French TextDuring the Second World War, thousands of American Indians participated in the crusade defending liberty and democracy in all the theaters of operation. From Normandy, the Pacific, North Africa, to Italy, soldiers coming from various tribes proved their allegiance and patriotism—as had been done in the past—as well as their courage unrivaled by their fellow soldiers. No minority has contributed as much to the cause nor been as affected by the conflict that was World War II. 44,000 American Indians out of a population of 400,000 served under the flag of the American Army. Five received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Many other soldiers of Native American ancestry, such as Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, the famous commander of the “Black Sheep Squadron,” and Ira Hayes, one of the Marines who helped raise the American flag over Mount Suribashi on Iwo Jima, have earned their fame. Contrary to widespread opinion, the Native Americans who fought among the Allied ranks were not all Navajos recruited to use their language as secret code in the Pacific theater. The Apaches, Sioux, Cheyennes, Comanche, Choktaws, Meskwakis, Cherokees, Iroquois, and others all sent their warriors to fight in defense of their land and their people. In addition to their efforts overseas, Jacquet also details the large contribution Native Americans made to the war effort on the home front. Relying upon numerous photos, maps and eyewitness accounts, the author presents for the first time in French a work dedicated to the Native Americans in World War II.