The document discusses the role of Navajo Code Talkers during World War II, highlighting their unique language and its use in military communication to enhance message transmission speed. Initiated by Philip Johnson, 29 Navajo soldiers were recruited to create a code that was never written down and proved to be significantly faster than existing methods. Although initially met with skepticism, their contributions played a crucial role in saving American lives and remain largely unrecognized.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckcy5XplxwA

3. Setting the Stage!
• 1942 – WWII
• German and Japanese’s advance ability in
breaking codes.
– Fake Messages hindered progression
• War of the Pacific
– More spread out

4. Who?
• Philip Johnson – proposed the idea!
• Navajo Language
– Complex Language
– Untouched by Germans
• 29 Navajo Soldiers recruited
– Navajo Code Talkers!!

5. The Code
•211 common military words
•System to spell out words
•Multiple words for same
letter
•Memorize Everything
•Nothing written down

6. In the Field
• Slow to be accepted
• Proven worthy – faster than Americans
• “At first there were quite a few generals and commanders
who didn't think it was going to work. So they set up two
communications centers, one run by white signalmen. They
gave us both 10 messages to send and decipher. Theirs took
almost five minutes to cipher and decode, ours took one to
two minutes,”
• Chester Nez

7. In the Field
• Courageous and Dedicated
– Traveled frontlines to relay messages
• Towards end of war – Rare Commodity
– Received bodyguards to protect
• Iwo Jima – entirely directed by code
– 6 code talkers : 800 messages : perfectly

8. Quick Review / Discussion
• Who was Philip Johnson
• What was wrong with the original code
system?
• Why the Navajo language?
• Why do you think they are called The Unsung
Heroes?

9. Unsung Heroes
“If God alone may know, they saved thousands of American lives, yet their tale had
been hidden by the very role they played: Talk silent, speak swift, stay alive.” (McClain)