John L. Sloat

First Sergeant John L. Sloat, US Army, was born 11 July 1931 in Hog Creek Community, Oklahoma, east of Norman, and was raised in a log cabin there. He attempted to join the US Army in 1945, but was found to be too young and was discharged. In 1947 he graduated Old Red Hill Bethel High School and in 1948 enlisted into the US Army.

1SG Sloat completed basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. In 1950 he was deployed to South Korea and was wounded fighting in the Korean War. He received the Purple Heart. In 1964 he was deployed to South Vietnam. For service there he was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts. In 1968 he was re-assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He retired from the US Army in 1973.

1SG Sloat is a citizen of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe and served three terms (1982–1988) as the first Governor (Chairman) of the Tribe. He also served three years as Chairman of the Oklahoma Department of Indian Affairs.