Otis Leader

Otis Wilson Leader (November 5, 1882 – March 26, 1961) was a Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma citizen and Chickasaw descendant who served in the United States Army during World War I. A ranch foreman before the war, he was assigned to the 16th Infantry and served overseas for 27 months. One account of his life states that "Leader, although born a Chickasaw, was enrolled as a Choctaw." Indian Tribes of Oklahoma calls him "a Chickasaw who was enrolled as a Choctaw." As "Odis Leader", he is listed as half-Choctaw by Blood on the Dawes Rolls.

Leader worked as a ranch foreman before the war. His employer "worked with a Swiss company in the cattle business and traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, on business. He had been followed by immigration agents who thought he was a spy." Army Intelligence reportedly thought Leader's Swiss boss was a German spy, and Leader was a Spanish spy, and ordered them both arrested. According to a newspaper account published in the 1960s, "Fort Worth officers trailed them until Leader and his friend caught the train back to McAlester. Texas authorities wired ahead. When they got off the train here, U.S. Marshal Crockett Lee was waiting for them. But Lee and Leader were old friends. The talk about cloak and dagger activities brought a quiet chuckle from both Lee and Leader."

Leader enlisted on April 17, 1917 "as proof of his American loyalty". Leader reported for duty to Oklahoma City, May 1, was transferred to Fort Logan, Colorado, was sent from there to El Paso, Texas, and was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment, Company H. His first assignment was pursuing Pancho Villa across the border.

World War I The regiment sailed about June 1, 1917, arriving at St. Nazaire, France, June 25. His unit was merged into the First Division and he was assigned to Company E, Second Machine Gun Battalion. He was shipped out of France on December 8, 1918, and after rehabilitation in hospital, discharged June 6, 1919. He was awarded battle stars for Sommerviller, Ansauville, Piardy, Cantigny, Second Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Mouson-Sedan, and Coblenz Bridgehead.