[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 187 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8252-H8258]
HONORING NAVAJO CODE TALKERS
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Reed). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) is
recognized for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the
majority leader.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, thank you for joining me this evening to talk
about a very special group of veterans, the Navajo Code Talkers.
Tonight, my colleagues and I are going to share their stories and
highlight the amazing accomplishments of this group of warriors. Their
contribution to the Allied effort during World War II is widely
credited with winning the Battle of Iwo Jima and making majors gains in
the Pacific.
During the early months of World War II, Japanese intelligence
experts broke every code the U.S. forces devised. The Japanese were
able to decode and intercept communications with ease. To combat this,
increasingly complex codes were initiated that sometimes took hours at
a time simply to decipher one message. Guadalcanal in 1942 was a
turning point for the Allied military forces, who realized that the
military communications needed a new direction, and new inspiration.
Fortunately, an innovative citizen named Philip Johnston had the
answer. As the son of a Protestant missionary, Johnston had grown up on
the Navajo reservation and was one of less than 30 non-Navajos fluent
in the unique Navajo language. He realized that since it had no
alphabet and was almost impossible to master without early exposure,
the Navajo language was a perfect choice to form a new, impenetrable
military code. In 1942, Johnston completed an impressive demonstration
of the Navajo language to the Commanding General of the Pacific fleet
headquartered in San Diego. He was then given permission to begin a
pilot for the Navajo Code Talker program, and I would like to submit
his letter dated March 8, 1942, for the Record.
Headquarters, Amphibious Force,
Pacific Fleet, Camp Elliott,
San Diego, CA, March 6, 1942
Subject: Enlistment of Navaho Indians.
To: The Commandant,
U.S. Marine Corps.
Enclosures: (A) Brochure by Mr. Philip Johnston, with maps.
(B) Messages used in demonstration.
1. Mr. Philip Johnston of Los Angeles recently offered his
services to this force to demonstrate the use of Indians for
the transmission of messages by telephone and voice-radio.
His offer was accepted and the demonstration was held for the
Commanding General and his staff.
2. The demonstration was interesting and successful.
Messages were transmitted and received almost verbatim. In
conducting the demonstration messages were written by a
member of the staff and handed to the Indian; he would
transmit the message in his tribal dialect and the Indian on
the other end would write them down in English. The text of
messages as written and received are enclosed. The Indians do
not have many military terms in their dialect so it was
necessary to give than a few minutes, before the
demonstration, to improvise words for dive-bombing, anti-tank
gun, etc.
3. Mr. Johnston stated that the Navaho is the only tribe in
the United States that has not been infested with German
students during the past twenty years. These Germans,
studying the various tribal dialects under the guise of art
students, anthropologists, etc., have undoubtedly attained a
good working knowledge of all tribal dialects except Navaho.
For this reason the Navaho is the only tribe available
offering complete security for the type of work under
consideration. It is noted in Mr. Johnston's article
(enclosed) that the Navaho is the largest tribe but the
lowest in literacy. He stated, however, that 1,000--if that
many were needed--could be found with the necessary
qualifications. It should also be noted that the Navaho
tribal dialect is completely unintelligible to all other
tribes and all other people, with the possible exception of
as many as 28 Americans who have made a study of the dialect.
This dialect is thus equivalent to a secret code to the
enemy, and admirably suited for rapid, secure communication.
4. It is therefore recommended that an effort be made to
enlist 200 Navaho Indians for this force. In addition to
linguistic qualifications in English and their tribal dialect
they
[[Page H8253]]
should have the physical qualifications for messengers.
Clayton B. Vogel,
Commanding General.
Their elite unit was formed in early 1942 when the first of the 29
Navajo Code Talkers were recruited by Johnston. The code was modified
and improved throughout the war, but it is so important to note that
these 29 Navajo heroes came up with the original code themselves.
Accordingly, they are often referred to reverently as the ``original
29.'' We will have the honor of reading their names a bit later this
evening.
Many of these enlistees were just boys with little exposure to the
world outside of the Navajo reservation. After the war, it was
discovered that recruits as young as 15 and as old as 35 years of age
had enlisted. In fact, a few of these men traveled to other towns on
the reservation, outside their clan where no one knew them and their
true age, in order to enlist underage and serve their country.
After sailing through basic training, the Navajo Code Talkers were
sent to Marine divisions in the Pacific theater of World War II. Their
reputation as innovators soon spread far and wide amongst their
commanding officers. In the field, they were not allowed to write any
part of the code down as a reference. In fact, the code existed only
amongst this small group. Under high pressure battle conditions, the
Code Talkers had to quickly recall their code accurately, or risk
hundreds or thousands of lives.
Make no mistake about the gravity of this accomplishment. The Navajo
Code Talkers created the only unbroken code in modern military history.
It baffled the Japanese forces. It was even indecipherable to a Navajo
soldier taken prisoner and tortured on Bataan.
The secret code created by the Navajo Code Talkers was a simple
marvel of linguistic invention. It contained native terms that were
associated with specialized or commonly used military language, as well
as native terms that represented letters in the alphabet.
English words with no Navajo translation were spelled out using the
Navajo alphabet. The selection of a given term was based on the first
letter of the English meaning of the Navajo word. For words that did
not translate into Navajo, the Code Talkers created code that did not
directly translate, but tended to resemble the things with which they
are associated. For example, the Navajo word for ``iron fish''
represented submarine. I could give many more examples, but I think
that one is particularly poignant. To say ``America,'' the Code Talkers
used the word ``ne-he-mah,'' which means ``our mother.''
This brilliant code allowed our U.S. Marines to communicate quickly
and accurately. The Code Talkers' brave work is widely credited with
successes of battle in the Pacific and, more ultimately, with helping
to end this tragic war.
