By Alissa HartenbaumBy Alissa Hartenbaum

OBJECTIVES

•How and why the Navajo Code Talkers were created•How the code works•The Navajo language•Japanese attempts to crack the code•Honors of the Code Talkers

Philip JohnstonPhilip Johnston A World War 1 veteran who had been A World War 1 veteran who had been

raised on a Navajo (Nah-vuh-hraised on a Navajo (Nah-vuh-hōō) ) ReservationReservation

He knew that Choctaw (another Native He knew that Choctaw (another Native American language) had been used in American language) had been used in WWIWWI

Under simulated combat conditions, he Under simulated combat conditions, he showed that Navajos could encode, showed that Navajos could encode, transmit, and decode a three-line English transmit, and decode a three-line English message in 20 seconds. Machines message in 20 seconds. Machines required 30 minutes. required 30 minutes.

The first 29 Navajo recruits attended boot The first 29 Navajo recruits attended boot camp and created the Navajo code. They camp and created the Navajo code. They developed a dictionary and numerous words developed a dictionary and numerous words for military terms which were memorized for military terms which were memorized during training.during training.

How the Code WorksHow the Code Works– Each Navajo word was translated into its English equivalentEach Navajo word was translated into its English equivalent– The first letter of the English equivalents spelled an English The first letter of the English equivalents spelled an English

word. word. – To spell navy :To spell navy :

"tsah” ("tsah” (NNeedle)eedle) ““wol-la-chee” (wol-la-chee” (AAnt)nt) ““ah-keh-di- glini” (ah-keh-di- glini” (VVictor)ictor) ““tsah-ah-dzoh” (tsah-ah-dzoh” (YYucca) ucca)

– ““Wol-la-chee" (ant), "be-la-sana" (apple) and "tse-nill" (axe) all Wol-la-chee" (ant), "be-la-sana" (apple) and "tse-nill" (axe) all stood for the letter "a."stood for the letter "a."

– Not all words were spelled out. There were 450 code words for Not all words were spelled out. There were 450 code words for certain military terms. “Besh- lo" (iron fish) meant "submarine," certain military terms. “Besh- lo" (iron fish) meant "submarine," "dah-he- tih-hi" (hummingbird) meant "fighter plane" and "dah-he- tih-hi" (hummingbird) meant "fighter plane" and "debeh-li-zine" (black street) meant "squad.“"debeh-li-zine" (black street) meant "squad.“

The Navajo LanguageThe Navajo Language

Unwritten languageUnwritten language No alphabet or symbolsNo alphabet or symbols Extremely complexExtremely complex Spoken only on the NavajoSpoken only on the Navajo

lands of the Americanlands of the AmericanSouthwestSouthwest

Less than 30 non-Navajos, none of them Less than 30 non-Navajos, none of them Japanese, could understand the language at Japanese, could understand the language at the outbreak of World War IIthe outbreak of World War II

Navajos in AmericaNavajos in America

In 1942, there were about 50,000 Navajo tribe In 1942, there were about 50,000 Navajo tribe members.members.

By 1945, about 540 Navajos served as By 1945, about 540 Navajos served as Marines.Marines.

375 to 420 of those trained as code talkers375 to 420 of those trained as code talkers

During the first two days of During the first two days of battle at Iwo Jima, over battle at Iwo Jima, over 800 messages were sent 800 messages were sent and received by only 6 and received by only 6 Navajos…Navajos…

without any errorswithout any errors

A Navajo soldier taken A Navajo soldier taken prisoner at Bataan was prisoner at Bataan was forced to listen to the forced to listen to the jumbled words of talker jumbled words of talker transmissions. He said transmissions. He said to a code talker after to a code talker after the war, "I never the war, "I never figured out what you figured out what you guys who got me into guys who got me into all that trouble were all that trouble were saying." saying."

The Japanese chief The Japanese chief of intelligence, of intelligence, Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Seizo Arisue, said Seizo Arisue, said that the only US that the only US military codes that military codes that Japan never Japan never cracked were cracked were Marine codesMarine codes

HonorsHonors– The Navajo code talkers were honored The Navajo code talkers were honored

Sept. 17, 1992, at the PentagonSept. 17, 1992, at the Pentagon– Until then, the code had been classified Until then, the code had been classified

and still usedand still used– 35 code talker veterans attended the 35 code talker veterans attended the

dedication of the Navajo code talker dedication of the Navajo code talker exhibit. The exhibit includes a display of exhibit. The exhibit includes a display of photographs, equipment and the original photographs, equipment and the original code, along with an explanation of how code, along with an explanation of how the code worked. the code worked.

