CODE TALKERS

The son of a missionary to the Navajo and a fluent Navajo speaker, Philip Johnston came up with an idea for secure military communications in 1942. Johnston recognized the value of Navajo as an unwritten, complex language and promoted its potential to serve as an undecipherable code. The Navy supported creation and adoption of a Navajo code.

An elite group of approximately 400 Navajo Marines trained to be Code Talkers between 1942 and 1945. The group served in the Pacific Theater with honor and courage. Major Howard Connor, a 5th Marine Division signal officer, claimed "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima." The Japanese never cracked the code. The U.S. Congress as well as Hollywood recently celebrated the WWII contributions of the Code Talkers.

GOLD MEDALS:
Based on research by: Alexander Molnar Jr., U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Army (Ret.) honoring the Navajo Code TalkersI introduced the bill, "Honoring the Navajo Code Talkers Act," which was signed into law on December 22, 2000. It authorizes the President of the United States to award a gold medal, on behalf of the Congress, to each of the original twenty nine Navajo Code Talkers, as well as a silver medal to each man who later qualified as a Navajo Code Talker. These medals are to express recognition by the United States of America and its citizens of the Navajo Code Talkers who distinguished themselves in performing a unique, highly successful communications operation that greatly assisted in saving countless lives and in hastening the end of World War II in the Pacific theater.

It has taken too long to properly recognize these soldiers, whose achievements have been obscured by twin veils of secrecy and time. As they approach the final chapter of their lives, it is only fitting that the nation pay them this honor. That's why I introduced this legislation – to salute these brave and innovative Native Americans, to acknowledge the great contribution they made to the Nation at a time of war, and to finally give them their rightful place in history.

With each new successive generation of Americans, blessed as we are in this time of relative peace and prosperity, it is easy to forget what the world was like in the early 1940s. The United States was at war in Europe, and on December 7, 1941, we were faced with a second front as the Japanese Empire attacked Pearl Harbor.

One of the intelligence weapons the Japanese military possessed was an elite group of welltrained English speaking soldiers, used to intercept U.S. communications, then sabotage the message or issue false commands to ambush American troops. Military code became more and more complex – at Guadalcanal, military leaders complained that it took two and one half hours to send and decode a single message.

After being convinced of the possibility of success by the son of a missionary who was raised on the Navajo reservation, the Marine Corps called upon the Navajo Nation to support the military effort by recruiting and enlisting Navajo men to serve as Marine Corps Radio Operators. These Navajo Marines, who became known as the Navajo Code Talkers, used the Navajo language to develop a unique code to communicate military messages in the South Pacific. The code developed by these Native Americans proved unbreakable and was used throughout the Pacific theater.

Their accomplishment was even more heroic given the cultural context in which they were operating. Subjected to alienation in their own homeland and discouraged from speaking their own language, they still stepped forward and developed the most significant and successful military code of the time.

The Code was so successful that military commanders credited it with saving the lives of countless American soldiers and the successful engagements of the U.S. in the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. At Iwo Jima, Major Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal officer, declared, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima." Major Connor had six Navajo Code Talkers working around the clock during the first 48hours of the battle. Those six sent and received over 800 messages, all without error.

In fact, the code was so successful that the Department of Defense kept the Code secret for 23 years after the end of World War II, when it was finally declassified in 1968 – and there lies the foundation of the problem.

If their achievements had been hailed at the conclusion of the war, proper honors would have been bestowed at that time. But the Code Talkers were sworn to secrecy, an oath they kept and honored, but at the same time, one that robbed them of the very accolades and place in history they so rightly deserved. Their ranks include veterans of Guadalcanal, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa; they gave their lives at New Britain, Bougainville, Guam, and Peleliu. But, at the end of the war, these unsung heroes returned to their homes on buses – no parades, no fanfare, no special recognition for what they had truly accomplished – because while the war was over, their duty – their oath of secrecy – continued. When the secrecy surrounding the code was finally declassified, only then did a realization of the sacrifice and valor of these brave Native Americans begin to emerge.

Through the presentation of this distinguished award, the Congress expresses the gratitude of an entire nation to these brave and innovative veterans for their contributions and sacrifice in the struggle for freedom and democracy. After long last, we may finally mark that place in history so long overdue the Navajo Code Talkers.