{time} 1930
In the battle for Iwo Jima, in the first 48 hours alone they coded
over 800 transmissions with perfect accuracy.
While the true heroism of these brave warriors is known today, sadly,
the Code Talkers had to return home after the war without the heroes'
welcome they deserved. Ironically, the code was such a precious asset
to the U.S. military that it was classified and had to be kept secret.
While the code was declassified in 1968, it took years to properly
decorate those veterans. In 2001, nearly 60 years after they created
their legendary code, the Navajo Code Talkers finally received their
well-deserved Congressional Medals of Honor.
Today, only one original Code Talker remains, but the tradition lives
on. A delegation of the Four Corners States will attempt to recognize
these warriors one by one and give us their thoughts during this hour.
I would like to first recognize my good friend from Arizona (Mr.
Flake).
Mr. FLAKE. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for arranging this
Special Order. This is something that we in Arizona and anywhere in the
West in Utah and elsewhere have great pride in and that this
recognition, as the gentleman mentioned, came far too late and has been
far too little, given the amount of the impact that the Navajo Code
Talkers had on World War II.
So I'm pleased to be here and to lend my voice to recognition. As the
gentleman mentioned, only one of the original Code Talkers is still
living. So I think it's important that we recognize others who carried
on this code and tradition and helped out in this way.
This was a group, as we mentioned, of many Navajos, Native Americans,
who volunteered for the armed services in World War II. This was, as
the gentleman said, very successful. It was the only code that remained
unbroken. And one of the most amazing aspects of World War II is how
these people came together, as the gentleman mentioned, young kids in
their teen years and others, and volunteered for this effort. It's even
more remarkable when we note that many States did not permit Native
Americans to vote until the 1950s. Yet the Code Talkers were
undeterred. They wanted to help their country.
It's fitting that we honor this group on the anniversary of the
attack on Pearl Harbor, the start of World War II, because they had
such an integral part of ensuring that that brutal war came to an end.
I want to thank my colleague from Arizona and others who have come here
for putting together this timely tribute to make sure that these
individuals are recognized for the impact that they had in ending this
war and to ensure that this world remains free.
Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman.
I would like at this time to acknowledge my good friend from New
Mexico (Mr. Lujan).
Mr. LUJAN. I thank my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) for bringing
us together tonight as we get a chance to visit and celebrate heroes
that are amongst us, whether it's in spirit or body, as we are still so
fortunate to have Chester Nez with us, one of the original 29 as well.
With me tonight I have a few excerpts of articles that have been
written around the country that capture some stories recently in the
Fronteras Desk. An author by the name of Laurel Morales captured the
story of Chester Nez. It starts like this: ``Growing up in New Mexico,
Chester Nez and many of his fellow Navajo were punished for speaking
their language.''
You talk about a language as they were pulled away to boarding
schools, so many of the young Navajo across the country, and the
importance of what they were able to accomplish during World War II. In
the words of Major Howard Connor of the 5th Marine Division, he
declared that were it not for the Navajos, the marines would never have
taken Iwo Jima, and the importance of language and what they were able
to accomplish.
The article goes on to read that years later, Nez was shocked to
learn that he'd been recruited by the marines specifically to devise a
code using the same language the government tried to beat out of him.
It was extremely ironic. One of the very things they were forbidden to
do--speak Navajo--ended up helping us save the war.
Mr. Nez goes on to say that he and his fellow Code Talkers first
developed an alphabet, as you described, Mr. Gosar, using everyday
Navajo words to represent letters of words, as you talked about--
submarine: iron fish; besh-lo: iron fish; and hummingbird: dah-he-tih-
hi to talk about fighter planes. It's amazing how when we talked about
the Japanese and how they were so effective at cracking codes, how they
couldn't crack this one.
Mr. Nez goes on to say in the article that being one of the last
original Code Talkers, he lives in Albuquerque with his son--a father
of six children. He has nine grandchildren and eight great-
grandchildren. It goes on to say that ``today, with so many people
leaving the reservation, Navajo elders like Nez fear their language is
dying. Nez hopes Navajo children learn the story of Code Talkers so
they understand just how critical it is to learn their own language.''
And thank you for bringing us together, Mr. Gosar, this evening to
help celebrate the history of our Code Talkers, as it wasn't until
Senator Bingaman moved legislation back in 2000 to be able to give
honor to our original 29--a few of them, at the very least, and their
families--with gold medals, and silver medals to the others that were
also trained to go on.
So I think this is an example of a few stories that we'll be
submitting and sharing this evening to be able to celebrate the lives
and stories and the history, especially on today as we remember Pearl
Harbor and all the sacrifice
[[Page H8254]]
and all the families we lost that day and so many brave soldiers as
well.
Thanks for bringing this tonight. I look forward to many stories and
continuing to share many of the articles that we've been able to find
capturing the history and personal stories of our friend, our heroes,
the Code Talkers from all throughout New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.
Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico.
At this time I would like to recognize my good friend from Utah (Mr.
Chaffetz).
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Thank you. I appreciate the bipartisan nature in which
we do this. These are truly American heroes who have made a difference
in our lives and something we should all be proud of and never forget.
I worry as these gentlemen get older that somehow generations in the
future will maybe forget this.
I appreciate you, Mr. Gosar, for your commitment to them. I know
you're passionate about this. I can see it in your eyes when you talk
about it.
I wanted to recognize and pay special tribute to somebody who's
originally from Utah, Samuel Tom Holiday. He was a Navajo Code Talker.
He served in the United States Marine Corps 4th Marine Division, 25th
Regiment, the H&S Company. We're fortunate to still have him here with
us in our presence today.
Mr. Holiday was born in 1924 on a Navajo reservation near the
Monument Valley area of Utah, down near the Four Corners area. He was a
Navajo Code Talker in World War II. As you have talked about before,
Code Talkers transmitted tactical messages by telephone and radio in
the Dine language. It was a code the Japanese were never able to break
and was very instrumental in our war efforts.
