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This article is dedicated to my Brother, Spotted Wolf. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To say that Native Americans have fought for “their” Country would be an error of simplification. For they have always fought both and died for “their” Country, and “this” Country; from the days that it was indeed “their” country, and “this” Country had yet to exist. And, in one way or another have continued to do so down through the passage of years and too many wars and battles to think of. |
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Jimmy King, a Navajo instructor, translated the Marine Hymn into Navajo: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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... THE LAST VERSE IS SUNG LIKE A PRAYER ... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Navajo Code Talkers: World War II Fact Sheet |
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Research by Alexander Molnar Jr., U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Army (Ret.) |
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The Medal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
http://bingaman.senate.gov/code_talkers/medal/medal.html | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If their achievements had been hailed at the conclusion of the war, proper honors would have been bestowed upon the Navajo Code Talkers at that time. But the Code Talkers were sworn to secrecy, an oath they kept and honored, but at the same time, one that robbed them of the very accolades and place in history they deserved. The secrecy surrounding the code was maintained until it was declassified in 1968. Only then did a realization of the sacrifice and valor of these brave Native Americans emerge. In April 2000, I introduced legislation to authorize the President of the United States to award a gold medal, on behalf of the Congress, to each of the original twenty-nine Navajo Code Talkers, as well as a silver medal to each man who later qualified as a Navajo Code Talker (MOS 642). The bill was signed law on December 21, 2000. Of all the honors Congress can bestow, the awarding of a Congressional Gold or Silver Medal is often considered the most distinguished. Each medal is specifically designed for the recipient, with the Secretary of the Treasury as the final judge of the design. After that, the design is sculptured, a dye is made, and the medal is struck at the Philadelphia Mint. These medals are to express recognition by the United States of America and its citizens of the Navajo Code Talkers, to salute these brave and innovative Native Americans, to acknowledge the great contribution they made to the nation at a time of war, and to finally give them their rightful place in history. |
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http://www.lapahie.com/Harry_Benally.cfm
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Harry Benally: 1925 - 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Haashkei Yitahdeeswod -- An Experienced and Great Valiant Leader | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ta'néészahnii -- Badlands People | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Diné Name : Haashkei Yitahdeeswod (An Experienced and Great Valiant Leader) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clan : Ta'néészahnii Tódích'íi'nii (Navajo) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ta'néészahnii (Badlands People) blood from mom Hastiin Lapahie Bitsi. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tódích'íi'nii (Bitter Water Clan) blood from dad Benalitsoh. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born : Approximated on August 3, 1925 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One mile west of former Tocito Store, Tosido, New Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schooling : Shiprock Camp School, 1936 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Ute Indian School, 1937-1943 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fort Wingate Vocational High School, 1943, 1946-1949 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National School of Auto and Diesel College, Nashville TN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Certificate Auto & Diesel Mechanic, 9/49 - 1/50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service : U.S. Marines, as a Navajo Code Talker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service Number: 894507USMCR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st Marine Division, 1/13/1944-5/4/1946 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boot Camp, 1/1944 - 4/1944 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harry went home to Littlewater during the 10 day furlow. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Code Talker School, Radio School and Communication, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Camp Pendelton, 4/1944 - 9/1944 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combat Maneuver, San Diego, 10/1944 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moved into the Pacific, passed by Hawaii, 11/1944 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combat Maneuvers, Russell Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guadalcanal and Pavuvu, 1/1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Banika, Ulithi and Yap, 2/1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moved toward Okinawa, 3/1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Okinawa and Ryukyu Islands, 4/1/1945 - 8/1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Occupation, 8/1945 - 4/13/1946 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heading home across the Pacific, two weeks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discharged, 5/4/1946 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AWARDS : | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Silver Congressional Medal of Honor, 11/24/01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American Defense Service Medal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American Campaign Medal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Occupation, Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WWII Victory, 1/7/1948 through American Post #86 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American Defense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unit Citation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Good Conduct Medal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marksman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bayonet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Navajo Code Talker's Dictionary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When a Navajo code talker received a message, what he heard was a string of seemingly unrelated Navajo words. The code talker first had to translate each Navajo word into its English equivalent. Then he used only the first letter of the English equivalent in spelling an English word. Thus, the Navajo words "wol-la-chee" (ant), "be-la-sana" (apple) and "tse-nill" (axe) all stood for the letter "a." One way to say the word "Navy" in Navajo code would be "tsah (needle) wol-la-chee (ant) ah-keh-di- glini (victor) tsah-ah-dzoh (yucca)." Most letters had more than one Navajo word representing them. Not all words had to be spelled out letter by letter. The developers of the original code assigned Navajo words to represent about 450 frequently used military terms that did not exist in the Navajo language. Several examples: "besh- lo" (iron fish) meant "submarine," "dah-he- tih-hi" (hummingbird) meant "fighter plane" and "debeh-li-zine" (black street) meant "squad." |
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Department of Defense Honors Navajo Veterans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long unrecognized because of the continued value of their language as a security classified code, the Navajo code talkers of World War II were honored for their contributions to defense on Sept. 17, 1992, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Thirty-five code talkers, all veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps, attended the dedication of the Navajo code talker exhibit. The exhibit includes a display of photographs, equipment and the original code, along with an explanation of how the code worked. Dedication ceremonies included speeches by the then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Donald Atwood, U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona and Navajo President Peterson Zah. The Navajo veterans and their families traveled to the ceremony from their homes on the Navajo Reservation, which includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The Navajo code talker exhibit is a regular stop on the Pentagon tour. ---12 August 1997 |
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Typed Memo from Colonel Bloor, 1919 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[Page 1] [Page 2] From Bishinik, The Official Publication of the Choctaw Nation, August 1986.