–

Dedication ceremonies included speeches by the Deputy Dedication ceremonies included speeches by the Deputy Secretary of Defense Donald Atwood, Secretary of Defense Donald Atwood, U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona and Navajo President U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona and Navajo President Peterson Zah.Peterson Zah.

The United States The United States Military has just Military has just stated that the stated that the “Windtalkers” must “Windtalkers” must never be captured never be captured alive by the enemy. alive by the enemy. Joe Enders and "Ox" Joe Enders and "Ox" Anderson must Anderson must protect two Navajo protect two Navajo code talkers. While code talkers. While Enders is initially Enders is initially frustrated with his frustrated with his assignment, his assignment, his respect grows as the respect grows as the code talkers prove code talkers prove their worth in the their worth in the brutal battle to take brutal battle to take Saipan.Saipan.

Directed by Directed by John WooJohn Woo Released in Released in 20022002 Won one Won one award and award and nominated for nominated for 3 others3 others

August 14August 14thth is now… is now…

NAVAJO CODE TALKERS NAVAJO CODE TALKERS DAYDAY

We have conquered our enemiesWe have conquered our enemies Nin hokeh bi-kheh a-na-ih-laNin hokeh bi-kheh a-na-ih-la All over the world All over the world Ta-al-tso-go na-he-seel-kaiTa-al-tso-go na-he-seel-kai On land and on sea On land and on sea Nih-bi-kah-gi do tah kah-giNih-bi-kah-gi do tah kah-gi Everywhere we fight Everywhere we fight Ta-al-tso-go en-da-de-pahTa-al-tso-go en-da-de-pah True and loyal to our duty True and loyal to our duty Tsi-di-da-an-ne ne-tay-yahTsi-di-da-an-ne ne-tay-yah We are know by that We are know by that Ay be nihe hozeenAy be nihe hozeen United States Marines United States Marines Washindon be Akalh Bi-kosi-laWashindon be Akalh Bi-kosi-la To be one is a great thing. To be one is a great thing. Ji-lengo ba-hozhonJi-lengo ba-hozhon Our flag waves Our flag waves Ni-he da-na-ah-taj ihlaNi-he da-na-ah-taj ihla From dawn to setting sun. From dawn to setting sun. Yel khol-go e-e-ahYel khol-go e-e-ah We have fought every place We have fought every place Day-ne tal-al-tso go enta-she-jahDay-ne tal-al-tso go enta-she-jah where we could take a gun where we could take a gun Tal-tso-go entas-se-pahTal-tso-go entas-se-pah From northern landsFrom northern lands Ha-kaz dineh-ih be-hay-jahHa-kaz dineh-ih be-hay-jah To southern tropic scenes, To southern tropic scenes, Ado ta aokhek-ash-shenAdo ta aokhek-ash-shen We are known to be tireless We are known to be tireless Do ni-din-da-hi ol-yehDo ni-din-da-hi ol-yeh The United States Marines The United States Marines Washindon be Akalh-bi KhosWashindon be Akalh-bi Khos May we live in peace hereafter May we live in peace hereafter Hozo-go nay-yeltayHozo-go nay-yeltay to We have conquered all our foes, to We have conquered all our foes, A-na-oh bi-keh de-dlihnA-na-oh bi-keh de-dlihn No force in the world we cannot No force in the world we cannot Ni-hi-keh di-dlini ta-etinNi-hi-keh di-dlini ta-etin conquer, We know of no fear conquer, We know of no fear Yeh-wol-ye hi-he a-dinYeh-wol-ye hi-he a-din If the Army and the Navy If the Army and the Navy Sila-go-tsoi do chah-lakaiSila-go-tsoi do chah-lakai Ever look on Heaven's scenes, Ever look on Heaven's scenes, Ya-ansh-go das dez e eYa-ansh-go das dez e e United States Marines will be United States Marines will be Washindon be Akalh-bi Kosi la thereWashindon be Akalh-bi Kosi la there Living in peace. Living in peace. Hozo-g-kay-ha-tehn Hozo-g-kay-ha-tehn

A Navajo Marines Song