The United States Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers World War II  The Navajo Nation, when called upon to serve the United States, contributed a precious commodity never before used. In the midst of the fighting in the South Pacific, a gallant group of young men from the Navajo Reservation utilized our language in coded form to help speed the allied victory.  Equipped with the only fool proof, unbreakable code in the history of warfare, the Navajo Code Talkers confused the enemy with an earful of sounds never before heard by code experts. The dedication and devotion to duty shown by the men of the Navajo Nation in serving as radio code talkers in the United States Marine Corps during World War II is an example for all Americans, the Navajo Nation and graduates of WRHS.   It is fitting that at this time we also express appreciation for the Navajo Code Talkers who lived among the communities of Fort Defiance, Old Sawmill, St. Michaels and the Window Rock areas, and the families who served the population with their children being former students and alumni of Window Rock High School

Camp Elliott, California Left—Right: Cpt. Johnny Manuelito (Naschitti, NM); John Benally (Fort Defiance, AZ), Pvt. Rex Kontz (Fort Defiance, AZ), Howard Billiman (Sawmill, AZ), Peter Tracey (Ganado, AZ) Design the NTC Project: Tech Sgt. Phillip Johnson (Leupp, AZ)

 

Marine Code Talker Signal Unit Front Row: Privates Earl Johnny, Kee Etsicitty, John V. Goodluck and Private First Class David Jordan. Back row: Privates Jack C. Morgan, George H. Kirk, Tom H. Jones and Corporal Henry Bahe, Jr

Earl Johnny Above two pictures Courtesy US Senate Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico

Navajo Code Talkers at WWII Memorial July 4, 1976 Front Row: Col. Walker, Arcencio Smiley, James Nahkai, Albert Smith, Harold Y. Foster, George Kirk; King, Mike; Wm. Dean Wilson. 2nd Row: Richard Thomas, Francis Thompson, Frank Thompson; John Goodluck, Teddy Draper, Eugene Crawford, Paul Blatchford, Jack Morgan. 3rd Row: Harold Beard, Keith Little, Frank Chee Willetto, Sidney Bedonie, Carl Gorman, Joe Kellwood, Bill Cadman, M. Link

 

NTCA at Window Rock Veterans Park Sept. 12, 2004 Front Row: John Brown, Peter MacDonald, Sidney Bedonie, Bill Toledo, Samuel Sandoval, Frank Thompson, Jimmy Begay, Joe Price, Edward Anderson, John Kinsel. 2nd Row: Arthur Hubbard, Harold Beard, Keith Little, Sam Billison, Wilford Buck, George Smith, Larry P. Foster (Son-of-Code Talker), Samuel Tso, Willard Oliver, Jean Whitehorse

 

Platoon 382. This was the first group of Navajos recruited as the pilot for the famous Navajo Code Talker program during World War II. They developed the original code of about two hundred terms. The Navajo code was later expanded to nearly... seven hundred by 1945, and approximately four hundred Navajos served as Code Talkers in the Pacific. Front row: (left to right) Frank Denny Pete, Cpl. L.P. Kohl (Drill Instr.) Sgt. L.J. Stephenson (Drill Instr.), Cpl. R.J. Hayes (Drill Instr.), Wilsie Bitsie Second row: (left to right) Chester Nez, Eugene R. Crawford, John Brown, Jr., Cosy (Cozy) S. Brown, John A Benally, Bill D. Yazzie (later changed name to William Dean Wilson), Benjamin H. Cleveland, Nelson S. Thompson Third row: (left to right) Lloyd Oliver, Charlie Y. Begay, William McCabe, Oscar B. Ilthma, David Curley, Lowell S. Damon, Balmer Slowtalker (later changed his name to Joe Palmer), Alfred Leonard, Allen Dale June Fourth row: James Dixon, Roy L Begay, Johnny R. Manuelito, Harry Tsosie, George H. Dennison, Carl N. Gorman, Samuel h. Begay, John Chee, Jack Nez, John Willie, Jr. The last member of this group, Chester Nez, passed away at 93 on June 4, 2014.

