Jonah was born in 1920 out of the relationship between a Cherokee woman and a Dutch immigrant. Being a halfbreed he always felt discriminated in the Cherokee community as well as the White-man’s world. He feels less worthy than others despite the fact that he turns out to have an eiditic memory and an above average intelligence. When he is draftred for military service and ends up in Europe during WO II, it turns out that his right to live is not only up for discussion in Oklahoma.