Drawing Fire: A Pawnee, Artist, and Thunderbird in World War II

by Brummett Echohawk, Mark R. Ellenbarger, David Trenton Riley (Editor)

In 1940 Brummett Echohawk, an eighteen-year-old Pawnee boy, joined the Oklahoma National Guard. Within three years his unit, a tough collection of depression era cowboys, farmers, and more than a thousand Native Americans, would land in Europe--there to distinguish themselves as, in the words of General George Patton, "one of the best, if not the best division, in the history of American arms." During his service with the 45th Infantry, the vaunted Thunderbirds, Echohawk tapped the talent he had honed at Pawnee boarding school to document the conflict in dozens of annotated sketches.

These combat sketches form the basis of Echohawk's memoir of service with the Thunderbirds in World War II. In scene after scene he re-creates acts of bravery and moments of terror as he and his fellow soldiers fight their way through key battles at Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio. Woven with Pawnee legend and language and quickened with wry Native wit, Drawing Fire conveys in a singular way what it was like to go to war alongside a band of Indian brothers. It stands as a tribute to those Echohawk fought with and those he lost, a sharply observed and deeply felt picture of men at arms--capturing for all time the enduring spirit and steadfast strength of the Native American warrior.

Genres: Art, War, Memoir, History, Native Americans, Germany

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2018

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brummett Echohawk was a Pawnee Native American member of the 45th Infantry, The Thunderbirds, who took part in the American invasion of Sicily and Italy during the Second World War. He was a talented artist who sketched realistic portraits of those who fought in the horrific battle of those invasions. He was a skilled leader of men and brave warrior who was much decorated for his service, including a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor.
The book is not easy reading from a psychological perspective as Echohawk gives a detailed account of what it was like to be in combat as an infantryman. I came away amazed at the bravery of Echohawk and the men with whom he served,

[Lia C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal and I highly recommend it. Not only does "Eck" offer a unique perspective on the campaigns he was apart of but his voice highlights the Indigenous Peoples' whose war stories are overlooked by the mainstream. Eck's drawings are beautiful and moving and tell their own stories in every stroke. My only "complaint" is that the pictures are placed in the middle of chapters so I became so engrossed in them that I lost track of the narrative. Overall, this book should be read by WWII enthusiasts, students of history and everyone in between.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give it ten stars? Echohawk’s art is fantastic, and the recounting of his war exploits is just as captivating. I particularly enjoyed his explanation of various hunting skills he and his men put to use during reconnaissance missions.

[Carol Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating memoir of WW2 from the great Pawnee illustrator and cartoonist

[Charles Slaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.

Truly enjoyed this book. A great story that puts you in the moment and presence of the Pawnee “men of men”. Great job and a must read

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent WWII memoir by Brummett Echohawk, a Pawnee inn the 45th Infantry Division in WWII. He was also an artist...