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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 10 2004
Status: offline
Donating Member |
 Posted - May 21 2009 : 07:06:58 AM
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World War II veterans are passing on at a rapid rate, and the Navajo Code Talkers are no exception. John Brown, Jr., one of the few remaining original Code Talkers, died recently at the age of 88. Here's an obituary:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AZ_OBIT_CODE_TALKER_NMOL-?SITE=NMSAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
As this article makes clear, the Navajos didn't merely speak their language to confound enemy listeners. Rather, the original group of 21, including Brown, developed a code based on the Navajo language, and several hundred others went on to use that code. For example, in the movie "Windtalkers," if memory serves, the character played by Adam Beach comes up with the idea of using the Navajo word for "turtle" to mean "tank," since the Navajo language had no word for "tank' and the shape of a turtle reminded him of a tank. I've never understood why the Code Talkers were told to keep the nature of their service a secret after WWII ended -- so the idea could be put into use again if needed, maybe? At any rate, thank heavens their story finally became known and their service honored.
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Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - May 21 2009 : 12:38:34 PM
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| I have loved the story of the Navajo Code Talkers ever since I first learned about them a few years ago. These men are true heroes and deserve every honor we can give them. |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 10 2004
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - May 24 2009 : 2:25:53 PM
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And those honors will include the lowering to half staff of not only the Navajo Nation flag but the New Mexico state flag as well.
Here's another obituary, this one with a photo and a few details that will interest Hillerman readers, including the "born to/born for" information:
http://www.younewstv.com/areas/kob/45763837.html#ynext
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Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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BookwormMG
Deerslayer
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 12 2009
Status: offline
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Posted - August 17 2009 : 06:33:33 AM
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In 1982 President Reagan designated August 14 as National Navajo Code Talkers Day. I didn't know that! Here's a news video showing the latest celebration in Window Rock, AZ, the Navajo Nation capital:
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/pueblos_tribes/pueblostribes_krqe_window_rock_ariz_navajo_nation_honors_code_talkers_200908142356
The video is especially interesting because you can hear a few seconds of Navajo song during the celebration. Also, the accompanying article mentions that the Code Talkers also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, so I guess that answers my question about why their service was kept secret for so long. I've also read (but can't recall where) that Chevron Mining has donated land for a Code Talkers museum near their mining operation on the Arizona portion of the Nation, stating that it's appropriate to do so because most of their miners are Navajo. |
"Glory, glory, hallelujah, welcome to the future!" -- Brad Paisley |
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A Navajo Code Talker Passes On
