GEORGE P. MENZ
George was a German immigrant who married a Lakota woman, Agnes Obosawin “Stands in the Mist” (1857-1895) from the Dakota Territory. According to oral family history, Obosawin was brought to George by her mother, Yellow Eyes, and there was an exchange of a cow for her hand in marriage. The Menz's were farmers and ranchers who helped build the town of Winona on the other side of the Missouri River from Fort Yates. Their eight children included Annie Menz-Hodgkinson (1876-1940), George B. (1879-1965), Emma Menz-Leonard (1880-1907), William Henry (1891-1925), Joseph, Frank, Henry, Edward, and Mary.
George married a 2nd Indian wife Tanyanglinajin (or Kdinajinawin) (Mamie), mother to Thomas and Katie. Mamie later married William Walking Hawk (Cetanmani).
George is buried in Mandan Union Cemetery in Mandan, Morton County, North Dakota. Burial, Photos.
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 Henry Albert - William Henry - George Benedict |
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WILLIAM HENRY MENZ
Son of George P. and Agnes Obosawin (Stands in the Mist) Menz
William was born in 1891, only four months after the death of Sitting Bull on Fort Yates.
We don’t know where William went to school, but there were many day and boarding schools in that time period that do not have records or were lost. It is clear that William could read and write, as well as speak fluent German, Lakota, and English. William and his siblings were noted to have spoken their native tongue, but due to pressures of assimilation and parents desiring acceptance of their children, the language was soon fading, especially in the mixed blood families. The Lakota people of Standing Rock were barred from becoming citizens at this time. The Lakota were being pressured to take land allotments, something that Sitting Bull famously fought against and was killed shortly after speaking against, the religious Ghost Dance was now outlawed, and the massacre at Wounded Knee on Pine Ridge occurred. Tension on Standing Rock was high, and the natives were were pressured to assimilate to European-American culture. Many were resigned to their fate and were going along quietly at this point in history.
About 1909 William received his first allotted piece of land in 
Thunderhawk S.D. along with the rest of his siblings and grandmother Yellow Eyes. He farmed until he was called to draft examination in 1917. William was one of only 36 who passed their physical examination. Of those 36, William was one of only 12 that were able to file with no excemption, which speaks to difficult life of the tribe at that time, when food was scarce and mortality extremely high.
William was drafted despite the fact natives were not allowed citizenship. Called into service during World War I through the draft of 1917, William Henry Menz entered the army as a private. He was first sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa where he served in Battery E, 338th Field Artillery to April 1918. He was then deployed with Company 1, 326th infantry overseas on the Mauretania April 1918 - May 1919 with records showing him in both Offensive and Defensive engagements in Lucey, Marbache, Lorraine, St Michael, and Meuse-Argone. While in the Argonne Forest he was exposed to mustard gas, an early form of chemical warfare, which caused both acute and chronic, long-term effects in thousands of troops. He was then sent home to Standing Rock, ND on a surgeons certificate of disability in June 1919.
William Menz, from Standing Rock, answered two questionnaires on his service, one in 1920, and the other in 1921:
In the first one in 1920, “Private William Menz “Sioux”, twenty-nine, from Selfridge, North Dakota, wrote: “In regard to my war experience, I will say that, I have been in the thickest of the battle, including the St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, offensive. During the Argonne drive we remained in the front lines for twenty-four days without being allived (relieved), they few divisions remained in the front lines at the length time. We undo (endure) some hardships while the drive was being made, heading directly towards the City of Metz. This war required a lot of suffering but we were fighting for a good cause, such as freedom of the (?), and the rights of menkind. Though what I have wen through during the war, and the experiences I had, has helped me a great deal, would do it again if the country needs me again.”
In the 2nd questionnaire, dated June 11, 1921, he was more specific about his experiences and less specific about serving again: “While in the world war, I have say that I have went through without a scratch, but although I suffered considerable I thought I was doing my duty. In the Argonne Forest, where we were under constant fire from Artillery, from the Germans, we nevertheless pushed our way forward, until the signing of the Armistice. I served one year overseas, and 6 months in the U.S.A.”
Back at Standing Rock, although suffering from his war injuries, William Menz married Christina Halsey, also from Standing Rock, on Aug 24, 1922 and the couple had two children; Faye Marie born June 6, 1923 in Fort Yates, and William Jr. born Aug 7, 1925 (died June 1969) just three days after his father’s passing.
The mustard gas exposure he experienced caused damage to William’s stomach. Family reports that something from a sheep was used in some capacity trying to save his life. However, William died one month after this surgery at the hospital at Fort Yates on Monday, Aug 3, 1925. His listed cause of death is stomach cancer, a known result of mustard gas poisoning. Codetalker Private William Menz is currently buried in the St Peter’s Cemetery at Fort Yates.
The diligent work of Ladonna Allard and Jennifer Martel and others from the Department of Veteran Affairs of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, whom researched the records of tribal members that served in the wars, revealed William Henry Menz as a Lakota Code Talker in World War I. We now know that these native soldiers were sworn to secrecy and that their families, including my own, never knew of his role as a code talker. William’s unique upbringing, learning to speak Lakota, German, and English undoubtedly proved a valuable resource in his ability to monitor transmissions for the military. We thank the efforts of SRST, and Manaja Hill, and others who brought to light this mystery for this unknown period of service. On Dec 12, 2013 there was a ceremony to honor these warriors of World War I for their service of Code Talking. The families of these warriors received Congressional Silver Medals at the Prairie Knights Casino on Standing Rock in their name. (We believe Timothy Mentz, a great grandson of George P. Menz and 2nd indian wife Tanyanglinajin - mother to Thomas and Katie Mentz, received the award on this day.)
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 World War Registration |
 Aug 1917 Pioneer Article |
 Sep 1917 Pioneer Article |
 In Uniform |
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 In Uniform |
 1919 Embarkation List |
 June 1918 Letter |
 July 1918 Letter |
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The Indian In The World War The Rodman Wanamaker Indian Foundation |
William's Input to List Of Indians In The World War |
 Military Summary |
 Wedding Announcement |
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 Personal Note |
 Certificate of Death |
 Cemetery Information |
 Cemetery Information |
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FAYE MARIE MENZ
Daughter of William Henry and Christina Halsey Menz
Faye Marie married Clayton Archambault. Their children include Christine, Gail, twins Yvonne & Lavonne, Gary, Clayton Jr, and Virginia all presently living in Denver and enrolled at Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
The Majority of the Menz Family Information on this Page was Contributed by Sallie Thurman