Today we want to highlight the story of the Navajo Code Talkers, young men whose language once suppressed, became one of America’s greatest assets in World War II.
The Unbreakable Code
As the U.S. entered WWII, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Allies faced a major problem: their manual codes for encrypting sensitive information were slow, complex, and vulnerable to decryption—allowing Axis powers to "listen in" on battle plans.
In early 1942, an idea was proposed to the U.S. military by Philip Johnston, a World War I veteran and fluent Navajo speaker: use the Navajo language as the basis for a secure communications code.
Navajo had no written form, was linguistically complex, and was spoken fluently by very few people outside the Navajo Nation—making it a compelling choice for secure wartime communication. Even if enemy forces intercepted a message, they had zero reference points to decode it. Because the Code Talkers could speak and interpret it instantly, they bypassed slow cipher machines entirely—transmitting and translating messages in seconds.
The U.S. Marines recruited the first 29 Navajo Code Talkers, who developed the original code.
They combined everyday Navajo words with an ingenious system to encode military terms that had no direct translation (like “tank” = turtle, “submarine” = iron fish).
They created a system so effective, it was never broken.
Over time, about 400 Navajo Code Talkers served, playing vital roles in key battles across the Pacific—including at Iwo Jima, where they relayed over 800 flawless messages in 48 hours. They served with honor, though many died without public recognition. Their mission remained classified for decades. Their families held both pride and grief. The Navajo language—once banned in schools—became a code that helped save countless lives.
It wasn’t until 1968, when the project was declassified, that Code Talkers could even speak about their service. Recognition came slowly: in 1992, the Pentagon dedicated an official exhibit to the Navajo Code Talkers, honoring their contributions for the first time publicly.
In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the original 29 Code Talkers and Silver Medals to the remaining 300+ who served. In 2001, only five of the original 29 were still alive to attend the White House ceremony. The last surviving original member, Chester Nez, passed away on June 4, 2014, at age 93.
As of late 2024, only two Navajo Code Talkers remain: Peter MacDonald Sr. and Thomas H. Begay.
We remember those who carried their culture as a code no enemy could crack—the unbreakable code.
In Window Rock, Arizona, a quiet memorial honors their legacy.
All gave some, some gave all —Howard William Osterkamp
Within the App
Within ExploreHere, we have a few ways you can reflect and engage this Memorial Day:
- Filter, find and visit a nearby “War Memorial” - There are thousands of memorials setup around the country dedicated to remembering the men and woman who have served our country. Within ExploreHere you can filter to view just “War Memorials” which have a dedicated marker icon in the shape of an obelisk. Personally, I’ll be visiting and reflecting at the the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
- Search for markers about “Navajo Code Talkers” from within the app to find a half-dozen other markers around the country memorializing the team and learn about another tribe that also used their language to help the war efforts.
- Discover the “National Cemeteries” tour. This tour contains over 609 markers talking about how the national cemeteries were set up by Congress and President Lincoln in 1862 as well as containing all markers within these cemeteries. As of 2018 there are 150 National Cemeteries around the US - Memorial day is a great time to go visit your closest National Cemetery as many will be holding ceremonies and events throughout the day.