At a young age, Samuel and his brothers hid from government agents
who came to send Navajo children to boarding schools. Holiday said he
was ultimately caught and forced to attend a boarding school where he
was not allowed to speak his native language. As he said, ``One of the
hardest times I had was learning to talk English. I would hide cookies
in my pockets to pay the older boys to teach me English. Whenever
they''--the school instructors--``found out I had talked Navajo, they
made me scrub floors, scrub walls. I spent much of my first year
scrubbing the wall.''
Mr. Holiday attended the school until he was 18 years old and he was
recruited into the Marine Corps. Mr. Holiday served in the Pacific
theatre from 1943 to 1945 in Saipan, Tinian, Kwajalein Atoll, and Iwo
Jima.
From Mr. Holiday: ``A lot of time they sent us where it was a very
dangerous spot, and I sent messages. They didn't know we were Navajo
Code Talkers using Navajo language.'' The very language he was punished
for using in his boarding school was suddenly a major asset to the
United States Marines.
Mr. Holiday remains active with the Navajo Code Talkers Association.
He's traveled throughout most of the United States conducting
presentations about the Code Talkers and about his life experiences
before and after the war. I was very pleased to see that Mr. Holiday
was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal, something he was very
worthy of, obviously.
It's interesting to me that the Navajo Code Talker Program was
actually a secret until after the war and was not declassified until
later in 1968. It was another 14 years before the Navajo Code Talkers
were recognized by the United States Government. In fact, in December
of 1982, President Ronald Reagan recognized the Code Talkers for their
dedicated service, unique achievement, patriotism, resourcefulness, and
courage.
{time} 1940
August 14, 1982 was proclaimed National Navajo Code Talkers Day. I
think President Reagan did the right thing. I think it's something that
all Americans--I want my kids and people in Utah and across the Nation
to recognize the contributions and sacrifices that these people made.
They truly made a difference in our lives; instrumental in the war.
I appreciate this time to be able to recognize their achievements and
help to our country.
Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman from Utah.
I would like at this time to recognize my friend, the gentleman from
New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich).
Mr. HEINRICH. I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona for pulling
us together from around the four corners to honor these incredible
Native Americans, these incredible Americans, especially on this
historic anniversary. And I'm certainly honored to join my colleagues
tonight to honor the quiet valor of all the Navajo Code Talkers.
Today, some six decades since their service during World War II, only
one of the original 29 Code Talkers, Corporal Chester Nez, survives.
And I am incredibly proud of Corporal Nez, who at the age of 90 resides
in my congressional district in Albuquerque with his son Mike, his
daughter-in-law Rita, and their children.
Corporal Nez's story is much like the hundreds of Code Talkers who
followed in his footsteps. He grew up on the Navajo Nation to parents
who grew corn and pinto beans, kept goats and sheep. And he grew up in
a time when Navajos were sharply mistreated and even unable to vote in
our own elections in places throughout the Southwest. Yet in 1942, at
the age of 18, he sprung into action and he joined the 382nd Platoon in
a role that is largely credited with saving thousands of American
lives.
Along with the other 28 original Code Talkers, Corporal Nez developed
a code from their unwritten language. You can find the code's
explanation today in the index of his autobiography. And whether in
artillery, tanks, aboard ships or in infantry, the Code Talkers played
a vital role in some of the worst battles in the Pacific theater,
communicating battlefield codes that were never, ever broken by the
enemy. Their code-talking was considered so essential to the war that,
unlike their counterparts, many of them were forced to serve straight
through the war with no breaks for rest or trips back home. And today,
we widely recognize that their service helped turn the course of World
War II.
Yet because of the sheer secret of their role and the possibility
that they would be called back for the same duty in the future, the
actions of the Code Talkers weren't declassified until 23 years after
the war ended. And it wasn't until 55 years later that they were
bestowed with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor and Silver Medal.
To the young people of the Navajo Nation for whom Corporal Nez's
quiet valor is a remarkable example, I encourage you to carry on his
legacy by keeping the Navajo language alive and well for generations to
come.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the Navajo Nation takes such pride in these
heroes. And on behalf of all of us who owe a tremendous debt of
gratitude for their service, I'm proud to recognize the courage,
service, and bravery of all the Navajo Code Talkers, and especially
Corporal Nez of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico for that find.
I would now like to acknowledge my good friend from Arizona (Mr.
Schweikert).
Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Thank you, Congressman Gosar. For all of us, we truly
appreciate you organizing this.
When you consider today is the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and
the entry into World War II, for many of us who grew up with family
that had served, there's many heartbreaking stories. But when we reach
out and read and learn more about the Code Talkers story, it's one of
the great moments of pride for those of us from Arizona.
When you consider there were--my understanding is there were about
400 native Americans who served, but the 27--was it 27 or 29?
Mr. GOSAR. Twenty-nine.
Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Twenty-nine from Arizona, I've had the pleasure over
time of meeting some of them. I also know, as Arizona now is about to
begin celebrating its 100th anniversary--and I have, actually, it's a
little bit of a silly photo, but there is actually a smaller version of
this on my wall in my office. A few months ago we had our very first
celebration of beginning the 1-year celebration of our centennial as a
State, and we were featuring our Navajo Code Talkers. It is something
that many of us from the West are very, very proud of. And it was also
that little moment where if
[[Page H8255]]
you ever want to be a little humiliated, have them try to teach you to
speak a few Navajo words, and then the giggling begins on how badly you
pronounce it.
But for anyone who is listening, the Navajo Code Talkers have
actually built a foundation, and they actually have a wonderful Web
site that has data and stories. It is navajocodetalkers.org. I
encourage anyone to reach out and grab some of that information. These
are powerful stories of incredible service to our country in a time of
great need with a very unique skill and talent.
