Brummett T. Echohawk (1922-2006) was an artist known for his wartime illustrations, historical pictures, and impressionist landscapes, as well as an actor, speaker, humorist, and writer. He was born on March 3, 1922, in Pawnee, Oklahoma, and died at age 83 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on February 13, 2006. Echohawk was a member of the Pawnee Indian tribe.
During World War II, Echohawk served with Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Division, known as the Thunderbirds, in Company B, 179th Infantry. He saw active duty in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, demonstrating bravery in combat for which he received three Bronze Star Medals, three Purple Hearts, and a Congressional Gold Medal. Echohawk's wartime art depicting combat was published in the Army's Yank Magazine and distributed to 88 newspapers across the nation.
Echohawk was deeply influenced by his Pawnee roots. However, he resisted the label of "Indian artist." Echohawk's paintings and illustrations explore themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the regional landscape.[1]