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FReeper Canteen ~ National Navajo Code Talkers Day ~ 12 August 08
Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 08/11/2008 6:00:39 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska

 

 
The FReeper Canteen Presents
National Navajo Code Talkers Day

Thank you to all of our Troops, Veterans, and their families for allowing us to entertain you!

 

 

The Navajo Code Talkers received no recognition until the declassification of the operation in 1968. In 1982, the code talkers were given a Certificate of Recognition by President Ronald Reagan, who also named August 14 "National Code Talkers Day."

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During World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. Marines trained Navajo soldiers as code talkers. During military campaigns in the Pacific, the Navajo soldiers relayed secret messages about troop movements and enemy locations in the Navajo language. Because of the complexity of the language, the Japanese were never able to decipher the code. In this photograph, two Navajo Indians, Corporal Henry Bake, Jr., left, and Private First Class George H. Kirk, operate a portable radio set in a clearing they created in the dense jungle close to the front lines.

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The idea to use Navajo for secure communications came from Philip Johnston, the son of a missionary to the Navajos and one of the few non-Navajos who spoke their language fluently.

Johnston, reared on the Navajo reservation, was a World War I veteran who knew of the military's search for a code that would withstand all attempts to decipher it. He also knew that Native American languages--notably Choctaw--had been used in World War I to encode messages.

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Johnston believed Navajo answered the military requirement for an undecipherable code because Navajo is an unwritten language of extreme complexity. Its syntax and tonal qualities, not to mention dialects, make it unintelligible to anyone without extensive exposure and training.

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It has no alphabet or symbols, and is spoken only on the Navajo lands of the American Southwest. One estimate indicates that less than 30 non-Navajos could understand the language at the outbreak of World War II.

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In May 1942, the first 29 Navajo recruits attended boot camp. Then, at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, this first group created the Navajo code. They developed a dictionary and numerous words for military terms. The dictionary and all code words had to be memorized during training.

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Once a Navajo code talker completed his training, he was sent to a Marine unit deployed in the Pacific theater. The code talkers' primary job was to talk, transmitting information on tactics and troop movements, orders and other vital battlefield communications over telephones and radios. They also acted as messengers, and performed general Marine duties.

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Praise for their skill, speed and accuracy accrued throughout the war. At Iwo Jima, Major Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal officer, declared, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima." Connor had six Navajo code talkers working around the clock during the first two days of the battle. Those six sent and received over 800 messages, all without error.

The Japanese, who were skilled code breakers, remained baffled by the Navajo language. The Japanese chief of intelligence, Lieutenant General Seizo Arisue, said that while they were able to decipher the codes used by the U.S. Army and Army Air Corps, they never cracked the code used by the Marines.

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The Navajo code talkers even stymied a Navajo soldier taken prisoner at Bataan. (About 20 Navajos served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines.) The Navajo soldier, forced to listen to the jumbled words of talker transmissions, said to a code talker after the war, "I never figured out what you guys who got me into all that trouble were saying."

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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.

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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.

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The Navajo code talker exhibit is a regular stop on the Pentagon tour.

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In a ceremony in the Capitol on July 26, 2001, the original twenty-nine Navajo "code talkers" received the Congressional Gold Medal, and subsequent code talkers received the Congressional Silver Medal.

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FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

 

 

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; freepercanteen; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska

I am finally in, after dsl line problems all weekend long! :>( anyway when I was in boot camp[Feb.25 1980-May 16,1980] , we were taught about these guys and were in awe of them! They are revered in the MARINE CORPS still today.

SEMPER FI! GUYS


321 posted on 08/12/2008 6:06:30 AM PDT by TMSuchman (If you strike me down, I'll become more powerful than you'll ever imagine!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Sign 'Arizona Supports Our Native American Warrior Troops Thank You'

I've been using this sign for a long time at Arizona support the troop rallies. An internet friend (not FR) inspired me.

He's a US Army veteran Native American who recently got a Ph.D. He also re-upped at age 58 to help fight the war on terror and recently completed his tour. Thanks for your service, Nighthawk! (that's all I know him by.)
322 posted on 08/12/2008 6:12:55 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
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To: \/\/ayne
God Bless and Thank You, Hero Vet NightHawk

This is a beautiful display of Support for Our Brave Heroes!
Thank you and Bless You, \/\/ayne!