I thank the gentleman from Arizona for organizing this.
Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman from Arizona.
I want to take a few moments and honor one of our own in Arizona who
just recently died. It is my humble privilege to honor Allen Dale June,
one of the original 29 Code Talkers. He died just recently in September
of 2010 at the age of 91. He passed away of natural causes at the
Veterans Hospital in Prescott, Arizona, which is in my district. He is
survived by his wife and 10 children and was buried in Kaibeto, in the
heart of Navajo reservation.
June, who attained the rank of sergeant, received the Congressional
Gold Medal in 2001 along with other members of the original Code
Talkers. When he died, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Lawrence Morgan
said, ``The Navajo Nation lost a great warrior. His unique service to
his country brought positive attention to the Navajo Nation. He will be
missed.''
According to his wife, Virginia, June first tried to sign up for the
Marines in his hometown of Kaibeto, but a recruiter told him he was too
young. He then traveled to the reservation town of Chinle to enlist
because he figured people there wouldn't recognize him and he could lie
about his age and forge his father's signature. This dedication and
determination to serve their country was common among the Code Talkers
and shows character and bravery that we all should emulate.
Allen June was a humble man who did not like to brag about much, even
his remarkable service as a Code Talker. However, in the last years of
his life he wore his service proudly, sporting a red Navajo Code Talker
cap with his name on it.
I would like to take an opportunity and see if my colleague from New
Mexico would entertain a colloquy back and forth giving the roll call
of the names of the 29.
Mr. LUJAN. It would certainly be an honor, Mr. Gosar.
Mr. GOSAR. Thank you, sir.
The roll call for the Navajo Code Talkers, the original 29:
Charlie Y. Begay.
Mr. LUJAN. Royal L. Begay.
Mr. GOSAR. Samuel Begay.
Mr. LUJAN. John Ashi Benally.
Mr. GOSAR. Wilsie Bitsie.
Mr. LUJAN. Cosey S. Brown.
Mr. GOSAR. John Brown, Jr.
Mr. LUJAN. John Chee.
Mr. GOSAR. Benjamin Cleveland.
Mr. LUJAN. Eugene R. Crawford.
Mr. GOSAR. David Curley.
Mr. LUJAN. Lowell S. Damon.
Mr. GOSAR. George H. Dennison.
Mr. LUJAN. James Dixon.
Mr. GOSAR. Carl N. Gorman.
Mr. LUJAN. Oscar B. Ilthma.
Mr. GOSAR. Allen Dale June.
Mr. LUJAN. Alfred Leonard.
Mr. GOSAR. Johnny R. Manuelito.
Mr. LUJAN. William McCabe.
Mr. GOSAR. Chester Nez.
Mr. LUJAN. Jack Nez.
Mr. GOSAR. Lloyd Oliver.
Mr. LUJAN. Joe Palmer.
Mr. GOSAR. Frank Danny Pete.
Mr. LUJAN. Nelson S. Thompson.
Mr. GOSAR. Harry Tsosie.
Mr. LUJAN. John Willie.
Mr. GOSAR. William Dean Wilson.
Does my friend have any further comments?
Mr. LUJAN. Only to say again, Mr. Gosar, as we celebrate tonight, to
never forget about the contributions of the Navajo people to our great
Nation, with the work that they've done not only through the Cold War,
but going back to all the work that was done.
{time} 1950
As we pointed out earlier, in the words of Major Howard Connor, if it
were not for the Navajos, the marines never would have taken Iwo Jima.
It's a great night to be here to celebrate, and I thank you for
bringing us together.
I would like to submit into the Record an article from the Santa Fe
New Mexican, dated August 29, 2010, also capturing the story telling
and talking about Mr. Chester Nez, as well as the article, ``The Last
of the Navajo Code Talkers,'' by Laurel Morales, which was listed in
the Fronteras Desk.
[From the SantaFeNewMexican.com, Aug. 29, 2010]
An Original Code Talker Keeps Tale Alive--Few Remaining Members of
Elite Navajo Marine Unit
(By Felicia Fonseca)
Albuquerque.--Tourists hurry inside a shop here to buy
books about the famed Navajo Code Talkers, warriors who used
their native language as their primary weapon.
Outside, on a walk sheltered from the sun, nine of the Code
Talkers sit at a table autographing the books. Each is an old
man now. They wear similar caps and shirts, the scarlet and
gold of the Marine Corps, and turquoise jewelry.
One of these men, who signs his name as Cpl. Chester Nez,
is distinguished from the others. Below his signature, he
jots down why: 1st Original 29.
Before hundreds of Code Talkers were recruited from the
Navajo Nation to join the elite unit, 29 Navajos were
recruited to develop the code--based on the then-unwritten
Navajo language--that would confound Japanese military
cryptologists and help win World War II.
Of the Original 29, only three survive. Nez is one.
The Code Talkers took part in every assault the Marines
conducted in the Pacific, sending thousands of messages
without error on Japanese troop movements, battlefield
tactics and other communications critical to the war's
ultimate outcome.
``It's one of the greatest parts of history that we used
our own native language during World War II,'' Nez said in an
interview with The Associated Press. ``We're very proud of
it.''
Nez tells the story succinctly. He is the last of the
original group able to do so. One can hardly speak or hear,
and the memory of the third is severely tested by Alzheimer's
disease.
The 89-year-old Nez is limited, too. He is in a wheelchair
after diabetes led to the amputation of both legs. These
days, he'd rather ``just sit around, take it easy,'' he said.
As a boy, Nez lived in a traditional Navajo home and helped
his family tend to sheep in Two Wells on the eastern side of
the vast 27,000-square-mile reservation.
