JANUARY 23, 1925

TAHAGIETAGWA (LOUIS LEVI OAKES)-LAST MOHAWK CODE TALKER-BORN

Oakes, whose name meant “He carries the snow,” was born on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation on the New York (NY)-Quebec border. Enlisting in the Army in 1943, as part of Company B, 442nd Signal Battalion, he served in New Guinea, the Philippines, and South Pacific. After the war, Louis was a steelworker in the Buffalo, NY, for 30 years before working another 30 years for the council of Akwesasne’s public works department, retiring as supervisor. In 2016, he received a personal silver medal pursuant to the Code Talkers Recognition Act and a Silver Star for gallantry. In 2018, Louis was inducted into the NY State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame; presented the NY State Liberty Medal (NY’s highest civilian state honor); presented with a star blanket and beaded medallion by the National Chief, Assembly of First Nations; received a standing ovation from the House of Commons; and had a private meeting with the Prime Minister. Oakes died at Akwesasne on May 28, 2019.

Sources: 

“Louis Levi Oakes, Last of the Mohawk Code Talkers, Dies at 94,” The New York Times, 6/4/2019. Retrieved 8/12/2019, Louis Levi Oakes, Last of the Mohawk Code Talkers, Dies at 94 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

“Louis Levi Oakes,” The Canadian Encyclopedia.  Retrieved 8/12/2019, Louis Levi Oakes | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Photo: New York State Senate, 2018. Permissive Use pursuant to Creative Commons license.