The Indian Men from North Dakota who Served in WWI

"Warriors in Khaki brings the history of WWI back to life through the biographies and photos of North Dakota’s Indian men who served in “The Great War.” It provides a personal link, a DNA chain, between the five or more generations of ND Indians since the time when President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany in 1917."

—Marilyn Hudson
Director, Three Affiliated Tribes Museum, New Town, ND
(also known as Four Bears Museum)

"Warriors in Khaki details service, awards, battle accomplishments, and service affiliation of North Dakota Native Americans of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation), Standing Rock Sioux, Fort Totten Sioux, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa who served in World War I, information not readily available in any existing work.

This compilation fills a need and helps to recognize the continuing patriotism and over-the-top contribution of North Dakota Native Americans in that great conflict."

— Susan Dingle
Past President, Bismarck-Mandan Historical and Genealogical Society

About the authors:

Mike Knudson is from Wisconsin and has been interested in history and genealogy since high school. He served in the Peace Corps in Morocco, went back to school for his master’s degree, then went to work as a forester with the Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) in North Dakota. He retired in 2011, and now has more time for research on family and military history, especially the World War I era.

Ann Knudson is from upstate New York.  She spent 28 years in public affairs for the North Dakota National Guard, and retired in 2011.

Mike and Ann met in college in Syracuse, NY. They have lived in North Dakota since 1977, and raised two children there.