323 posted on 08/12/2008 6:53:05 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: Allegra

Good Afternoon Allegra :)
How are you today? LOL, I hope you get some rain soon too! I saw your low temperatures last week. Good grief!! I sure hope it’s cooling down for you all.
HUGS


324 posted on 08/12/2008 6:55:08 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: E.G.C.

Good news, Chuck is up and made breakfast today. :)


325 posted on 08/12/2008 6:56:44 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: beachn4fun

Good morning beachy. (((HUGS))) to you too.

Lots of work - catching up - to do today.


326 posted on 08/12/2008 7:09:35 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (A vote for any Democrat from BO on down the ticket is a vote for $10 a gallon gas.)
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To: MEG33

Thanks Meg! What an adorable graphic! Whoever put that together has a great sense of humor!


327 posted on 08/12/2008 7:10:40 AM PDT by yorkie (Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry)
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To: Allegra

Yeah, that is what we are looking for - the water falling out of the clouds.

We are getting a few showers, but not near what we need.


328 posted on 08/12/2008 7:13:19 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (A vote for any Democrat from BO on down the ticket is a vote for $10 a gallon gas.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Good Morning Ma :)
Thanks for today's thread about The Navajo Talkers!
Certificate of Recognition by President Ronald Reagan :)

Have a wonderful day!
HUGS
329 posted on 08/12/2008 7:27:11 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Thanks Kathy!!

{{HUGS}}


330 posted on 08/12/2008 7:29:56 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Keep smiling.... Sandy Day On The Road... Phew... multiple Sandstorms I have some Pics to download later...

Heading Home Long Day..


331 posted on 08/12/2008 8:01:27 AM PDT by philly-d-kidder (Kuwait where the Temperature has been above 100 F since Easter Sunday!)
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To: beachn4fun; Kathy in Alaska


332 posted on 08/12/2008 8:07:17 AM PDT by unique
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To: unique; Kathy in Alaska

woo hoo we’re going for a balloon ride!

Good morning, U

Whatz up?


333 posted on 08/12/2008 8:55:59 AM PDT by beachn4fun (Have you checked your home for radon?)
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To: SueRae; laurenmarlowe

Welcome to the Canteen, SueRae...laurenmarlowe researched a great topic, reminding us of the fantastic contributions the Navajo Code Talkers made to our country. Thanks for helping honor them.


334 posted on 08/12/2008 9:11:33 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: beachn4fun
Nothing up here, except my new logo.....


335 posted on 08/12/2008 9:13:57 AM PDT by unique
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To: unique; beachn4fun

336 posted on 08/12/2008 9:49:13 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: beachn4fun
Good afternoon, beachy...busy, busy day, and you too.

Hope your day has gone wonderfully.


337 posted on 08/12/2008 11:12:32 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: All

MILITARY OLYMPIANS - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program marksman Maj. Michael Anti raises his hands for the crowd as Team USA marches around the Bird's Nest National Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games, Aug. 8, 2004, in Beijing. Anti, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist in three-position rifle shooting, will compete in his fifth Olympics in the 50-meter prone rifle event on Aug. 15. WCAP rifle coach Maj. David Johnson (far right) also is among the group. U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps

FULL FLIGHT DECK - An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 102 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk for the last time in Pacific Ocean, Aug 6, 2008. Carrier Air Wing 5 aircraft flew off Kitty Hawk to join the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington in San Diego. In September, George Washington will replace Kitty Hawk as the Navy's only carrier operating from Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau

338 posted on 08/12/2008 11:22:06 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: All

PULL HARDER - U.S. sailors assigned to Air Departments V-1 Division participate in a shuttle pull during Flight Deck Olympics aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Atlantic Ocean, Aug 7, 2008. The USS Roosevelt is conducting operations off the Atlantic Coast. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder

GATOR CRUISE - The crew of a Landing Craft Air Cushion prepares to pull into the well deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex during Gator Cruise 2008 in the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 7, 2008. A Gator Cruise is an invitation for sailors to bring friends and family members aboard to let them experience life at sea. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kari R. Bergman

339 posted on 08/12/2008 11:27:01 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: beachn4fun

beachy.....#300!!

Thanks, unique, for the woohoo!


340 posted on 08/12/2008 11:30:12 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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