We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Family and friends gather around the burial site of Gilbert Horn Sr. of Fort Belknap. Horn passed away on Easter Sunday at the age of 92. Horn lived a full life and was a long time leader on the Fort Belknap Reservation serving his tribe with honor. He was publicly recognized as Chief of the Fort Belknap Assinniboine Tribe, the first official recognition in 125 years
Gilbert Horn, Sr., former longtime chief of the Fort Belknap Assinniboine Tribe died peacefully of natural causes at the age of 92 on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016.
Horn joined the United States Army in 1941 at age 17 as a scout and long range penetration marksmen trained to destroy the Japanese supply lines and communication in World War II in the distinguished Merrill's Maurauder's, a unit officially designated as the "5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)" with the code name: "GALAHAD".
For their accomplishments in Burma the Marauders were awarded the "DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION" in July, 1944. However in 1966 this award was re-designated as the "PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION" which is awarded by the President in the name of Congress. The Marauders also have the extremely rare distinction of having every member of the unit receive the "BRONZE STAR", according to the Marauder's website.
Horn was recognized in January 2013 for Code Talking, using the language they were once forbidden to speak in boarding school's as a means of secret communication during wartime. There were approximately 400–500 Native Americans in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages. Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio communications nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon their native languages. Their service improved the speed of encryption of communications at both ends in front line operations during World War II, according to Army History Researchers.
Horn was chairman of the Fort Belknap Tribes for two years and served on the tribal council as a member from 1958-1991. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Montanan State University – Northern for humanitarian services, only the second person to receive this honor in 80 years.
After he stepped down from tribal service, Horn spent his remaining years farming until he retired to the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre.
Born in 1923 in Fort Belknap to Assinniboine Medicine Woman Melvina Tall Youth and Jesse Iron Horn, Horn reached the rank of Chief in his tribe for significant feats for his membership. In an official Chief Ceremony held in May 2014, Horn was publicly recognized as the Chief of the Fort Belknap Assinniboine Tribe, the first official recognized Chief in 125 years.
He served his tribe with honor for 92 years and will be greatly missed.
