Washington, DC —  Senator John Thune honored Clarence Wolf Guts during the National Indian Education Association's Native Languages Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C. today. Senator Thune, along with Senator Tim Johnson, presented Mr. Wolf Guts with a star quilt and spoke about his courageous efforts as a Sioux Code Talker during World War II.

"During World Ware II, Clarence Wolf Guts transmitted sensitive military information in Lakota that confounded the enemy's attempts to compromise our military's communications," said Thune. "The efforts of Mr. Wolf Guts and his fellow Code Talkers saved the lives of many of our soldiers and helped lead us to victory. The story of the Code Talkers is an inspiration to us all, and, as a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I have been honored to work to recognize their heroic duty."

Senator Thune has cosponsored the Code Talkers Recognition Act, a bill that would give commemorative medals to Native Americans who served as Code Talkers during the wars of the 20th century.

Mr. Wolf Guts is the last surviving Lakota Code Talker from World War II.