CODE TALKERS

The Navajo Indians were
America's secret weapon in defeating
the Japanese in World War 2. The Navajo
Code Talkers took part in every assault
the U.S. Marines conducted from 1942 to 1945.

Although the Japanese were very skilled at
breaking codes, they could not break the code
of the Navajo language.

"Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines
would never have taken Iwo Jima."
(Major Howard Conner, 5th Marine Div.)

The Navajo Nation is the largest Native
American tribe in the Southwest.

It is said by high military officers that
World War 2 might have had a different
outcome without the help of the Code Talkers.

It wasn't until Sept of 1972 that the
Navajos were honored by their country.

June 8, 2000  Update

The Associated Press reported that the U.S.
Senate had unanimously approved a proposal
that would grant  Congressional Gold Medals
to the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers who
 served during World War 2.

Navajo Code Talkers 
Honored After 56 Years

July, 2001

Twenty-nine Native Americans were finally
 honored by Congress Thursday for 
ancient language skills that helped 
the United States win World War II.

President Bush presented four of the five
 living code talkers -- and relatives of the 24 others --
 with the Congressional Gold Medal at an
 afternoon ceremony in the Capitol rotunda.