By Robert Medley
The Oklahoman
Finding other married couples who are both veterans of World War II isn't easy these days.
Finding married war veterans who are both American Indians as well is even harder, say Henry and Wanda Stoneroad of south Oklahoma City, two people who can make such a rare claim.
Henry Chapman Stoneroad, 85, and wife Wanda White Stoneroad, 82, both served in World War II. Both still dance at powwows. And they can claim 56 years of blissful marriage.
"We've had our ups and downs but we've come through fine," Wanda Stoneroad said.
The Stoneroads were honored at the recent Oklahoma City Indian Hills Powwow for their years of service to their country and their long marriage.
On July 17, Gov. Brad Henry recognized the couple with a Governor's Commendation.
Henry Stoneroad has been interviewed for a documentary in progress by the Oklahoma Historical Society about American Indians who used their native languages during the war to pass along military secrets over radios.
During World War II, Henry Stoneroad had yet to meet his wife. Wanda Stoneroad enlisted in the U.S. Navy's Women's Auxiliary Voluntary Services, or WAVES, in December 1943 and was stationed in Washington for 19 months.
Serving in the war was important to her as a girl growing up in Red Rock, she said. Her father, Corbett White, an Otoe-Missouri tribal chief, was wounded in France fighting with the U.S. Army. His sons were too young to enter World War II, so when his 18 year-old daughter enlisted he was extremely proud, Wanda Stoneroad said.
Across the Pacific her husband-to-be from Pawnee, Henry "Hank" Stoneroad, was fighting with the Army's 112th Regiment Combat Team in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Half Pawnee and half Cheyenne, Henry Stoneroad told his high school teachers he was destined to go to war shortly after Pearl Harbor.
"I told my teachers they jumped us and we were going to have to do something about it," Henry Stoneroad said.
In January 1942, he hitchhiked to Oklahoma City to try to obtain a birth certificate needed to enlist, but the state's vital records office had no record of his birth.
Luckily, a superintendent from the Pawnee Agency drove him to an Army enlistment office and vouched that Henry Stoneroad was indeed on the tribal roll. Soon, he was off to basic training at Camp Roberts in California.
His first training was with a tank unit, but the Army realized foot soldiers were needed more than his tank unit to fight in the jungles, he said.
After fighting as a rifleman in several battles in New Guinea and the Philippines, his troops were prepared to invade Japan.
"We were getting ready to go into Japan but then President Truman saved us by dropping the A-bomb," Henry Stoneroad said. "I had that feeling that if we had gone into Japan, I would not have made it back."
After Japan surrendered and he returned to Oklahoma, Henry Stoneroad met Wanda Stoneroad in Red Rock at the Otoe Indian Baptist Church. They married in 1950.
Both worked jobs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for more than four decades, Henry Stoneroad as a property and warehouse manager, and Wanda Stoneroad as a stenographer. They lived in New Mexico and Colorado and had six children before moving back to Oklahoma City in 1991.
"Together we have 88 years service to the United States, counting BIA and military service," Henry Stoneroad said proudly.
Both say they would like to get in touch with other married couples who served in World War II. Henry Stoneroad said he is one of only five Pawnee Indians left who served in the war.
The Stoneroads have seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren to keep them busy today, as well as powwow dancing when they can. Henry Stoneroad used to be master of ceremonies for powwows as well.
He says he has only one regret from a full life.
"I should have married her sooner," he said.
Wanda Stoneroad approved of the comment with a grin that said, "Good answer."
"If people want to recognize us or not that is OK, we're just glad to be Oklahomans," she said.
