Remembering Catherine "Kate" Black Elk

Catherine “Kate” Black Elk, born on January 24, 1922 was one of 70 enlisted Women’s Army Corps (WAC) soldiers who served at Portland Army Air Base during World War II. She was a descendant of the Oglala Lakota holy man Nicholas Black Elk. Her niece, Ms. Betty O’Rourke, remembers her Aunt Kate as being “…the first Native American woman in the U.S. Army.” Available Portland Army Air Base historical records indicate Catherine Black Elk attained the rank of sergeant while assigned to the 432nd Army Air Force Base Unit at Portland, and was the mail clerk for Squadron “W” (the WAC squadron) as part of the base mail and distribution center. The WAC squadron included two officers and 11 recruiting officers in addition to the 70 enlisted women. Sergeant Black Elk married fellow US Army World War II veteran Technician Fifth Grade (Tec 5) Collins L. Clifford and had a family. She flew west on October 11, 1968 at the age of 46. Catherine Black Elk-Clifford is buried at the Saint Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson, Oglala Lakota County in South Dakota. During this month-long observation, we remember Sergeant Catherine Black Elk and salute the service and sacrifice of all our Native Americans and Alaska Natives who currently serve in uniform as well as veterans of prior military service. (Image courtesy of Oglala Lakota College, digital heritage collection.)

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Remembering Catherine "Kate" Black Elk

Catherine “Kate” Black Elk, born on January 24, 1922 was one of 70 enlisted Women’s Army Corps (WAC) soldiers who served at Portland Army Air Base during World War II. She was a descendant of the Oglala Lakota holy man Nicholas Black Elk. Her niece, Ms. Betty O’Rourke, remembers her Aunt Kate as being “…the first Native American woman in the U.S. Army.” Available Portland Army Air Base historical records indicate Catherine Black Elk attained the rank of sergeant while assigned to the 432nd Army Air Force Base Unit at Portland, and was the mail clerk for Squadron “W” (the WAC squadron) as part of the base mail and distribution center. The WAC squadron included two officers and 11 recruiting officers in addition to the 70 enlisted women. Sergeant Black Elk married fellow US Army World War II veteran Technician Fifth Grade (Tec 5) Collins L. Clifford and had a family. She flew west on October 11, 1968 at the age of 46. Catherine Black Elk-Clifford is buried at the Saint Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson, Oglala Lakota County in South Dakota. During the observation of Native American Heritage Month, we remember Sergeant Catherine Black Elk and salute the service and sacrifice of all our Native Americans and Alaska Natives who currently serve in uniform as well as veterans of prior military service. (Image courtesy of Oglala Lakota College, digital heritage collection.)

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Remembering Catherine "Kate" Black Elk

Published Nov. 26, 2024
By Lt Col Terrence G. Popravak, Jr., USAF (Retired)
142nd Wing/Historian's Office

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Catherine “Kate” Black Elk, born on January 24, 1922 was one of 70 enlisted Women’s Army Corps (WAC) soldiers who served at Portland Army Air Base during World War II. She was a descendant of the Oglala Lakota holy man Nicholas Black Elk. Her niece, Ms. Betty O’Rourke, remembers her Aunt Kate as being “…the first Native American woman in the U.S. Army.” Available Portland Army Air Base historical records indicate Catherine Black Elk attained the rank of sergeant while assigned to the 432nd Army Air Force Base Unit at Portland, and was the mail clerk for Squadron “W” (the WAC squadron) as part of the base mail and distribution center. The WAC squadron included two officers and 11 recruiting officers in addition to the 70 enlisted women. Sergeant Black Elk married fellow US Army World War II veteran Technician Fifth Grade (Tec 5) Collins L. Clifford and had a family. She flew west on October 11, 1968 at the age of 46. Catherine Black Elk-Clifford is buried at the Saint Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson, Oglala Lakota County in South Dakota. During this month-long observation, we remember Sergeant Catherine Black Elk and salute the service and sacrifice of all our Native Americans and Alaska Natives who currently serve in uniform as well as veterans of prior military service. (Image courtesy of Oglala Lakota College, digital heritage collection.)