100 Oklahoma Goldback

The Oklahoma 100 Goldback stands as a tribute to one of the most storied military units in U.S. history: the 45th Infantry Division, known proudly as the “Thunderbird Division.” In 1923, the 45th was forged from the Oklahoma National Guard, embodying the state’s resilience, diversity, and fierce commitment to liberty. 

During World War II, the 45th was among the first Allied forces to land in Sicily in 1943, launching relentless campaigns through Italy, Anzio, Southern France, and into Germany. They endured brutal combat, fierce resistance, and immense losses. But their most defining mission came on April 29, 1945, when they helped liberate Dachau Concentration Camp, uncovering one of the darkest horrors of the Holocaust. The soldiers of the 45th, hardened by war, were devastated by what they witnessed: emaciated survivors, death trains, and unspeakable suffering.

“During the early period of our entry into the camp,” wrote Lieutenant Colonel Felix L. Sparks, “a number of Company I men, all battle-hardened veterans, became extremely distraught. Some cried, while others raged.”

Private First Class John Lee recalled, “As we entered the camp, the prisoners began to realize they were being liberated. Their joy was indescribable.”

What made the 45th distinct was not only its battlefield record, but its roots. Drawn largely from Oklahoma’s citizen-soldiers, the division included an extraordinary number of Native American service members from the Five Civilized Tribes: the Choctaw, Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, and Chickasaw. These sovereign nations brought their warrior traditions, languages, and spiritual depth into the heart of the division. 

At the center of this composition stands Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom and a powerful American symbol. She is radiant and resolute—not marching ahead of the men, but with them. Her gown of stars and stripes is directly inspired by the Liberty figure on the Oklahoma State Seal, representing the state’s founding ideals of justice and freedom. Her form also echoes the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, a coin that circulated widely during World War II.

Libertas holds a shield bearing the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma. It includes the seals of the Five Civilized Tribes, symbolizing the unity between Native nations and the state they helped build. Her belt displays the Osage warrior shield, peace pipe, and olive branch from the state flag to represent defense and diplomacy. 

A broken shackle lies near her ankle, a solemn reminder of those freed at Dachau. Upon her chest, the Star of David necklace glints in quiet tribute to the Jewish lives that the 45th helped save. These elements are subtle but sacred tokens of remembrance.

Behind her, the war unfolds. Sherman tanks and Willys MB jeeps move across the field, saluting the mechanized support that made infantry advances possible. Fighter planes streak through storm-lit skies as a bald eagle, sacred in Native tradition, soars above. The eagle is seen as a messenger from the heavens, symbolizing wisdom, vision, and spiritual power.

Behind the eagle, a bolt of lightning crackles, conjuring the ancient spirit of the Thunderbird. For the Choctaw and other Southeastern tribes, the Thunderbird is a protector, a storm-bringer, and a force of divine justice. Its power and symbolism inspired the 45th’s emblem, carried into battle by those who fought with spiritual fire.

In the foreground, infantrymen press forward, their helmets marked with the Thunderbird insignia. One soldier’s pack carries a flowing banner with a single word: “Libertas.” It is the ideal they fought for, the virtue that sustained them, and the message they carried home. Inscribed into the base of the scene are the words: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson. A reminder that freedom is never free.

This image is a tribute to the Oklahoma National Guard, to the Native nations who gave their sons, and to the state’s legacy. It tells a story of liberation, sacrifice, and freedom made real through courage and conviction.

This is the Oklahoma 100. It stands as a testament to all who have fought for liberty, and to the enduring strength of the people who call this land home.