Chester Nez

 

Local Code Talkers Related To Window Rock High School Alumni & Former Students

		Benally Ashi , John		Benally, Johnson
		Everett Ashi Benally, Class of 1959 Ronald Benally, Class of 1966 Janet Benally,  Class of 1968		Steven, Class of  1972 Geraldine, Class of  1977
		Benton, Willie		Billiman, Howard
		Willie, Jr., Class of  1969		Francis, Class of 1973 Genice, Class of 1976
		Brown, Jr., John		Cadman, William “Bill”
		Valery Showalter-Brandow, Class of 1990 Original Code Talker Decorated American and Navajo Hero Husband, Father, Grandfather & Great Grandfather. Details		Edward,  Class of  1966 Evangeline,  Class of  1967 Earl,  Class  of 1969 Elouise,  Class of  1971
		Cayedito, Del		Clauschee, Guy
		Irving “Obit”, Class of  1964		Calvin, Class of   1966  Pat,  Class of  1975 David,  Class of  1978 Gilbert,  Class of  1979
		Damon, Anson C.		Draper Sr., Teddy
		Albert,  Class of   1959 Alberta,  Class of  1960 Roberta,  Class of   1963 Anson  Jr.,  Class of   1966 Loretta,  Class of   1968 Elvira,  Class of   1970		Theodora Draper-Baldwin, Class of 1984 Mr. Draper Received a Purple Heart 59 years after WWII
		Foster, Sr., Harold Y.		Francisco, Jimmy
		Len ,  Class of   1967 Larry P.,  Class of   1968 Harold Chuck  Jr.,  Class of   1971 Eugene Oree,  Class of   1972		Elmer, Class of  1965  Frank, Class of  1967 Jimmy, Jr., Class of  1968 Gene, Class of  1970 Marvin,  Class of  1972
		Harding, Ben W.		Hardy, Tom
		Benjamin,  Class of  1968		Ron,  Class of  1959 Freddie,  Class of  1965 Tommy,  Class of  1970
		Hawthorne, Roy		Hickman, Dean
		Gerald, Class of  1969 Regan, Class of  1972 Gene,  Class of  1974		Dorothy, Class of   1960 Deanna, Class of  1962
		Johnny, Earl		Johnson, Deswood
		Regina, Class of  1972 Diana, Class of 1976 Vincent Johnny, Class of 1980 Children of Diana:           Bryan Johnny,  Class of 1992           Johana DeChilly,  Class of 1999           Jenna DeChilly,  Class of 2003           Jania DeChilly, Class of 2016           Jaelyn DeChilly, Class of 2020 Children of Regina           Micah Francisco - Class of 1993           Shaunaci Francisco           Delmer Francisco           Chato Franc Great-Grandchildren           Cooper Ryne Johnny           Noelani Francisco           Derek Francisco           Shaunice Calamity           Jason Calamity           Eric Calamity           Trenton Francisco           Carnell Manson           Talus Manson.		Deswood Jr., Class of  1973 Daniel, Class of  1974
		Jose, Teddy		Keedah, Wilson
		William, Class of  1959		Wilson, Jr., Class of  1960 Nelson, Class of  1963 Wilbert, Class of  1968 Margaret, Class of  1970
		Kontz, Rex		Little, Keith
		Thomas, Class of  1967 Richard, Class of  1970 Debra, Class of  1971 Rexann, Class of  1972 Roxann, Class of  1973 Cynthia, Class of 1974 Geneva, Class of 1975 Rex, Jr., Class of  1978 Warren (Sandy), Class of 1981		Kenneth, Class of  1966
		MacDonald, Sr., Peter		Manuelito, Sr., James
		Linda, Class of  1970 Rocky, Class of  1972		James “Chooks”, Class of  1961 Michael, Class of  1964 Vernon , Class of  1968
		Miles, General		Nagurski, Adolph N.
		James, Class of  1961 Joseph, Class of  1964 Doris, Class of   1965 Earl, Class of  1967 Beverly, Class of  1969		Evelyn, Class of  1967 Mayfa, Class of 1968
		Nakaidine, Peter		Price, Joe
		Phyllis, Class of  1975 Pat, Class of  1976		Annie, Class of  1959 Fannie, Class of  1959 Manuel, Class of  1962 Herman, Class of  1964 Kathleen, Class of  1968 Melvin, Class of  1971 Evangeline, Class of  1973
		Slinkey, Richard		Smith, Sr., Samuel J.
		Richard, Class of  1966 Rita, Class of  1966 Linda, Class of  1967 Ronald, Class of  1968 Michael ,Class of  1970		Janice, Class of  1966
		Sorrell, Sr., Benjamin G.		Tabaha, Sr., Johnnie
		Tina Sorrell-Bowen, Class of 1987 Sandra Sorrell, Class of 1993 Robin Sorrell, Class of 1997		Johnnie, Jr., Class of  1959 Beverly, Class of  1960 Alvina, Class of  1966 Diana, Class of  1967  Mary Louise, Class of  1968
		Thompson, Sr., Clare M.		Thompson, Frank T.
		Robin , Class of  1970		Janice, Class of 1972 Francine, Class of 1982 Cassandra, Class of 1975 Frankie, Class of 1978 Terry, Class of 1980 Valerie, Class of 1986 Floyd, Class of 1976
		Upshaw, John		Williams, Kenneth
		Benjamin, Class of  1968		Kenneth, Jr., Class of  1966
		Yazza, Peter		Yazza, Vincent
		Mae Francis, Class of 1964 Linda, Class of  1965 Daniel, Class of  1968 Arthur, Class of  1969 Yoland, Class of  1972		Alex, Class of  1959
		Zah, Henry
		Lorraine, Class of  1966