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Chibitty was born near Medicine Park, Okla. on Nov. 20, 1921. After attending Haskell Indian School at Lawrence, Kan., he enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1941. While in the Army, Cpl. Chibitty earned the World War II Victory Medal, the European Theater of Operations (5th Bronze Star) Victory Medal, the Europe African Middle East Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. In addition to his role as a Code Talker, Chibitty was a champion boxer in the Army.
In 1989, the French Government honored the Comanche Code Talkers, including Chibitty, by presenting them the "Chevalier of the National Order of Merit." In 1992, former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney presented Chibitty a certificate of appreciation for his service to the country. Chibitty has also received a special proclamation from the Governor of Oklahoma who honored him for his contribution both to Oklahoma and the United States. Nationally known for his Indian championship dancing, he currently resides in Tulsa, Okla. **Charles Chibitty, the last surviving Comanche Code Talker Died July 20, 2005. |
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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER 805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060 |
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American Indian Medal of Honor Winners | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the 20th century, five American Indians have been among those soldiers to be distinguished by receiving the United States' highest military honor: the Medal of Honor. Given for military heroism "above and beyond the call of duty," these warriors exhibited extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy and, in two cases, made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Navajo Code Talkers' Dictionary-REVISED AS OF 15 JUNE 1945 (DECLASSIFIED UNDER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVE 5200.9) |
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Navajo Code Talkers: A Select Bibliography | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Related Resources:
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Bernstein, Alison R. American Indians and World War II: Toward a New Era in Indian Affairs Norman , OK : University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.
Bixler, Margaret T. Winds of Freedom: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. Darien , CT : Two Bytes Pub. Co. , 1992. "Comanches Again Called for Army Code Service." New York Times ( 13 Dec. 1940 ): 16. Davis, Goode, Jr. "Proud Tradition of the Marines' Navajo Code Talkers: They Fought With Words-Words No Japanese Could Fathom." Marine Corps League 46, no.1 (Spring 1990): 16-26. "DOD Hails Indian Code Talkers." Sea Services Weekly ( 27 Nov. 1992 ): 9-10. Donovan, Bill. "Navajo Code Talkers Made History Without Knowing It." Arizona Republic ( 14 Aug. 1992 ): B6. Franco, Jere Bishop. Crossing the Pond: The Native American Effort in World War II. Denton TX : University of North Texas Press, 1999. [contains an extremely useful bibliography of published and unpublished sources.] Hafford, William E. "The Navajo Code Talkers." Arizona Highways 65, no.2 (Feb. 1989): 36-45. Hirschfelder, Arlene and Martha Kreipe de Montano. The Native American Almanac: A Portrait of Native America Today. New York : Prentice Hall, 1993. OCLC 27813313. [See pp. 227-36, "Native American and Military Service," which includes some statistics on participation in 20th Century Wars; a list of Medal of Honor winners; short histories of Navajo, Comanche, and Choctaw code talkers; a brief bibliography of literature concerning veterans; and an extrememly incomplete list of Navy ships named for Native American people, tribes, place names, and other words from Indian languages.] Kahn, David. The Codebreakers. New York : Macmillan, 1967. Marine Corps University Libraries. Navajo Code Talkers FAQ National Archives, People at War, New Roles: The Codetalkers. [Letter from Philip Johnson which convinced the Commandant of teh Mrine Corps to employ Navajo Indians as radiomen to provide secure communications.] Paul, Doris Atkinson. The Navajo Code Talkers. Philadelphia : Dorance, 1973. Thomas, Robert McG. Jr. "Carl Gorman, Code Talker in World War II, Dies at 90," New York Times ( 1 Feb. 1998 ): 27. |
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Unpublished Sources:Item in The Navy Department Library Vertical FileReference Section, History and Museums Division, HQMC. "Navajo Code Talkers in World War II." 14 May 1982. 2 pp. |
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Archival Records Relating to Navajo Code Talker, World War IIMarine Corps Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington DC . 20374-0580. Tel.(202)433-3841. Oral interviews with former Navajo code talkers during the first reunion of Navajo Code Talkers of World War II at Window Rock AZ, 9-10 July 1971. |
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National Archives and Records Administration ( NARA ):Textual Reference Branch, 8601 Adelphi Road , College Park , MD 20740 . RG 127. Entry 18. Office of the Commandant-General Correspondence (Jan. 1939-Jun. 1950): RG 457. Utilization of American Indians as Communications Linguists. Special Research History (SRH) #120, 107 pp. |
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