2. World War II -Pacific Theatre 1 World War II -Pacific Theatre 3
Guadacanal-382 nd Platoon, USMC, first battle for CT
During early part of WWI, Japanese broke every code we
devised. Had plenty of fluent English speakers at their
“deploying troops without tipping off the enemy was a
disposal. They sabotaged messages, sent false messages
challenge” and Japan had “homefield” advantage. Japan
and ambushed Allies.
always knew our positions.
Guadalcanal-first battle code talkers were used.
Once CT began, we gained ground immediately.
Commanders using old code complained about excessive
time to encrypt and decrypt messages ( 2-3 hours).
Ingenious Idea 2
World War II-Pacific Theatre 3
1942-Johnston met with Maj Gen Clayton B Vogel, CG or
By 1941, Japan was invading China anBy 1941, Japan was
Amph Corps….he was so impressed, he recommended the
invading China and Southeast Asia.US tried to encourage
recruitment of 200 code talkers.
peaceful negotiation. Japan attacked our Pacific Fleet at its
headquarters, Pearl Harbor, HI on Dec 7, 1941.President
Roosevelt subsequently declared war on Japan. We sent 3
Marines to fight on Japanese
d Southeast Asia.US tried to encourage peaceful Two recruiters met with Chee Dodge, Chrmn of the Tribal
negotiation. Japan attacked our Pacific Fleet at its Council. He liked the idea and sent word to the tribes by
headquarters, Pearl Harbor, HI on Dec 7, 1941.President short wave radio. Response was swift and strong. Some
Roosevelt subsequently declared war on Japan. We sent even lied about their age to be able to serve in the war.
Marines to fight on Japanese
Ingenious Idea 1
Early 1942, recruited 29 Navajo to be the first CT Ingenious Idea 1
Code talkers-young Navajos in WWII
They: Conceived code, Excelled at basic training due to
their ruggedness of their tribal upbringing, young Served in every major battle from 1942-45 “most ingenious
men/boys from 15-35, trained at Camp Elliot and Camp and successful code in military history”.
Pendleton in CA, the code had 200 terms at the start and
“played a pivotal role in saving countless lives and hastening
eventually grew to 600, they could communicate in 20
the war’s end”
seconds what it took code machines 30 mins to do.
3. Ingenious Idea 1 Navajos 4
Used words in Navajo that resembled their military terms: Navajo is the largest reservation in North America. (27,000
sq miles) at four corners.
Tank turtle chay-da-gahi
1300-1600 Navajos came to SW from the NW. Began
Divebomber chickenhawk
raiding Spanish settlers (known by Spanish as Great
Also used Navajo words to represent letters, for ex. Warriors) By 1750, Navajo living in NE Arizona didn’t live in
organized tribes, but as mobile families.
Wo-la-chee=ant=letter A
Navajo POW couldn’t even figure out code…Marine
cryptologists couldn’t write or decode it.
Ingenious Idea 1 Navajos 4
Philip Johnston had solution to code problem. He was son 1848-Americans try to take Navajo lands
of a missionary who grew up on Navajo reservation and
was fluent in their difficult language. 1850-60-Fight US for lands…Americans killed and
captured thousands of Navajo and made them take “The
He thought it would be Long Walk”.
indecipherable. After demonstrating,
he was given permission for Navajo 1868-Navajo allowed to return to homeland
Code Talker Code Program in 1942.
Ingenious Idea 3
Language-Navajos 1
Their upbringing made boot camp easy---hard part was
creation of code (officers worried someone would know No alphabet
Navajo) later tested on some Navajos and they were Only about 30 outsiders were fluent
unable to understand.
Impossible to master w/o early exposure
4. Navajos 4 Code Talkers at War 1
Success of code attrib. to fact that Navajo families lived by Teddy Draper, SR. Iwo Jima, wounded in face and leg by
themselves, remote and not together as a tribe. Kept mortar fire but kept fighting anyway.
their language from being known by anyone but
themselves. Landed with marines on Green Beach and ran thru enemy
fire and back to get lost equip. to fix comm. Lines.
By end of war:
540 Marine Navajos
420 were Code Talkers
Code Talkers at War 1 Other Code Talkers 4
After training sent to marine divisions in Pac Johnston ( a veteran of WWI) “had heard of a WWI battle
Theatre, in which Choctaw Indians were talking by radio. It
Net with skepticism, quickly gained respect. No code ever completely fooled the Germans.” It helped the Americans
written, they were living codes, secure victory.
Battle of Iwo Jima-coded 800 transmissions perfectly and
was lynchpin this victory.
