Brief History
Ronson Carpenter was a Navaho. He was son of a chief and aspired to succeed his father. He was drafted in World War II. He was a capable fighter but somehow gained a reputation for cowardice. He was captured in battle in 1942, spending the following two years in a German concentration camp.Â
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Carpenter worked with fellow prisoners Richard Longtree and Wildcat Smith in several failed escape attempts. The rest of the prisoners were too scared to join them. In 1944, Jay Little Bear, Combat Kelly, Dino Manelli and Percival Pinkerton broke into the camp. They were the spearhead of a rescue operation. The three prisoners willingly joined their efforts. The battle of the camp cost the prisoners their lives. Kelly recommended them for posthumous Medals of Honor. Sawyer ignored the recommendation.Â