Untold Stories: Joe Medicine Crow, WWII Hero and the Last Crow War Chief

Joe Medicine Crow was a WWII hero and the last Crow war chief.

The Crow tribe Plains Indians historically had four requirements, tasks, or “coups” for becoming a war chief. The last man who fulfilled all four requirements to become a Crow war chief was Joe Medicine Crow, who achieved this honor during World War II.

What were these four requirements? History on the Net lists them: “[A warrior] must touch an enemy without killing [him], take an enemy’s weapon, lead a successful war party and survive, and steal an enemy’s horse.”  Joe Medicine Crow (Crow name “High Bird”) was an academic, Native American Indian history expert, brave soldier, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Medicine Crow demonstrated many of the best qualities both of his own native tribe and of Americans in general.

During WWII, he led a dangerous and successful mission, tackled and disarmed a German soldier, and stole 50 horses from the Nazis!

When he went back to America after WWII ended, Joe Medicine Chief related his “war deeds” to his tribe’s elders. The elders told him that he had accomplished the four required tasks and was therefore a Crow war chief.