Drawing fire A Pawnee, artist, and Thunderbird in World War II

Bronze Star recipient Echohawk narrates key episodes of his time with the 45th U.S. Infantry Division ("the Rock of Anzio") in Sicily and Italy, with reproduced sketches and notes originating from the field. This honest and beautiful memoir begins with the division's botched landing in Anzio and focuses on days of close combat and frequent confusion familiar to so many GIs in the European theater. Echohawk's detailed drawings capturing the humanity, fear, and relentless bravery of his fellow division members on spare paper were noticed first by his superior officers, who assigned him to gather intelligence, and then by a visiting entertainer, who helped him get them published in international newspapers, leading to his postwar career as an artist. The division, nicknamed the Thunderbirds, included numerous members of various Native American tribes, who used traditional skills to track and hide; Echohawk movingly recalls the language and warrior traditions he and his fellow Native soldiers followed-and, in one episode, humorously recalls fake ones they invented to intimidate insolent German captives. This excellent and fascinating account is a unique contribution to the literature of WWII. Illus. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Echohawk (1922-2006), a Pawnee, served in the B Company of the 179th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division. The highly decorated division, known as the Thunderbirds, included more than 1,000 Native Americans from Oklahoma who were thrust into some of the bloodiest combat of World War II in Europe, including the battles of Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio during the Italian Campaign. For his service, Echohawk received numerous awards, most notably a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters. The U.S. Congress posthumously honored him with a Congressional Gold Medal. In this autobiography, coauthored by Ellenbarger (founder & director, Brummett Echohawk Project) and edited by historian Riley, Echohawk movingly narrates his experiences and those of his fellow Native soldiers, including details that contextualize their service. A gifted artist, Echohawk drew poignant sketches over the course of the war, which are interspersed throughout this book. VERDICT This monograph honors the heroic service of Native soldiers and patriots while also vividly conveying the horrors of war. Highly recommended for readers interested in the history of American Indians or World War II as well as combat art.-John R. Burch, Univ. of Tennessee at Martin © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.