Code Talker holiday created

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Council voted 56-0 Friday to establish Aug. 14 as Navajo Nation Code Talkers Day and a Navajo Nation holiday.

Delegate Larry Anderson of Fort Defiance, sponsor of the legislation, told council, "In all the war histories of the United States, no other language other than English was used, except in World War II, when the United States for the first time in its military history used the Navajo people, and used Navajo words to win the war."

Anderson said the Navajo recruit developed the initial Navajo code using Navajo words.

"The Japanese were unable to understand and unable to decipher the Navajo code. Even the United States military personnel were unable to understand and to decipher the Navajo code," he said.

"The Navajo code was dispatched by the Navajo and received by Navajo and translated by Navajo."

The use of Navajo Code Talkers had an unprecedented and significant function in United States military history, Anderson said. So significant, in fact, it was declared top secret.

"Bear in mind that before the use of the Navajo Code Talkers the United States did use other military codes, but enemies were able to break those codes," he said.

It is estimated that between 375 and 420 Navajos served as code talkers. The program was highly classified throughout the war and remained so until 1968, when, 23 years after the end of World War II, the U.S. Department of Defense declassified it.

The first Navajo code consisted of 211 words, most of which had been given new, distinct military meanings.

For example, "fighter plane" was called "da-he-tih-hi," which means "hummingbird" in Navajo. A "dive bomber" was called "gini," which means "chicken hawk."

In 2001, 56 years after the end of World War II, Anderson said, the United States recognized the Navajo Code Talker as America's war hero and awarded congressional gold medals to the original Navajo code talkers.

Four of the original 29 code talkers attended the July 26, 2001, ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

President George W. Bush hailed the code talkers as men "who, in a desperate hour, gave their country a service only they could give."