He played with toy cars, went barefoot, and spoke only his
native language. That changed when he was sent to one of the
boarding schools set up by the federal government to
assimilate American Indian children into the broader culture.
At boarding school, Nez said he had his mouth washed out
with soap for speaking Navajo--ironic indeed, considering the
vital role that the unique language--and Nez--would come to
play.
Nez was in 10th grade when a Marine recruiter came looking
for young Navajos who were fluent in Navajo and English to
serve in World War II. He jumped at the chance to defend his
country, and to leave boarding school. He kept the decision
to enlist a secret from his family and lied about his age, as
did many others.
``I told my roommate, `Let's try it out,' and that's what
we did,'' Nez said. ``One reason we joined is the uniform--
they were so pretty, dress uniforms.''
About 250 Navajos showed up at Fort Defiance, Ariz., then a
U.S. Army base. But only 29 were selected to join the first
all-Native American unit of Marines. They were inducted in
May 1942.
After basic training, the 382nd Platoon was tasked with
developing the code.
There Nez met Allen Dale June and Lloyd Oliver, among the
others. Using Navajo words for red soil, war chief, clan,
braided hair, beads, ant and hummingbird, for example, they
came up with a glossary of more than 200 terms, later
expanded, and an alphabet.
At first, Nez said, the concern was whether or not the code
could work. Then it proved impenetrable. ``The Japanese did
everything in their power to break the code but they never
did,'' he said.
Nez no longer remembers the code in its entirety, but
easily switches from English to Navajo to repeat one
instruction he delivered during fighting on Guadalcanal.
``I always remember this one,'' Nez said. ``Enemy machine
gun on your right flank, destroy!''
The Navajos trained in radio communications were walking
copies of the code. Each message read aloud by a Code Talker
was immediately destroyed.
``When you're involved in the world of cryptology, you not
only have to provide information, you have to protect that,''
said Patrick Weadon, curator of the National Cryptologic
Museum. ``And there's no better example than the Navajo Code
Talkers during World War II.''
The Code Talkers were constantly on the move, often from
foxhole to foxhole. Nez had a close call in Guam with a
sniper's bullet that whizzed past his head and struck a palm
tree.
Once while running a message, Nez and his partner were
mistaken for Japanese soldiers
[[Page H8256]]
and were threatened at gunpoint until a Marine lieutenant
cleared up the confusion, his son, Michael, said.
``Of course Dad couldn't tell them he was a Code Talker,''
Nez's son said.
The Code Talkers had orders not to discuss their roles--not
during the war and not until their mission was declassified
23 years later.
In 2001 Nez, Dale and June traveled aboard the same plane
to Washington, D.C., to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.
The recognition, which they didn't receive when they returned
home from war, propelled them to a sort of celebrity status,
along with the release of a movie based on the Code Talkers
the following year
They appeared on television, rode on floats in parades and
were asked to speak to veterans groups and students.
Nez threw the opening pitch at a 2004 Major League Baseball
game and blessed the presidential campaign of John Kerry.
Oliver traveled with other Code Talkers as guests of honor in
the nation's largest Veterans Day parade in New York last
year.
When residents of Longmont, Colo., heard that June and his
wife did not have a permanent home, they raised money to buy
one for the couple.
The last three survivors of the Original 29 don't live on
the Navajo Nation, where they are celebrated with a tribal
holiday. They wonder about each other, but it's unlikely
they'll reunite again.
After World War II, Nez volunteered to serve two more years
during the Korean War and retired in 1974 after a 25-year
career as a painter at the veterans hospital in Albuquerque.
June, 88, has spent the past few weeks in and out of
hospitals in Wyoming and Arizona, and requires round-the-
clock care. His third wife, Virginia, calls herself ``the
charm'' and the protector of an endangered species.
She's a walking promotion for him and the Marine Corps, yet
she's careful of how much she says because he thinks it is
unwelcome bragging.
Oliver's wife, Lucille, echoes similar sentiments about her
husband. Oliver displayed few reminders in what, until
earlier this year, was his home on the Yavapai Indian
reservation in Camp Verde, Ariz.--a few framed pictures, a
Marine cap above his bedroom window and a U.S. flag above the
doorway.
``He just put the past behind him, I guess,'' she says.
Oliver, 87, speaks audibly but his words are difficult to
understand. His hearing is impaired and he prefers not to
have a hearing aid.
Both June and Oliver had brothers who later served as Code
Talkers.
Nez tells the tourists seeking autographs in Albuquerque
that he's part of the Original 29, but few appear to grasp
what that means.
``Most of them,'' he says of the tourists, ``they just
thank me for what we did.''
____
[From the Fronteras Desk, Nov. 11, 2011]
The Last of The Navajo Code Talkers
(By Laurel Morales)
Flagstaff.--Only one veteran Navajo code talker remains of
the original 29 Navajo Marines who used their native language
to devise an unbreakable code during World War II.
Growing up in New Mexico, Chester Nez and many of his
fellow Navajo were punished for speaking their language. In
the 1920s, Nez attended one of many government run boarding
schools that attempted to erase Indian culture and language.
``I often think about the things I went through, all the
hardships,'' Nez said. He was being interviewed at the
studios of KUNM in Albuquerque for Veterans Day.
Years later, Nez was shocked to learn he'd been recruited
by the Marines, specifically to devise a code using the same
language the government tried to beat out of him. Judith
Avila helped Nez write his memoir Code Talker, which was just
published.
``It was extremely ironic one of the very things they were
forbidden to do--speak Navajo--ended up helping save us
during the war,'' Avila said.
During World War II, the Japanese had cracked code after
code the U.S. military used to hide their communications.
Then, a Marine by the name of Philip Johnston, who had been
raised on the Navajo Nation by white missionaries, suggested
enlisting the help of the Navajo tribe. They became known as
the code talkers.
