Ben Steele and Joe Medicine Crow

Montanans have lost two amazing men and World War II veterans this year--Joseph Medicine Crow on April 3 and Ben Steele on Sunday. Both men were known for their heroism during wartime--but also for their tremendous contributions to Montana after the war. 

Here are some teaching resources and information on both of these amazing Montanans, who will live on in our memories. 

Ben Steele

• "American hero, state treasure' Ben Steele has died at 98," Billings Gazette, September 26, 2016
• Bataan Rescue Gallery of Ben Steele's artwork, Montana PBS
• Ben Steele's Personal Chronicle from Bataan to Hiroshima

Joseph Medicine Crow

• "Joe Medicine Crow, a war chief, historian and the last link to the Battle of Little Big Horn, dies at 102," Washington Post, April 4, 2016
• Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond (National Geographic Children's Books, 2006) and OPI Model Teaching Unit

For other resources on Montana and Montanans in World War II, see the Montana: Stories of the Land companion website. For a look at soldiers experiences in their own words--from the Civil War to Operation Iraqi Freedom--I highly recommend Reader's Theater: Letters Home from Montanans at War (a lesson plan and script designed for students grades 7-12).