Code Talkers at War 2
Post War 1
Once trained-CT to a Marine Unit primary job was to talk
transmitting info on tactics and troop movements, orders After war-they were silent heroes who kept code a secret.
and other battlefield comm. Over phone and radio. 1968 the code was declassified
Iwo Jima- Maj Howard Connor(5th Marines) said, “Were it 2001 CT finally rec’d recognition.
not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken
Iwo Jima. Connor had 6 talkers-800 message w/o error.
Japanese remained baffled thru war.
5. World War I 5 Other Code Talkers 6
“Choctaw code talkers were 19 Choctaw Indians from OK Meskwaki---Iowa 27 men (16% of total tribe pop) enlisted
who pioneered the used of NA Language as military code” in 1941 in US Army and used their language against the
Germans were extremely good at code breaking and US Germans.
military thought they had broken every code in use.
Basque---Capt Frank Carranza got idea of using Basque
Col. AW Bloor(142nd Inf in France) saw 2 of his man who
were using Choctaw and concocted a plan to use their code talkers in May 1942 after meeting 60 marines of
native language as a code. Basque ancestry. Wary due to some Basque influence in
China and Philippines, so Basque was only used in HI and
Australia.
World War I 5 Other Code Talkers 6
First use: Oct 26, 1918 Bloor ordered a difficult w/d of 2 8-1-1942---Lts. Aguirre, Bakaicoa and Juanna rec’d Basque
co of the 2nd battalion from Chufilly to Chardeny. They coded messages from San Diego warning Adm. Nimitz of
used Choctaw to manage the troop movement. “The upcoming Operation Apple, which would remove
enemy’s complete surprise is evidence that it could not Japanese from the Solomon Islands.
decipher the messages.” (Bloor) “A captured German
officer confirmed that they were completely surprised by There weren’t many Basque speakers, so Navajo became
the Indian Language and gained no benefit whatsoever: primary code.
from tapping into their conversation. As a result of this
success, Choctaw were p laced in each company to send
and rec. messages by telephone.
Other Code Talkers 6 Post War 1
Adolph Hitler knew of code talkers during WWi and sent After war-they were silent heroes who kept code a secret.
several anthrop. To learn native American languages, but 1968 the code was declassified
had little luck. Because of this code talkers were not used
much in Europe. 2001 CT finally rec’d recognition. 3
Navajo Code Talkers cont’d thru Korean War and ended
toward beginning of Vietnam.(longevity speaks to
effectiveness)
6. One can see that I have these main
topics:
• World War I
• World War II Pacific Theater
• Ingenious Idea
• Navajos
• Code Talkers at War
• Other Code Talkers
• After the War
7. These should be the Basis of our
outline:
I. World War I • World War I 5
A. German code breakers • “Choctaw code talkers were 19
B. Colonel Bloor discovers Choctaws Choctaw Indians from OK who
1. First Use of Choctaws pioneered the used of NA
Language as military code”
a. Successful troop removal Germans were extremely good
b. Bloor-complete surprise at code breaking and US
c. Germans baffled military thought they had
C. Cherokee broken every code in use.
1. Battle of the Somme-3oth • Col. AW Bloor(142nd Inf in
Infantry France) saw 2 of his man who
were using Choctaw and
concocted a plan to use their
native language as a code.
•
8. Topic 1: World War I
I. World War I World War I 5
A. German code breakers First use: Oct 26, 1918 Bloor
B. Colonel Bloor discovers ordered a difficult w/d of 2 co of the
Choctaws 2nd battalion from Chufilly to
1. First Use of Choctaws Chardeny. They used Choctaw to
manage the troop movement. “The
a. Successful troop removal enemy’s complete surprise is
b. Bloor-complete surprise evidence that it could not decipher
c. Germans baffled the messages.” (Bloor) “A captured
C. Cherokee German officer confirmed that they
were completely surprised by the
1. Battle of the Somme-3oth Indian Language and gained no
Infantry
benefit whatsoever: from tapping
into their conversation. As a result
of this success, Choctaw were p
laced in each company to send and
rec. messages by telephone.
9. Topic 2: Other Code Talkers
II. Other Code Talkers Other Code Talkers 6
A. WWII-Hitler attempts code break Meskwaki---Iowa 27 men (16% of total
tribe pop) enlisted in 1941 in US Army
B. 30 Anthropologists and used their language against the
C. Meskwaki Germans.
D. Basque Basque---Capt Frank Carranza got idea of
using Basque code talkers in May 1942
Other Code Talkers 6 after meeting 60 marines of Basque
ancestry. Wary due to some Basque
Adolph Hitler knew of code talkers influence in China and Philippines, so
during WWi and sent several Basque was only used in HI and Australia.
