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From; http://www.lapahie.com/navajo_code_talker_names.cfm
Monday - October 3, 2011 - 4:26:33 PM - Navajo Nation Time
During the early days of World War II a Marine Corps Officer, and son of a missionary to the Navajo People, presented an idea to his superior officers and the Navajo Code was born...
This project is about the Navajo men and boys that developed that officer's idea and used it in battle to confound the enemy throughout the Pacific Theater of Operations. Other Native American peoples were also Code Talkers in their languages as early as World War I.
Initially, thirty young Navajo men, fluent in both Navajo and English, were recruited. One of these “dropped out” of the program leaving 29 Original Navajo Code Talkers, as they came to be known. The 352 Code Talkers who came later used the code developed by the first 29... The Navajo Code that was never broken. As of this date, all of the original 29 have left us.
The Navajo Code Talkers were told to keep their role secret in case it needed to be used again. It never was, and modern communication techniques mean it never will; but that’s okay, some were told by their elders that stories of war were not part of the Navajo Way. In 1968 the role of the Navajo Code Talker was declassified and in the 1990's the men were awarded special medals from Congress. Gold for the 29 and silver for the rest.
This memorial is developed as a tribute and legacy to these brave men, and as a place for their families to claim their heroic ancestors and build on the family trees we started.
Your input is always welcome.
KIA = Killed-In-Action
Navajo Code Talkers