Navajo, or Dine as it's called, is a spoken language. And
few non-Navajos understand its complexities. Nez and his
fellow code talkers first developed an alphabet using every
day Navajo words to represent letters, like the Navajo word
for ant became ``A.''
Chester Nez, seen here during World War II, is 90 and the
last of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers.
Then they came up with words for military terms. In Navajo,
there is no word for bomb. So they called it an egg. A
fighter plane was the Navajo word for hummingbird.
``And the Japanese tried everything in their power to try
to decipher our code, but they never succeeded,'' Nez said.
He and his fellow code talkers were faced with many
cultural challenges during the war. The most difficult was
dealing with so much death.
The Navajo believe when you encounter a dead body that
person's spirit stays with you. Coming home after the war,
Nez remembered being haunted by these spirits.
``They were all around me. I actually see them alongside my
bed,'' Nez said. ``This was one of the bad omen.''
His family performed a ceremony called the ``enemy way'' to
cleanse him After that, Nez said, he felt free of the ghosts.
The code talker program was secret. When Nez and the others
arrived home in 1945, there was no fanfare. The code remained
active for years after the war; it wasn't declassified until
1968. Still, it took decades before the men were officially
recognized.
In 2000, New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman introduced
legislation to honor the code talkers. The following year--
nearly six decades after the code was written--president
George W. bush awarded them Congressional Gold Medals.
``Today we give these exceptional Marines the recognition
they earned so long ago,'' President Bush told a televised
crowd at the Capital Rotunda.
Only five of the original 29 were still alive.
Chester Nez stood tall, puffed out his chest and saluted
the president, while the crowd--many relatives of code talker
families--gave the group a standing ovation.
``This gold medal is something I will treasure for as long
as I live,'' said Nez, now 90-years-old.
The last original code talker lives in Albuquerque with his
son. The father of six children, he has nine grandchildren
and eight great grandchildren.
Today with so many people leaving the reservation, Navajo
elders like Nez fear their language is dying. Nez hopes
Navajo children learn the story of the code talkers, so they
understand just how critical it is to learn and use their own
language.
Mr. GOSAR. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico for his
contribution.
I would also like to start by going through the further list of the
Navajo Code Talkers in the honor roll:
Navajo Code Talker list
Confirmed by Marine Corps, as of 17 July 2001
1. Akee, Dan 818638
2. Anthony, Franklin 990074
3. Apache, Jimmie 936773
4. Arviso, Bennie 894438
5. Ashike, Earl 990140
6. Ashley, Regis 894674
7. Attikai, Harold 990084
8. Augustine, John 894402
9. Ayze, Lewis 990075
10. Bahe, Henry 479876
11. Bahe, Woody 875423
12. Baldwin, Benjamin 818564
13. Beard, Harold 894537
14. Becenti, Roy L. 831055
15. Bedoni, Sidney 479771
16. Begay, Carlos 818566
17. Begay, Charlie Sosie 830976
18. Begay, Flemming 830977
19. Begay, George 990132
20. Begay, Henry 990142
21. Begay, Jerry C. 830979
22. Begay, Joe 990094
23. Begay, Lee 990116
24. Begay, Leo 990126
25. Begay, Leonard 990210
26. Begay, Notah 875405
27. Begay, Paul 479917
28. Begay, Samuel H. 358525
29. Begay, Thomas H. 537144
30. Begay, Walter 990073
31. Begay, Willie K.1000016
32. Begay, Wilson J. 894417
33. Begody, David M. 990209
34. Begody, Roger 875422
35. Belinda, Wilmer 875407
36. Belone, Harry 936837
37. Benallie, Jimmie D. 964665
38. Benally, Harrison Lee 1000075
39. Benally, Harry 894507
40. Benally, Jimmie L. 831045
41. Benally, Johnson D. 875371
42. Benally, Samuel 1000078
43. Benton, Sr., Willie 830980
44. Bernard, John 875276
45. Betone, Lloyd 830963
46. Bia, Andrew 990072
47. Billey, Wilfred 830982
48. Billie, Ben 1000045
49. Billiman, Howard 521004
50. Billison, Samuel (Dr.) 831074
51. Billy, Sam Jones 830981
52. Bitsie, Peter J. 1000037
53. Bitsoie, Delford 990061
54. Bizardie, Jesse 875495
55. Black, Jesse 990205
56. Blatchford, Paul 818633
57. Bluehorse, David M. 831043
58. Bowman, John Henry 403099
59. Bowman, Robert 936938
60. Brown, Arthur 990125
61. Brown, Clarence Paul 990088
62. Brown, Tsosie Herman 990202
63. Brown, William Tully 990109
64. Buck, Wilford 1000019
65. Burke, Bobby 894411
66. Burnie, Jose 1000100
67. Burnside, Francis 548184
68. Burr, Sandy 830984
69. Cadman, William 936839
