Code Talkers

Once one thinks about war, what frequently comes in mind regards weapons, machinery, combat zones, and so on. Language translation, though, is frequently unassociated to war. However, traditionally language translations have played an extremely significant position in the conquest or conquering nations during wartime. Predominantly, the usage of lingo and rendition in the formation and decoding of cryptic communication has been significant to communication in and out of the battleground. The capability to commune without the threat of the enemy’s understanding is critical to the victory of every army.

To evade this threat, armies have created codes that utilize compound language structures, which are unfathomable to the untaught ear. One significant instance of language and conversion successful use was during period of war whereby the Code Talkers all through World War I and II assisted the United States army. Starting with World War I Choctaw Code Talkers, the US Army hired the Native Americans to convey and construe cryptic messages utilizing codes founded on their respective native languages. The Choctaw language usage within World War I indicated its invaluableness towards the US Army since to the Germans it was unfamiliar and impossible to decipher. After only 24 hours usage of the Choctaw language, the Mousse-Argonne campaign tide had turned and the Germans started to retreat in 72 hours (Digitallibrary 2).

During the World War II, the Navajo code talkers were present in all assaults the U.S. Marines performed in the Pacific beginning 1942 to 1945. The Navajos served in each of the six Marine divisions, Marine parachuting units and Marine Raider division transmitting communication by telephone also radio using their native words a code, which the Japanese were unable to break  (Meadows 22). The thought to utilize Navajo for protected messaging originated from Philip Johnston, who father was a Navajo’s missionary, Johnston was also one among the few non-Navajos that fluently spoke their language. Johnston being a World War I expert knew of the army’s exploration for a code, which could endure any attempts to decode it. He additionally was aware that Native American words particularly Choctaw was utilized during World War I for encoding communication. Navajo responded to the military necessity for an inexplicable code since it was an unrecorded language of tremendous complexity (NationalMuseum 7).

 Its grammar, tonal characteristics, also dialects, made it incomprehensible to anybody without widespread exposure and training. When a Navajo code talker finished the training, they were sent to a Marine unit positioned within the Pacific theater (Raines 21). There, code talkers’ main job was talking, transmitting messages on strategy and troop engagements, orders along with other vital battleground messaging over telephones and radios. Navajos acquired praise and admiration for their expertise, speed and accuracy accumulated all through the warfare. The 5th Marine Division; Major Howard Connor, signal official, stated that that the marines could never have acquired Iwo Jima in absence of Navajos. About Six Navajo code talkers operating around the clock within the initial two days of the fight accompanied Connor (Navy 4.

Communication is indispensable within every war and it was no different within World War II. Beginning battalion to battalion and ship to ship, everybody is required to maintain contact to be aware where and when to attack or what time to fall back. The Navajos remained helpful as code also after the war. Therefore, the code talkers’ expertise and courage saved numerous American lives and military actions and only recently earned acknowledgment from the State and the people.

Works Cited

Digitallibrary. “CODE TALKERS.” Oklahoma State University – Library – Home. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2014. <http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CO013.html>.

Meadows, William C. The Comanche Code Talkers of World War Ii. Austin: U of Texas P, 2002. Print.

NationalMuseum. “Native Words Native Warriors.” Home | National Museum of the American Indian. N.p., 2013. Web. 24 Aug. 2014. <http://nmai.si.edu/education/codetalkers/html/chapter2.html>.

Navy. “Navajo Code Talkers cryptology.” Naval History and Heritage Command. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2014. <http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq61-2.htm>.

Raines, Rebecca R. “The Comanche Code Talkers of World War II (review).” The Journal of Military History (2004): n. pag. Print.