Thomas H. Begay, a 101-year-old Navajo Code Talker, is expected to attend a gathering in Phoenix to mark National Code Talker Day. The day, officially proclaimed in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan, honors Navajo Code Talkers and all Native Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces.
During World War II, hundreds of Navajo men were recruited by the Marine Corps to develop a code based on their native language. This code proved vital to U.S. victories in the Pacific War, frustrating Japanese forces. The program, which remained classified for decades, involved recruiting and training over 400 Navajo men to communicate sensitive battlefield information using their then-unwritten language, making it the largest code-talking initiative in the military at the time.
Between 1942 and 1945, these Code Talkers transmitted thousands of secret messages concerning battle tactics and enemy troop movements, ultimately contributing to saving the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers. "Our language saved this country," said Dawn Manuelito, a granddaughter of one of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers.
After their discharge, Code Talkers were unable to discuss their secret mission, even with family. The program's classification was lifted in 1968, initiating efforts for formal recognition. President Richard Nixon sent a letter of appreciation to the Navajo Tribal Council in 1971, and Code Talker veterans participated in the 1976 bicentennial parade in Washington, D.C. A joint congressional resolution in 1982 and Reagan's subsequent proclamation officially established National Code Talker Day.
Reagan's proclamation also recognized that members of other tribes, including the Choctaw, Chippewa, Creek, and Sioux, utilized their tribal languages as effective battlefield codes in both World Wars. According to the National Museum of the American Indian, at least 20 tribes have had members participate in code talking programs. During World War II, over 40,000 Native American men and women enlisted, with Comanches serving in European operations, including the D-Day invasion.
Recent efforts to recognize the Code Talkers have faced challenges. Following an executive order by President Donald Trump to end federal diversity and equity programs, the Defense Department removed thousands of pages honoring contributions from minority groups, including the Navajo Code Talkers. The Pentagon later restored some webpages, stating the Navajo Code Talker material was mistakenly removed.
Laura Tohe, Arizona's Poet Laureate and daughter of a Navajo Code Talker, highlighted the irony of the military using a language that Native American students were historically punished for using in boarding schools. "Despite the complicated and dark history and relationship that we have with the U.S., these men were willing to step up because many of them felt like it was their responsibility to serve," Tohe said.
While a dedicated museum to honor the Code Talkers has yet to be built, plans were announced last week to establish one in Farmington, New Mexico. Begay, who initially spoke only Navajo and learned English at a boarding school, served in the Marines during World War II and later in the U.S. Army as a communication specialist and paratrooper during the Korean War.
Peter MacDonald, the other surviving Navajo Code Talker, joined the Marine Corps at 15 by reportedly lying about his age. After the war, he worked as an engineer and became a prominent figure in Navajo Nation politics. In 2017, MacDonald met with President Trump to share the history of the Navajo Code Talkers.