After the war, these Navajo Codemen returned to their communities and through the years many held prominent positions with the Navajo Nation, Window Rock Public School District, Fort Defiance IHS Hospital, Fort Defiance local stores and trading posts. The communities of Window Rock, Fort Defiance, Old Sawmill and St. Michaels, Arizona contributed the largest number of Navajo Code Talkers. Additionally, Window Rock High School is the alma mater of more Code Talker children than any other school in the United States. On July 9-10, 1971, the Navajo Code Talkers held their first reunion. They elected their first officers and formed the Navajo Code Talkers Association at the Window Rock Fairgrounds. Today, the Navajo Code Talkers Association hold their monthly meetings at the Gallup Chamber of Commerce. Larry Foster Proud Son of a Code Talker Window Rock High School Class of 1968

Complete List of Code Talkers (Click Picture)

(Click for Reference Material )

The symbol of the Code Talker represents a communication device used by two young Navajo boys called the Hero Twins. The device allowed them to secretly communicate with each other. When monsters were plaguing the Dine' (Navajo People), the legendary Hero Twins were sent to the Sun to seek a weapon that would kill all the monsters. The Sun gave them the Thunderbolt as a weapon to use. All of these elements are represented in the unique and interesting Code Talker Emblem and is also pictured on the reverse side of the Congressional Medals. Carl Gorman, creator and Code Talker, felt that this was a fitting symbol for this brave group of men who gave so much for their country.

