Private First Class Ben Carterby, A Soldier's Story
Private First Class Ben Carterby, A Soldier's Story
Private First Class Ben Carterby was born on December 11, 1891, in Ida, Oklahoma, within the Choctaw Nation. He attended Dwight Training School, an institution established to educate Native American students during a period when opportunities were often limited and closely controlled.
In response to the United States’ entry into World War I, Carterby enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 141st Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division. During his service, he became one of the original Choctaw Code Talkers, members of a small group of Choctaw soldiers whose native language was used to transmit battlefield messages.
At a time when German forces were successfully intercepting and decoding Allied communications, the use of the Choctaw language provided a secure and effective solution. The 141st Infantry was the first U.S. military unit to employ a Native American language for coded communications, a breakthrough that improved coordination and contributed to successful operations during the Meuse-Argonne campaign.
Private First Class Ben Carterby returned to Oklahoma after the war, resuming civilian life in the community where his language and heritage had quietly shaped American military history. He died on February 6, 1953.
Though his service was largely unrecognized for decades, Carterby’s role as a Choctaw Code Talker stands as an early and vital chapter in the history of military communications, one that honors both his service to the nation and the enduring strength of Indigenous languages.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
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