As the number of remaining World War II veterans continues to dwindle, Gilbert “Choc” Charleston, one of the last Native American WWII soldiers and the final surviving member of his unit, died on Thanksgiving night at age 101.
The news of Charleston’s passing was confirmed by the Choctaw Nation, of which the veteran was a member. Charleston was one of only about 45,000 U.S. veterans remaining from World War II, based on numbers from the National WWII Museum. In perhaps his final interview, Charleston told his captivating story to CBS News Texas in early November. He would have turned 102 on Dec. 24.
Despite passing the century mark in 2023, Charleston’s impeccable recall of events from decades ago remained intact.
How Did He Get His Nickname?
The moniker “Choc” was bestowed upon Charleston as an infant, and it stuck for the next 101-plus years.
After he was born in 1923, a visitor came to his house and laughed when he spotted baby Charleston snoozing in a dresser drawer.
“He said, ‘Well, looks like we got another ‘Choc,’” Charleston told CBS News Texas.
But Charleston grew up proud of his Choctaw heritage, and the nickname served him well when he entered the Army. He became a tank operator serving with the 739th Tank Battalion.
Living conditions were not pretty.
“We slept in the tank. We rarely got hot food,” Charleston said. “I prefer not to be shot at, but it didn’t work out that way.”
At the time, Charleston probably couldn’t fathom that the tank would be his home for the next three years. His unit’s missions sent him across Central Europe, eventually placing him in one of the war’s most harrowing battles.
“I spent three years as a tank driver and fought from France, Luxembourg, Belgium, all of Germany back to the Battle of the Bulge,” he said.
Battle of the Bulge Recollections
Not only did Charleston survive the bloody Battle of the Bulge when so many others perished, the bitterly cold winter of 1944-45 fighting Nazis in the Ardennes Forest proved unforgiving.
“Many men lost their feet that were in the infantry because of the snow and the cold,” Charleston said. “We were fortunate enough in the tank not to lose our feet, but it was still 20 degrees below.”
To mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Charleston returned to Belgium in 2024 and reunited with some of the soldiers he served with. The veteran called it a great way to bookend his time in the military.
“They flew me to Bastogne, and we met the king and queen of Belgium,” Charleston said.
A Proud Nation Serves
Native Americans, especially the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, have a long, distinguished history of serving in the U.S. military, according to Choctaw Assistant Chief Jack Austin.
“They served before they were considered a U.S. citizen,” Austin said. “They were proud to be fighting for something, and we’ve always stood by our country.”
During World War II, about 25,000 Native Americans joined the military. From that number, more than 21,000 went into the Army. Austin believes every Indigenous soldier proved valuable to the war effort.
“It’s a way of saying, ‘Yakoke.’ Thank you to all veterans for their service because at some point in time in their life, they sign that check that was payable with their life,” Austin said.
For Charleston, it was vital to honor those who served, especially soldiers who fought alongside him more than 80 years ago.
“Happy Veterans Day today and especially to those that were in the Pacific and European battles,” he said in an interview before Veterans Day.
The veteran was willing to share his story to be preserved for future generations who could realize the sacrifice of World War II veterans.
What was Charleston’s secret to a long, vibrant life? He focused on caring for his body by staying active, hitting the golf course often. He also believed his longevity was due to “never smoking or drinking.”
While the Choctaw Nation will grieve the loss of one of its most endearing members, Austin thinks Charleston’s legacy will live on, inspiring future Choctaws.
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