70. Calleditto, Andrew 448919
71. Carroll, Oscar Tsosie 894622
72. Cattle Chaser, Dennis 479729
73. Cayedito, Del 830985
74. Cayedito, Ralph 830986
75. Charley, Carson Bahe 894600
76. Charlie, Sam 990199
77. Chase, Frederick 479873
78. Chavez, George 831098
79. Chee, Guy 990200
80. Clah, Stewart 965051
81. Claw, Thomas 818547
82. Cleveland, Billie 521016
83. Cleveland, Ned 894519
84. Cody, Leslie 479834
[[Page H8257]]
85. Cohoe, James Charles 416497
86. Craig, Bob Etcitty 830988
87. Crawford, Karl Kee 478278
88. Cronemeyer, Walter 990201
89. Crosby, Billy 990035
90. Csinnjinni, Carl 416351
91. Dale, Ray 448911
92. Damon, Anson C. 990227
93. Davis, Tully 875378
94. Deel, Martin Dale 818563
95. Dehiya, Dan 830989
96. Dennison, Leo 990107
97. Dodge, Jerome Cody 894478
98. Doolie, John 830990
99. Doolie, Richardson 479723
100. Draper, Nelson 990098
101. Draper, Teddy Sr. 875345
102. Etsicitty, Kee 830991
103. Etsitty, Deswood 875304
104. Evans, Harold 990097
105. Foghorn, Ray 830992
106. Francisco, Jimmy 818625
107. Gatewood, Joseph P. 479889
108. George, William 894441
109. Gishal, Milton M. 875283
110. Gleason, Jimmie 894446
111. Goodluck, John 830933
112. Gorman, Tom 818627
113. Grayson, Bill L. 990052
114. Greymountain, Yazzie 894538
115. Guerito, Billy Lewis 830994
116. Gustine, Tully 830995
117. Guy, Charles 875406
118. Harding, Ben Williams 990091
119. Harding, Jack W. 479888
120. Hardy, Tom 894628
121. Harrison, Emmett 894479
122. Haskie, Ross 358587
123. Hawthorne, Roy Orville 990027
124. Haycock, Bud 990196
125. Hemstreet, Leslie 936840
126. Henry, Albert 830996
127. Henry, Edmund Juan 830997
128. Henry, Kent Carl 936779
129. Hickman, Dean Junian 990103
130. Holiday, Calvin 990198
131. Holiday, Samuel Tom 818614
132. Housewood, Johnson 448907
133. Housteen, Dennie 479730
134. Howard, Ambrose 818574
135. Hubbard, Arthur Jose 1000128
136. Hudson, Lewey 894521
137. Hunter, Tom 875445
138. James, Benjamin 830998
139. James, Billie 875301
140. James, George B. 875342
141. Johle, Elliott 894447
142. John, Charlie T. 875395
143. John, Leroy M. Sr. 448918
144. Johns, Edmund 448908
145. Johnny, Earl 830999
146. Johnson, Deswood R. 844625
147. Johnson, Francis T. 479772
148. Johnson, Johnnie 537164
149. Johnson, Peter 894412
150. Johnson, Ralph 990086
151. Jones, Jack 818548
152. Jones, Tom H. Jr. 831001
153. Jordan, David 831000
154. June, Floyd 479768
155. Keams, Percy 990028
156. Keedah, Wilson 894673
157. Kellwood, Joe H. 479704
158. Kescoli, Alonzo 875397
159. Ketchum, Bahe 875416
160. King, Jimmie 448910
161. Kinlacheeny, Paul 894414
162. Kinsel, John 448912
163. Kirk, George H. 831003
164. Kirk, Leo 585379
165. Kiyaani, Mike 894629
166. Kontz, Rex T. 448921
167. Lapahie, Harrison 831046
168. Largo, James 990095
169. Little, Keith M. 818629
170. Lopez, Tommy K. 831059
171. MacDonald, Peter 1000079
172. Malone, Max 894621
173. Malone, Rex 831101
174. Malone, Robert 831075
175. Maloney, James 990085
176. Maloney, Paul E. 875431
177. Manuelito, Ben C. 479800
178. Manuelito, Ira 831005
179. Manuelito, James C. 831060
180. Manuelito, Peter 1000234
181. Marianito, Frank 936841
182. Mark, Robert 990093
183. Martin, Matthew 894406
184. Martinez, Jose 894550
185. McCraith, Archibald 990110
186. Mike, King Paul 894671
187. Miles, General 990096
188. Moffitt, Tom Clah 894473
189. Morgan, Jack C. 830932
190. Morgan, Ralph 448920
191. Morris, Joe 894601
192. Moss, George 990093
193. Multine, Oscar P. 875314
194. Murphy, Calvin H. 875360
195. Nagurski, Adolph N. 875384
196. Nahkai, James T. Jr. 831006
197. Nakaidinae, Peter Sr. 479861
198. Napa, Martin Felix
199. Negale, Harding 936842
200. Newman, Alfred 831007
201. Nez, Arthur 1000176
202. Nez, Freeland 875252
203. Nez, Israel Hosteen 479769
204. Nez, Sidney 894511
205. Notah, Roy 448914
206. Notah, Willie Anthony 875300
207. O'Dell, Billy 479877
208. Oliver, Willard V. 831008
209. Paddock, Layton 479871
210. Pahe, Robert D. 831114
211. Parrish, Paul A. 416414
212. Patrick, Amos Roy 936843
213. Patterson, David Earl 831043
214. Peaches, Alfred James 875372
215. Peshlakai, Sam 894440
216. Peterson, Joe Sr. 1000089
217. Pinto, Gaul (Guy) 831047
218. Pinto, John Senator 990189
219. Platero, Richard 894460
220. Preston, Jimmie 479801
221. Reed, Sam 875369
222. Roanhorse, Harry C. 831011
223. Sage, Andy 831012
224. Sage, Denny 818604
225. Salabiye, Jerry E. 1000024
226. Sandoval, Peter P. 831088
227. Sandoval, Samuel F. 831013
228. Sandoval, Thomas 831014
229. Scott, John 875415
230. Sells, John C. 936956
231. Shields, Freddie 894442
232. Shorty, Dooley 1000177
233. Shorty, Robert T. 831049
234. Silversmith, Joe A. 831015
235. Silversmith, Sammy 831050
