I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4254

To authorize the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President 

Pro Tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the 

presentation, on behalf of Congress, of gold medals to the Meskwaki 

Code Talkers in recognition of their contributions to the Nation during 

World War II, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 30, 2004

Mr. BOSWELL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Financial Services 

A BILL

To authorize the Speaker of the House of Representatives 

and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to make 

appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf 

of Congress, of gold medals to the Meskwaki Code Talkers in recognition of their contributions to the Nation 

during World War II, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Meskwaki Code Talk5 ers Recognition Act’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) During World War II, 8 members of the 

4 Meskwaki tribe of Tama County, Iowa, used their 

5 native language as code to transmit vital information 

6 to the United States Armed Forces regarding enemy 

7 actions, locations, troops, and ammunition. 

8 (2) These Meskwaki tribe members, known as 

9 the Meskwaki Code Talkers, worked under chal10 lenging conditions in North Africa, taking extreme 

11 risks to provide critical information to the United 

12 States Armed Forces. 

13 (3) Frank Sanache, the only surviving 

14 Meskwaki Code Talker, endured severe hardships 

15 both while he was stationed in North Africa and 

16 while he was held prisoner in a Polish internment 

17 camp after being captured by the Germans. 

18 (4) The enemy was never able to translate the 

19 native Meskwaki language, and the Meskwaki Code 

20 Talkers, among other Code Talkers, are credited 

21 with saving the lives of countless members of the 

22 United States Armed Forces and contributing sig23 nificantly to the victory of the United States and its 

24 allies. 
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1 SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 

2 (a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 

3 the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tem4 pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 

5 for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of gold medals 

6 of appropriate design to each of the 8 Meskwaki Code 

7 Talkers, including—

8 (1) Edward Benson; 

9 (2) Dewey Roberts; 

10 (3) Frank Sanache; 

11 (4) Willard Sanache; 

12 (5) Melvin Twin; 

13 (6) Judy Wayne Wabaunasee; 

14 (7) Mike Wayne Wabaunasee; and 

15 (8) Dewey Youngbear. 

16 (b) ADDITIONAL MEDALS.—The Speaker of the 

17 House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore 

18 of the Senate may make appropriate arrangements for the 

19 presentation of additional medals to other individuals not 

20 designated in subsection (a) who also served as Meskwaki 

21 Code Talkers during World War II. 

22 (c) MEDALS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY.—The med23 als authorized by this Act may be awarded posthumously 

24 to a surviving family member of the individuals designated 

25 in subsection (a) and referred to in subsection (b). 
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1 (d) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose of the 

2 presentation referred to in this section, the Secretary of 

3 the Treasury shall strike a gold medal with suitable em4 blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 

5 Secretary. 

6 SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 

7 The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell 

8 duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant 

9 to section 3 under such regulations as the Secretary may 

10 prescribe, and at a price sufficient to cover the costs of 

11 the duplicate medals and the gold medal (including labor, 

12 materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses). 

13 SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS. 

14 The medals struck under this Act are national medals 

15 for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. 

16 SEC. 6. FUNDING. 

17 (a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is 

18 authorized to be charged against the United States Mint 

19 Public Enterprise Fund an amount not to exceed $30,000 

20 to pay for the costs of the medals authorized by this Act. 

21 (b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the 

22 sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 4 shall be 

23 deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise 

24 Fund.

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