal was earned during the Republican River campaign. On the night of July 8, 1869, after Cheyenne Dog Soldiers tried to stampede the command’s horse herd, he chased after a dismounted Cheyenne and was badly injured when another member of his unit shot him by mistake. He had previously distinguished himself in a number of skirmishes with the Cheyenne during the campaign. The Pawnee battalion also received honorable recognition from the state legislatures of Nebraska and Colorado. Co-Tux-A-Kah-Wadde died February 12, 1913, and is buried North Indian Cemetery, Pawnee, Pawnee Co., Oklahoma.
Sources: Candy Moulton, “Interview With Author/Historian Mark van de Logt,” HistoryNet, 2/3/2011. Retrieved 7/11/2019, www.historynet.com/interview-with-authorhistorian-mark-van-de-logt.htm. “Medal of Honor Recipients: Indian Wars Period,” Center of Military History, U.S. Army. Retrieved 7/11/2019, https://history.army.mil/html/moh/indianwars.html Photo: Author and date unknown. Public domain: The photograph is a representation of an award or decoration of the United States military. It is in the public domain because it the U.S. military award is a work created by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code