Public Law No. 106-554, signed by the President on 21 December 2000. The bill was part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2001.

THE CODE:

The code used by the Navajo Code Talkers created messages by first translating Navajo words into English, then using the first letter of each English word to decipher the meaning. Because different Navajo words might be translated into different English words for the same letter, the code was especially difficult to decipher. For example, for the letter "A," the Code Talker could use "wol-la-chee" (ant), "be-la-sana," (apple), or "tse-nill" (ax.) Some military terms that had no equivalent in Navajo were assigned their own code word. The word America, for example, was "Ne-he-mah" (Our mother). Submarine became "besh-lo" (iron fish).

CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY-JULY 26,2001

The Congressional gold medal ceremony was held in the Capitol Rotunda on July 26, 2001, witnessed by a standing-room-only audience. Members of Congress, the Marine Corps, Code Talker family members, and invited guests crowded into the chamber to participate in this historic event, at which President Bush presented gold medals to the first twenty-nine Navajo Code Talkers.

Among those honored were: John Brown Jr., Crystal, N.M.; Chester Nez, Albuquerque, N.M.; Allen Dale June, West Valley City, Utah; and Lloyd Oliver, Phoenix, Ariz. Joe Palmer, also one of the original 29, was unable to attend for health reasons. The following Code Talkers were represented at the ceremony by family members: Charlie Y. Begay, Roy L. Begay, Samuel H. Begay, John Ashi Benally, Wilsie H. Bitsie, Cosey S. Brown, John Chee, Benjamin Cleveland, Eugene R. Crawford, David Curley, Lowell S. Damon, George H. Dennison, James Dixon, Carl N. Gorman, Oscar B. Ilthma, Alfred Leonard, Johnny R. Manuelito, William McCabe, Jack Nez, Frank Denny Pete, Nelson S. Thompson, Harry Tsosie, John Willie and William Dean Wilson.

John Brown, Jr. spoke on behalf of the recipients, thanking the President and the Congress. He was interrupted several times as the audience rose to their feet to cheer and applaud. "It seems fitting to be here in the Capitol Rotunda, such a historic place, where so many heroes have been honored. I am proud that the Navajo Code Talkers today join the ranks of those great Americans" Brown said. "Of the original 29 Code Talkers" he continued, "there are just 5 of us that live today -- Chester Nez, Lloyd Oliver, Alan Dale June, Joe Palmer, and myself. We have seen much in our lives; we have experienced war and peace; we know the value of freedom and democracy that this great nation embodies. But, our experiences have also shown us how fragile these things can be, and how we must stay ever vigilant to protect them. As Code Talkers -- as Marines -- we did our part to protect these values. It is my hope that our young people will carry on this honorable tradition as long as the grass shall grow and the rivers flow."

Senator Bingaman described the Congressional gold medals as among the most distinguished honors the Congress can bestow. In this case, he added, he also considers it a celebration of human ingenuity and innovation, especially when faced with what seemed to be insurmountable odds. "As a nation," he said, "we are but a product of those who have come before us, and of their accomplishments, their contributions, and their sacrifice in the struggle for freedom and democracy. Through the presentation of this distinguished award, the Congress expresses the gratitude of an entire nation to these brave and innovative veterans."

As we face our current struggles and uncertain times ahead, we may take comfort in knowing we have such notable and excellent examples to follow.

It is easy to forget what the world was like in the early 1940s. The United States was at war in Europe, and on December 7, 1941, we were faced with a second front as the Japanese Empire attacked Pearl Harbor.

One of the intelligence weapons the Japanese possessed was an elite group of well trained English speaking soldiers, used to intercept U.S. communications, then sabotage the message or issue false commands to ambush American troops. Military code became more and more complex – at Guadalcanal, military leaders complained that it took two and a half hours to send and decode a single message.

