“Well, I've always thought that all the tribes, the Pawnee tribes and the Cherokees and the Choctaws, Tonkawas, I mean, all the tribes, they just seem to have a greater appreciation towards veterans.” (Audio interview, 47:12)

Virgil George England

Virgil England at time of interview War: Cold War Branch: Army Unit: 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division Service Location: Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Arkansas Rank: E-4

George England, a tribal member of the Cherokee Nation, grew up attending the Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma, and utilized the discipline he learned there during his time in the Army. England elected to attend jump school, becoming a paratrooper and served with the 101st Airborne Division. A chance encounter with the bandmaster of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team Band gave him the chance to play the clarinet in the band at the National Cherry Blossom Festival and other events around the country from 1955 to 1958. England also notably served with the 101st Airborne forces deployed to maintain order during the desegregation of Central High School in 1957. An active member of the Chilocco Alumni Association in addition to his tribal community post-military life, England continually felt support from his family and his tribal community as a veteran, particularly at a period when other U.S. veterans were overlooked.