Significance Of The Code Talkers

Significance of the Code Talkers

Joseph Parish

Historically the code talkers hold a special spot in the annuals of the military. These 29 Navajo code talkers had a magnificent impact upon not only our country, but also on the citizens of our nation as well. They were extremely instrumental in helping our military win the Second World War against the Japanese forces. It had been decided to use an obsolete language to confuse the Japanese decoders. The idea proved fruitful, and our forces had an unbreakable code. The acts of these Native Americans helped to save countless lives, and perhaps even contributed towards winning the war.

The major advantage of the code talkers was that the Navajo language was essentially impossible to decipher unless you were a native speaker. This made it the perfect code necessary to transmit intelligence data via the radio during WW2. These actions in the Pacific theatre of operation ensured the United States that the Japanese could not possibly break the codes to intercept and decode the Allied radio traffic.

Out of the twenty-nine original Navajo Marines who created the code in World War II, the last of the coders died several years ago. Chester Nez was 90 years old when he passed away in 2014. In the 1930s, most of the Navajo families resided on the established reservations, and as it was for Mr. Nez’s father. He was content to tend his sheep on the reservation until 1934, when the federal government imposed a series of livestock reduction policies due to overgrazing from the sheep and cattle. Although the families attempted to fight the government, they eventually lost, and their animals were either confiscated and sold or slaughtered. Chester Nez’s father quickly realized that his son would have to learn a new trade to survive in the White man's world. Chester was enrolled in a government-run school located at Fort Defiance in Arizona. When Chester reached high school age, he was transferred to Tuba City Boarding School run by the Department of the Army. In spring of 1942, the U.S. Marines paid the boarding school a visit as they searched for Navajo boys who spoke their native language. The military was seeking an undecipherable code to use for transmitting classified information. Various codes used were quickly broken by the Japanese cryptographers in Tokyo. It was then suggested to use the Navajo language, but there existed no written record of it. These 29 men were to become the all-Navajo 382nd Marine Platoon.

Many people would not place considerable emphasis upon a system of code using the Navaho language, however, it must be remembered that it was believed by these 29 individuals that Navajo words frequently carried their own significance. By the use of these words in battle, the Navaho members feared that it would bring harm to them as well. In the Navajo culture the elders of the tribe impress upon the children that any Navaho words which are spoken is potent magic. These words, when uttered in a harmful manner may bring harm, or misfortune, to the speaker and to his family. The code talkers knew that the use of the words was to confuse the Japanese, however, they feared using them for that purpose would also subject them to potential harm. The Navajo words used in war could be protected by a religious ritual of a shield made of prayer. Since the code talkers were unable to leave their post and travel home, they sent their uniforms to their families to receive the prayers, and finally to return them.

The members of the 382nd Platoon not just sat in an office and sent code, but they also were part of an assault team to help gather intelligence. They were to land on the beach, wander behind the battle lines, and finally relay the information concerning the enemy back to their superiors. By the end of the war there were about 420 Code Talkers. Since the work of the code talkers was confidential, they could tell no one about their exploits. This means there would be no celebrations for them as there was for the returning American troops. There was no ticker-tape welcome awaiting these heroes, but only a quiet reservation.

In conclusion, the Navajo Code Talkers performed a great service, and a vital role during World War II helping the Allies' achieve a victory in the Pacific. Using their native language and a code that they created, the Code Talkers were able to transmit messages which the Japanese could not decipher since it required decryption by the native Navajo speakers. It is highly possible that the Allies may never have prevailed if it were not for the Navajo code talkers. Despite the long history depredations and the abundance of ill-conceived policies installed upon the various Indian tribes, it is possible that Iwo Jima may never have been taken if it was not for the services of the Navajo Code Talkers and their forgiveness towards America. Even though the Code Talkers did not win the war alone, they did provide the Allied Forces with an advantage that was unmatched by the Japanese. It is of particular concern that these people, who were previously forced from their land by the white man and made to take the trail of tears to a new home, are the same descendants who chose to fight for the United States of America during the war. They are significant in the sense that they had every reason to hate the white man and his way of life, but when their country was threatened at being invaded and conquered, they decided to unite as allies to the white man in order to defeat the German and Japanese forces. They have proven themselves on multiple occasions, and still to this day they have not received the respect that they should have.

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