Veterans Day 2009   The following was provided by Diana DeChilly, WRHS Class of 1976 and daughter of Code Talker Earl Johnny: Navajo Code Talkers to be in NYC Veterans parade By ULA ILNYTZKY ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER NEW YORK -- The famed Navajo Code Talkers, the elite Marine unit whose unbreakable code stymied the Japanese in World War II, fear their legacy will die with them. Only about 50 of the 400 Code Talkers are believed to be still alive, most living in the Navajo Nation reservation that spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Many are frail or ill, with little time left to tell the world about their wartime contribution. But on Wednesday, 13 of the Code Talkers are coming to New York City to participate for the first time in the nation's largest Veterans Day parade. The young Navajo Marines, using secret Navajo language-encrypted military terms, helped the U.S. prevail at Iwo Jima and other World War II Pacific battles, serving in every Marine assault in the South Pacific between 1942-1945. Military commanders said the code, transmitted verbally by radio, helped save countless American lives and bring a speedier end to the war in the Pacific theater. They were sworn to secrecy about their code, so complex that even other Navajo Marines couldn't decipher it. Used to transmit secret tactical messages via radio or telephone, the code remained unbroken and classified for decades because of its potential postwar use. "We were never told that our code was never decoded" or given identities of the original 29 Navajos who created it, said Keith Little, 85, who joined the Marines at 17 and remembers crouching in a bomb crater amid heavy fire on Iwo Jima. "It was all covered by secrecy. We were constantly told not to talk about it," said Little. The Code Talkers felt compelled to honor their secrecy orders, even after the code was declassified in 1968. Little plans to go to New York with the other Code Talkers, many of whom were young farmers and sheepherders and had never been away from home before the war. "The code did a lot of damage to the enemy," said Samuel Tom Holiday, 85, of Kayenta, Ariz., who also is joining the parade. He was a 20-year-old Code Talker when he and two other Marines went behind enemy lines on Iwo Jima to locate a Japanese artillery unit advancing on American forces. Once the unit was located, Holiday transmitted a coded message to Marine artillery, which fired a big shell at the Japanese. After the Marine rifleman proclaimed it "right on target," Holiday messaged "Right on Target" to a Navajo Code Talker in Marine artillery. Though the Code Talkers transmitted information on tactics and troop movements, orders and other vital battlefield communications, they did not know at the time how those messages figured in the greater battle strategy. Today "there's a certain elation about" knowing how much their work affected the outcome of the war, said Little, who runs a family ranch in Crystal, N.M., on the Navajo Nation. Before the code, the Japanese intercepted and sabotaged U.S. military communications at an alarming rate because they had expert English translators. American forces then devised ever more complicated codes, but that increased the time - sometimes hours - for sending and decoding them. The code, based on the ancient Navajo language, changed that. In the first 48 hours of the battle of Iwo Jima, six Code Talkers worked nonstop, transmitting and receiving more than 800 messages about troop movement and enemy fire - none deciphered by the Japanese. What confounded the enemy most was that Code Talkers could use distinctly different words for exactly the same message. Recognition from the U.S. government and awareness of the Code Talkers - even within the Navajo community - has been slow to come. It wasn't until 2000 that the Congressional Gold Medal was bestowed on the survivors of the original 29 Code Talkers and silver medals on the rest. At least five of the Code Talkers died just this year, creating an urgency for the Navajo Code Talkers Foundation to create a museum in their honor in New Mexico, near the Navajo capital of Window Rock, Ariz. It is slated to open sometime in 2012. Yvonne Murphy, a foundation board member and daughter of Code Talker Raymond R. Smith Sr., who died seven years ago, did not hear of the Code Talkers until she was 16. "I saw this outfit lying on the bed ... a Marine gold-colored shirt," she said, the uniform of the Code Talkers, laid out with some Navajo jewelry. But it wasn't until she was in her 30s, "that I was able to grasp the whole concept," added Murphy, 45. The Code Talkers coming to New York this week hope to highlight their efforts and funding needs for the museum, slated to open sometime in 2012. On Tuesday, they will visit ground zero and the World War II aircraft carrier the USS Intrepid, where they will give a proclamation on behalf of the Navajo Nation to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "A lot more Marines would be dead right now," if not for the Code Talkers, said parade chairman Patrick Gualtieri. "Our language was used to help win the war," said Holiday. "After we're all gone, there will be no one to tell the story."