The use of Native American languages in coded military communications was not new to World War II; Choctaw Indians, for example were used as Code Talkers in World War I. The idea of using Navajo as code in World War II came from a veteran of World War I, Philip Johnston. Johnston, knowledgeable in the use of Native American languages during the first world war, knew of the military's search for a code that would withstand all attempts to decipher it. He was also the son of a missionary, raised on the Navajo reservation, spoke fluent Navajo, and believed Navajo answered the military requirement for an undecipherable code as it was an unwritten language of extreme complexity. After an impressive demonstration, the Marine Corps called upon the Navajo Nation to support the military effort by recruiting and enlisting Navajo men to serve as Marine Corps Radio Operators.

The "first twenty-nine," as they are sometimes referred to, are the first twenty-nine enlistees credited with the development of the original code, consisting of approximately 200 terms. It was designed to be short and concise and used or combined standard native words to create new terms for military hardware. But what proved to be most inventive, and confusing to the enemy, was the incorporation of an innovative alphabet to cover unforseen contingencies. Using this method, the Navajo Code Talker could use distinctly different words for the exact same message, making the code extremely complex, but at the same time improving the speed of vital military communications. Due to its very flexibility, development of the code continued under subsequent Navajo Code Talkers, growing to over 600 terms. By the end of the war the Navajo code, and the very technique by which it was developed, became the most innovative, successful, and closely guarded military secret code of its time.

Between the creation and the code's evolution is a distinction worthy of note. While all Navajo Code Talkers deserve recognition for their contribution to the code's use and continuing development, the original twenty-nine members gave birth to the idea, setting the standard for this living code.
Have more to add? E-mail Jo Ann  

(Kathy Weiser, owner/editor, Legends of America,)

 

HOME COMING FOR A CODE TALKER   New

The secret language that was used by more than four hundred Navajo communications specialists in the Pacific during World War II associated Navajo words, broken into code, with military terms. Thus their word for "owl" meant an observation plane, ' 'potato'' was a hand grenade, ' 'rabbit trails'' were roads, "eggs" were bombs, and "ironfish" meant torpedo. An alphabet was also devised where the Navajo word for "ant" was the letter a, "bear" in Navajo meant b, and so forth.

Messages transmitted via this complicated code enabled U. S. Marines to take over the island of Iwo Jima. After the war these ' 'code talkers'' agreed to anonymity, in case their services were needed again. Here one Navajo code talker dwells less upon his wartime adventures than upon his return to culture and kin, an experience that was more stressful to other Indian veterans. For their success in evading Japanese intelligence and making secret landings possible, the Navajo code talkers were honored in 1982 with a presidential proclamation declaring August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day.
I WAS 18 when I entered the service, on very short notice. I didn't even have time to go back to see my parents. All I did was write them a letter. I was working at the hospital in Fort Defiance when I suddenly made up my mind to join the Marines. I filled out my application, had my physical and was on my way. I had been exposed to the Catholic religion a little, but I admit I hadn't taken it very seriously.
I did pray many many times when I was exposed to danger on the main battleline, as a code talker and as a signalman. I prayed as my mother and father had taught me—to the Heavenly Being as well as to Mother Earth.

Now when I came back, surprisingly my mother told me, "Son, do you know that since you left, almost every morning, I have gone to my sacred hill and prayed, using my sacred corn pollen, that you would come back with your whole physical being and a good mind." Maybe that is the reason I came back all in one piece

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Now I did have a heck of a time with malaria; I got it on Guadalcanal. Out of about 6000 Marines over there, I was among the last 16 to get it. Some of the colonels and generals asked, "How is it with you Navajos? Are you so tough that you don't even need to take quinine?" I always said, "I don't know. I had a tough life when I was a little boy."

I came back to San Francisco, where they sent me to a rehabilitation center, then to a hospital, then home for a month's leave. I was skin and bones. I came back to Gallup where my father met me. He said, "Son, I'm glad you came back alive, I don't want you to go to town and try to have some fun; I want you to come home with me. I have something for you there." So I said, "O.K." Well, they had a medicine man there for me. They had a sing over me.

My mother and father were so happy to have me back that they killed a little nine-months pet goat; it was real tender. They wanted to feed me, I was so thin. But it didn't have any taste to it. I just couldn't eat it. I had to set it aside. There was something about the malaria, the things I had gone through, the difference in the wind and air . . . well, I just couldn't eat it. But I got well. I think my mother's prayers on her sacred hill helped me through the war and after I got back home.
 

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