The Japanese just couldn't crack it.
It’s been 68 years since the Navajo Code Talkers landed on the beach of Iwo Jima, Japan, and successfully delivered more than 800 encrypted messages without error.
In 1982, 40 years after that famed campaign, in honor of their bravery, skill and service, then-President Ronald Reagan declared August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day.
The Navajo Code Talkers are lauded for hastening a swift end to World War II by providing the U.S. with a dictionary of Navajo words that were transmitted by radio and telephones. The code carried sensitive information about troop movements and other imperative field operations.
Following Iwo Jima, Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal officer, stated “were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.”
On Sept. 17, 1992, 35 Navajo Code Talker U.S. Marine Corps veterans were honored at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. for their service to their country. That same day an exhibit was dedicated to their prowess.
The exhibit includes radios, photographs and an explanation of how the code worked.
In 2000, then-President Bill Clinton awarded the original 29 World War II code talkers with the Congressional Gold Medal. Five were still alive at the time, but only four could make it to Washington in 2001 where then-President George W. Bush personally presented them with their medals.
The Navajo Code Talkers’ operation was finally declassified by the U.S. in 1968, opening up the opportunity to honor the Marines who drew up and employed the uncrackable code.(SOURCE)
For more information, go to Navajocodetalkers.org.
In 1982, 40 years after that famed campaign, in honor of their bravery, skill and service, then-President Ronald Reagan declared August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day.
The Navajo Code Talkers are lauded for hastening a swift end to World War II by providing the U.S. with a dictionary of Navajo words that were transmitted by radio and telephones. The code carried sensitive information about troop movements and other imperative field operations.
Following Iwo Jima, Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal officer, stated “were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.”
On Sept. 17, 1992, 35 Navajo Code Talker U.S. Marine Corps veterans were honored at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. for their service to their country. That same day an exhibit was dedicated to their prowess.
The exhibit includes radios, photographs and an explanation of how the code worked.
In 2000, then-President Bill Clinton awarded the original 29 World War II code talkers with the Congressional Gold Medal. Five were still alive at the time, but only four could make it to Washington in 2001 where then-President George W. Bush personally presented them with their medals.
The Navajo Code Talkers’ operation was finally declassified by the U.S. in 1968, opening up the opportunity to honor the Marines who drew up and employed the uncrackable code.(SOURCE)
For more information, go to Navajocodetalkers.org.
VIDEO National Navajo Code Talkers Day
if it had not for the code talkers, we would not have won the war in the pacific.........40 years to recognize them?........another 8 years to have them decorated, when only 4 were still alive? if they had been white, they would have had a ticker tape parade, sent to Washington, been decorated, and talked up in the press forever. as it was, none of us grew knowing the great risk, and the great patriotism of these native people. I don't know if I would have wanted to save a country that looked down on my and took my land the Japanese looked for these radiomen, they knew if they killed them, the transmission, and the code would be broken. thank you, Navaho code talkers! I salute you!!!!!!!!!!!
Hei, ya Hei, Shu'zu
Thank you to all the Navajo that served and risked their life for a country that did what they did to the Native American People... I am so sorry for everything that was done to your people and all of the other Native Amercian People.. A great debt will always be to the Grest Native Warriors, The Navajo Code Talkers.... God bless all of you...
Thank You.
The few, the brave, the proud. All knew what lay before them, and the secrecy their mission was surrounded by, and yet they still went, and they kept their word beyond all other things. They knew they were never to be taken alive. What they faced was beyond heroic. On behalf of all people we thank these men, and their families. One hopes if faced with similar circumstances we could measure up to their standard!
Salute to you who Served our Country .... To you who are decedents to all Code Talkers....Remember they and your Tribe have a Respect for all they have done. Code Talkera!!
Thank y'all from the bottom of my heart with out your bravery,honor,courage and love I may have never been born,I hope you all have peace and hour family's many blessings and good health
Just to say thank you isn’t enough to these brave men. The highest respect to you. God’s blessings be with you and your family.
This was the only code NEVER to be broken by the enemy and these brave men volunteered to serve their country in a time of war even though they were more oppressed than any other group in American history. We owe them our respect, and thanks. They are the highest definition of a hero, doing what is right regardless of what your circumstances are and doing it with no expectation of being recognized or rewarded for doing it. Semper Fi and God bless All of them both living and those that have passed.
I am thrilled to say that I know a son of one of the Code Talkers so I learned about them and their great contribution to America at an early age. I don't think any of these men bore bitterness that their country was taken from them. I think they would have said 'Who can own the earth, the sky, and the sun?" and with this, they joined the war effort.
I have to admit that before the film with Nicholas Cage I would never have known about this group of wonderful men who without doubt saved countless lives and help us end the war. What is even more amazing is that after everything the Navajo people had gone through that they would actually help a government who treated the Native People so poorly.
This speaks volumes to the charter of Code Talkers and The Navajo People....we are blessed and need to make sure in the spirit of story telling we don't let this piece of history fade away.
We can NEVER say THANKS enough!
Thank you for your service. Amazing!!
What you did and accomplished is incredible. From the bottom of my heart thank you. My sister's husband, Navy, lost his leg at Pearl Harbor 12/7/1941.
All gone now...
Interesting - had they been white, the Congressional Medal of Honor would have been given - 'member Wounded Knee - Waschita and others?
Think that "Gold Medal" should seriously be upgraded.
TO ALL OF THOSE NAVAJO TALKERS! THANK YOU SO MUCH! FOR CONTRIBUTING TO WIN THE WAR. I SALUTE YOU ALL! BELOVED WARIORS GOD BLESS YOU ALL. <3
Thank you code talkers. God bless you.
I wood like to thank you