236. Singer, Oscar Jones 990122
237. Singer, Richard 479774
238. Skeet, Wilson Chee 1000081
239. Slinkey, Richard T. 479727
240. Slivers, Albert J. Sr. 990068
241. Smiley, Arcenio 894508
242. Smith, Albert 831062
243. Smith, George 831063
244. Smith, Raymond R. 857535
245. Smith, Samuel Jesse 831073
246. Soce, George B. 831016
247. Sorrell, Benjamin G. 448905
248. Spencer, Harry 990197
249. Tabaha, Johnnie 990076
250. Tah, Alfred 479831
251. Tah, Edward 894676
252. Talley, John N. 831017
253. Tallsalt, Bert 990082
254. Thomas, Edward 990129
255. Thomas, Richard 894520
256. Thompson, Clare M. 875458
257. Thompson, Everett M. 818518
258. Thompson, Francis T. 537182
259. Thompson, Frank T. 403057
260. Todacheene, Carl Leon 831018
261. Todacheene, Frank Carl 990105
262. Tohe, Benson 537165
263. Toledo, Curtis 831051
264. Toledo, Frank 479759
265. Toledo, Preston 479757
266. Toledo, Willie 479756
267. Towne, Joseph H. 479721
268. Towne, Zane 479770
269. Tso, Chester H. 894413
270. Tso, Howard B. 894677
271. Tso, Paul Edward 990071
272. Tso, Samuel 818546
273. Tsosie, Alfred 831019
274. Tsosie, Cecil G. 831020
275. Tsosie, Collins D. 831021
276. Tsosie, Kenneth 831025
277. Tsosie, Samuel Sr. 479913
278. Upshaw, John 990099
279. Upshaw, William 875364
280. Vandever, Joe 831026
281. Wagner, Oliver 990162
282. Wallace, Stephan P. 1000022
283. Walley, Robert 831027
284. Werito, John 831052
285. Whitman, Lyman J. 894466
286. Willetto, Frank, Jr. 831029
287. Willetto, Frankie Chee 894509
288. Williams, Alex 875338
289. Williams, Kenneth 875370
290. Willie, George B. 875408
291. Woody, Clarence Bahi 990092
292. Yazhe, Ernest 448949
293. Yazhe, Harrison A. 875363
294. Yazza, Peter 875442
295. Yazza, Vincent 1000109
296. Yazzie, Clifton 894593
297. Yazzie, Daniel 831030
298. Yazzie, Eddie Melvin 521223
299. Yazzie, Edison Kee 875390
300. Yazzie, Felix 416408
301. Yazzie, Francis 1000101
302. Yazzie, Frank H. 990101
303. Yazzie, Harding 894480
304. Yazzie, Harold 537154
305. Yazzie, Joe Shorty 830962
306. Yazzie, John 990113
307. Yazzie, Justin D. 1000126
308. Yazzie, Lemuel Rev. 990062
309. Yazzie, Ned 990112
310. Yazzie, Pahe Denet 479773
311. Yazzie, Raphael 831053
312. Yazzie, Robert 831031
313. Yazzie, William 875347
314. Yellowhair, Leon 990100
315. Yellowhair, Stanley 818600
316. Yellowman, Howard 831032
317. Yoe, George 990119
318. Zah, Henry 894551
LISTED, BUT NOT CONFIRMED
1. Alfred, Johnnie 479728
2. Allen, Perry 818534
3. Becenti, Ned 448948
4. Begay, Edward 474862
5. Begay, Jimmie 419878
6. Begay, Johnson 965045
7. Brown, Ned 818534
8. Clark, Jimmie 830987
9. Fowler, King 990080
10. Gray, Harvey 448909
11. Jenson, Nevy 990178
12. Jose, Teddy 448913
13. Kennepah, Jessie 358451
14. Morgan, Herbert 448922
15. Morgan, Sam 831100
16. Nez, Howard 403039
17. Nez, Howard H. 831086
18. Otero, Tom 831009
19. Singer, Tom 448916
20. Smith, Enoch 998953
21. Sorrel, Jerome 448915
22. Tsosie, David W. 831022
23. Tsosie, Howard 964998
24. Tsosie, Howard J. 831024
25. Whitman, Joe Reid 831028
26. Wilson, William 567102
27. Yazzie, Charley H. 831054
28. Yazzie, Sam W. 990036
[[Page H8258]]
PENDING/WAITING FOR RECORDS
1. Anderson, Edward 956330
2. Brown, N.A. 964770
3. Burnside, Francis A. 548184
4. Curley, Rueban 875229
5. David, Alfred
6. Dooley, Richard 807198
7. Foster, Harold Y. 537154
8. Freeman, Edwin
9. Goldtooth, Emmett
10. Goodman, Billie 875280
11. Harthorn, Rodger 2314982
12. Jake, H.
13. Kien, William 831058
14. Leroy, George
15. Leuppe, Edward 381004
16. Nazwood, Johnson
17. Peterson, David 831043
18. Price, Joe F. 894626
19. Price, Wilson H. 358592
20. Sandoval, Merril Leon 831048
21. Tracey, Peter 257670
22. Tsosie, Woody B.
23. Visalia, Buster
NOT LISTED
1. Babiye, Don
2. Barber, Willie
3. Begaye, Flemming 830977
4. Bejay, Charlie
5. Burbank, Askee
6. Clauschee, Guy 990200
7. Hanigahnie Jake
8. Kent, Carl Henry
9. Livingston, ?
10. Lod(v?)ato, Joe T.
11. Martinez, Martin
12. Peshlakai, Wallace Jr.
13. Singer, William
14. Yazzie ?, Leon
15. Yazzie, Peter
It is with that I submit those names on a wonderful treasure from the
Four Corners to America, and what they gave this country is so
valuable. You look back on their life and what they gave us is
immeasurable. What I would also like to do is honor them on today, the
anniversary of Pearl Harbor; and I hope that we would look fondly on
their attributes and what they gave to this great country because we
are all great because of them.
I also want to take the liberty of acknowledging one other person.
It's her birthday today. It's my mom. She turned 78. Happy birthday,
Mom.
I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________
