The council was organized under the conditions and provisions of the Wheeler-Howard Act of 1934.
1945: Mississippi Choctaw Tribal Council organized
January 20, 1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt inaugurated to fourth term
February 19, 1945: U.S. forces land on Japanese-held island Iwo Jima
Bayonet from the USS Vicksburg
The cruiser USS Vicksburg participated in the bombardment of the island in support of the landings.
April 1, 1945: U.S. forces invade Japanese island Okinawa
Japanese Flag
The battleship USS Mississippi and the cruiser USS Vicksburg participated in the naval bombardment of the island. The Mississippi is credited with destroying Shuri Castle, a Japanese strongpoint that held up the U.S. advance.
Image: US Marine Claude Woodson Wall, Jr. captured this Japanese flag on Okinawa.
April 12, 1945: President Roosevelt dies; vice president Harry S. Truman becomes president
April 20, 1945: Mississippi Choctaws adopt constitution and by-laws
May 8, 1945: War in Europe ends
Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allies.
May 22, 1945: Interior Secretary approves Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians constitution and by-laws
June 12, 1945: Private Robert T. Henry of Greenville posthumously awarded Congressional Medal of Honor for action that resulted in his death on December 3, 1944
July 1945: President Truman attends Potsdam Conference in Germany
President Truman's Presidential Flag
During the Potsdam Conference, the victorious Allies determined the division of postwar Europe. Captain James K. Vardaman Jr., son of Governor James K. Vardaman, served as President Truman’s naval aide and attended this conference with him.
Image: Presidential flags signify the presence of the commander in chief. This one was flown aboard the USS Augusta and at the Potsdam Conference.
September 2, 1945: Japan surrenders; World War II over
Adjustment Booklet
The threat of the further use of atomic weapons helped move the Japanese to unconditionally surrender to the U.S. and its Allies.
Image: This booklet, which belonged to T4 George C. Sargent of Bentonia, helped returning soldiers adjust to civilian life.
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