On this day, we honor the service of the Navajo Code Talkers, who served during battles in the Pacific Theater during World War II.–HISTORY
On this day, we honor the service of the Navajo Code Talkers, who served during battles in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The Navajo Code, which substituted or used words in their language for English words, was used to send messages on the battlefield between units and to headquarters. The code was never broken by the Japanese. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan declared Aug. 14 to be National Navajo Code Talkers Day. The Unbreakable Code Code Talkers used native languages to send military messages before World War II. Choctaw, for example, was used during World War I. The Marine Corps, however, needed an “unbreakable” code for its island-hopping campaign in the Pacific. Navajo, which was unwritten and known by few outside the tribe, seemed to fit the Corps’ requirements. Twenty-nine Navajos were recruited to develop the code in 1942. They took their language and developed a “Type One Code” that assigned a Navajo word to each English letter. They also created spec...