Abstracted from the Adams County Times & Friendship Reporter, Wednesday August 15, 2001 Page 10A (original article features a photo of the Red Cloud) Also see Corporal Red Cloud's obituaryThe USNS Red Cloud, a 62 ton non-combatant equipment transport (cargo) vessel, was christened recently in San Diego by Annita Red Cloud, the daughter of the ship's namesake. Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. was a posthumous recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his acts of bravery and heroism in Korea that are credited with saving many American lives while he sounded the alarm and took on an enemy machine-gun 'nest'. The ship will be used for transport of helicopters, tanks, and other wheeled and tracked military vehicles, having about 400,000 square feet of cargo space. The Red Cloud is 950 feet in length, has a beam of 106 feet and is a gas turbine vessel capable of sustained speeds up to 24 knots. Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. was born in Hatfield, Jackson Co., WI, the son of Mitchell and Nellie Red Cloud. He attended the Indian school in Hatfield and Black River Falls High School before falsifying his age and enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1941. After serving in World War II he re-enlisted in the Army in 1948. Corporal Red Cloud, on the morning of November 5th, 1950, detected enemy soldiers approaching his position on a hill in Korea. After sounding the alarm to his fellow soldiers, he opened fire on the enemy Chinese, allowing precious minutes for the evacuation of the American troops. Corporal Red Cloud was wounded and refused medical aid, instead wrapping his arm around a tree for support and continued firing at the enemy's machine gun 'nest' until he died. Red Cloud was interred in Korea, but his body was later returned to Wisconsin for re-burial in 1955 at Hatfield. His funeral mixed traditional Native American ceremonies with modern funeral rites, and the honor guard was composed of Winnebago veterans. His mother, Nellie, was present to receive the flag from her son's coffin. The Red Cloud family had a strong tradition of military service. Nellie's husband, Mitchell Red Cloud, Sr., had served in the US Army in World War I. Mitchell Jr.'s brother, Randall, had died in 1949 during Army maneuvers, just a year before Mitchell Jr.'s death. In April 1951, Nellie Red Cloud travelled from Friendship, Wisconsin to Washington, D. C. to accept appreciation and condolences from Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower as General Omar Bradley awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. Mrs. Nellie Red Cloud later saw VFW and American Legion Posts named after her son, parks dedicated to him, and a Historical Marker erected along a highway in his honor. His photo was on the cover of Life magazine in 1951 and a painting called "Corporal Red Cloud's Last Stand" appeared in Esquire magazine. In 1984, she witnessed her son, Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr., inducted into the Indian Hall of Fame in Oklahoma, joining Hiawatha, Pocahontas, Geronimo, and others. The Adams American Legion Post #250 was chartered in 1919, and in 1953, through the efforts of Donald Hollman, post commander 1952-1954, the post was re-named Red Cloud American Legion Post #250 in honor of Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. Photos and more information about Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr., can be found in the game room at Mound View Golf Course, Friendship Wisconsin.
This site is maintained by Joan and was last updated August 2001Back to the Adams County menu page
Click here to send Joan an e-mail
