How the Navajo Code Talkers helped win World War II
From Out West #14
By Chuck Woodbury, editor,
Out West.
Unique effort by the Navajo helped win the war in the Pacific during
World War II. The war erupted with the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the
Japanese. During the early months in the Pacific, Japanese intelligence
experts broke every code the United States devised for combat messages.
In
any war situation, the rapid and accurate transmission of combat
messages is essential. The Japanese, however, were learning in advance,
the time and place of American attacks. Something had to be done fast
to help the Americans communicate freely and secretly.
Shortly
after Pearl Harbor, a group of 29 Navajo volunteers were recruited from
their homeland. Little did they know the crucial role they would
eventually play in helping win the war.
Philip
Johnston, a former missionary’s son who once lived on the Navajo
Reservation, was responsible for recruiting the Navajo. His plan was to
devise a code utilizing the complex unwritten language of the Navajo.
Knowing the complex syntax and intricate tonal qualities of the
language, he convinced the Marines it would baffle the best of
cryptographers. Johnston said the language could be used as the basis
for a code to transmit vital information and battle plans.
With
the help of the Navajo, the task of creating code terms was soon
underway. Navajo words were selected to describe complex military
equipment and operations. Where possible, words that had a logical
association with the desired military term were selected. Thus the
Navajo word for frog became the code word for amphibious, potato became
grenade, egg became bomb and American became “nihima” (our mothers).
"Were
it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima,”
said Major Howard Conner, signal officer of the Fifth Marine Division
at Iwo Jima. “During the first 48 hours, while we were landing and
consolidating our shore positions, I had six Navajo radio networks
operating around the clock. In that period alone, they sent and
received over 800 messages without an error.”
The
code was so successful that eventually more than 400 Navajo were
recruited. The Japanese were completely baffled by the complicated
code, and their master cryptographers never broke it.
Formal
recognition of the Navajo Code Talkers came on June 28, 1969. The
Fourth Marine Division honored the men with medallions commemorating
their efforts. This began a series of recognitions that included
proclamations from the states of Arizona and New Mexico. On July 28,
1982 the President of the United States signed a measure proclaiming
August 14 as “National Navajo Code Talkers Day.” Today,
the surviving Navajo Code Talkers make their headquarters at the
Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce. The Navajo Code Talker Room
is open to the public; exhibits tell the fascinating story of these
veterans. Another exhibit is located at the Burger King restaurant on
the Navajo Reservation at Kayenta.
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Hi Myrna,
Since it's Memorial Day today, I wanted to share especially how Native Americans have played a significant role in helping the USA during WWII; there are several books that are available that details the invaluable role that they played to confound the Japanese. It's a remarkable & fascinating story. Also, the info that Alain shared was quite interesting. I learn new info every time I come here to your forum.
Thanks for keeping up the good work!
Cheryl :-)