A language rejected, A language needed: Our WWII Code Talkers


     The first time I had heard about the Navajo Code Talkers was during their 2017 visit with the present President of the United States. In 1982 they were given a certificate of recognition by Ronald Reagan, and in 2000 they were given gold and silver Congressional Medals of Honor during President Bush's term in office. There were also the Comanche code talkers who in 1989 were awarded the highest honor, the Chevalier of the National Order of Merit, by the French government.


Gold and Silver Congressional Medals of Honor

     The Navajo were sought out by the United States Marine Corps to volunteer, train, and develop a code language that could not be understood by the Japanese. Twenty-nine code talkers were inducted into the Marines and between they developed an unbreakable code that was committed to memory. One of the Navajo Marines praised the Indian School which he attended for his success, as he stated they had been trained in the military ways. Additionally, because of their military training at the Indian School, they were able to prepare for two weeks with the Marines and were immediately put to work on developing the codes. I don't believe that the U.S. military chose haphazardly but chose wisely and each Navajo who volunteered did so for their country, America. It is true that they were not recognized after their tour of duty because the code project had not been declassified and the military may have wanted to use their skills for another time of war.

Code Talkers Patch: The language they were forbidden to speak is the same language that SAVED THIS NATION.
The few, the proud, the Marines. Semper Fi
Code Talkers and U.S. Marine Patches

     An interesting fact about the Navajo code talkers was their presence in the thirty-day battle that took place on the island of Iwo Jima. American history shows the iconic flag raising on Mt. Suribachi to commemorate the U.S. military victory at Iwo Jima with never a mention, in any history class, of the Navajo Marines who gave their lives in the battle.

There were two flag raisings at Iwo Jima (this is the first). The code talkers were instrumental in helping to win this historical war -- history classes never taught about the code talkers. 
It took many years for the code talkers, Navajo, Comanche, and other Native American tribes, to be recognized for the sacrifices they made during this historic war, but they never said a word about not being honored -- the code talkers highest honor was to serve their country.



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References:
Youtube. PBS News Hour. "President Trump Meets World War II Navajo Code Talkers at the White House." Published November 27, 2017. Accessed on 10/30/2018 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuXc3IenURc&t=47s.
Youtube. "Navajo Code Talkers Honored." Published December 25, 2014. Accessed on 10/30/2018 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aAKWUHqrjs&t=10s.
National Museum of the American Indian. Native Words, Native Warriors. "Recognition: Medals and Praise." Accessed 10/30/2018 fromhttps://americanindian.si.edu/education/codetalkers/html/chapter7.html.

Youtube. "In Search of History: Navajo Code Talkers." Published July 31, 2016. Accessed 10/24/2018 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po9vUB0vV74.

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