Other Code Talkers 6
anthrop. To learn native American 8-1-1942---Lts. Aguirre, Bakaicoa and
languages, but had little luck. Juanna rec’d Basque coded messages
Because of this code talkers were from San Diego warning Adm. Nimitz of
upcoming Operation Apple, which would
not used much in Europe. remove Japanese from the Solomon
Islands.
There weren’t many Basque speakers, so
Navajo became primary code.
10. Topic 3: Pacific Theater
World War II-Pacific Theatre 3
By 1941, Japan was invading China and Southeast Asia.US tried
III. Pacific Theater to encourage peaceful negotiation. Japan attacked our Pacific
Fleet at its headquarters, Pearl Harbor, HI on Dec 7,
A. Japanese Aggression 1941.President Roosevelt subsequently declared war on Japan.
We sent Marines to fight on Japanese
1. Invasion in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.US tried to encourage peaceful
2. Pearl Harbor World War II -Pacific Theatre 1
During early part of WWI, Japanese broke every code we
3. U.S declares war devised. Had plenty of fluent English speakers at their disposal.
They sabotaged messages, sent false messages and ambushed
B. Campaigns Against Japan Allies.
1. American efforts Guadalcanal-first battle code talkers were used. Commanders
using old code complained about excessive time to encrypt and
2. Japan’s code breakers- decrypt messages ( 2-3 hours).
Guadalcanal
World War II -Pacific Theatre 3
3. What can the U.S. do? Guadacanal-382 nd Platoon, USMC, first battle for CT
“deploying troops without tipping off the enemy was a
challenge” and Japan had “home field” advantage. Japan
always knew our positions.
Once CT began, we gained ground immediately.
11. Topic 4: Ingenious Idea
Ingenious Idea 1 Ingenious Idea 2
Used words in Navajo that resembled their military terms: 1942-Johnston met with Maj Gen Clayton B Vogel, CG or
Tank turtle chay-da-gahi Amph Corps….he was so impressed, he recommended the
Divebomber chickenhawk recruitment of 200 code talkers. 3
Also used Navajo words to represent letters, for ex.
Two recruiters met with Chee Dodge, Chrmn of the Tribal
Wo-la-chee=ant=letter A
Council. He liked the idea and sent word to the tribes by
Navajo POW couldn’t even figure out code…Marine
short wave radio. Response was swift and strong. Some even
cryptologists couldn’t write or decode it.
lied about their age to be able to serve in the war
Ingenious Idea 1
Philip Johnston had solution to code problem. He was son of Ingenious Idea 1
a missionary who grew up on Navajo reservation and was Early 1942, recruited 29 Navajo to be the first CT
fluent in their difficult language.
He thought it would be indecipherable. After demonstrating, They: Conceived code, Excelled at basic training due to their
he was given permission for Navajo Code Talker Code Program ruggedness of their tribal upbringing, young men/boys from
in 1942. 15-35, trained at Camp Elliot and Camp Pendleton in CA, the
Ingenious Idea 3 code had 200 terms at the start and eventually grew to 600,
Their upbringing made boot camp easy---hard part was they could communicate in 20 seconds what it took code
creation of code (officers worried someone would know machines 30 mins to do.
Navajo) later tested on some Navajos and they were unable
to understand. Served in every major battle from 1942-45 “most ingenious
and successful code in military history”.
“played a pivotal role in saving countless lives and hastening
the war’s end”
12. Topic 4 Outline
IV. Ingenious Idea E. The Code
A. Philip Johnston 1 Terms
1. Parents were missionaries 2. Military terms
2. Fluent in Navajo 3. Alphabet “spelling”
3. Presents idea to military
4. Unwritten
B. Codetalkers in Training
1. Original 29
2. Trained at Camp Elliot
3. Ages 15-35, lied about
age
13. Topic 5: Navajos
V. Navajos Navajos 4
Navajo is the largest reservation in North America.
(27,000 sq miles) at four corners.
A. Origins of the Navajo 1300-1600 Navajos came to SW from the NW. Began
raiding Spanish settlers (known by Spanish as Great
1. came from NW to SW Warriors) By 1750, Navajo living in NE Arizona didn’t live
in organized tribes, but as mobile families.
2. Raiders-Great Warriors Navajos 4
1848-Americans try to take Navajo lands
3. Not tribal 1850-60-Fight US for lands…Americans killed and
captured thousands of Navajo and made them take “The
Long Walk”.
B. US. Takes their land 1868-Navajo allowed to return to homeland
Language-Navajos 1
C. Language No alphabet
Only about 30 outsiders were fluent
Impossible to master w/o early exposure
14.
15. Topic 6: Codetalkers at War
VI. Codetalkers at War
Code Talkers at War 1
After training sent to marine divisions in Pac Theatre,
Net with skepticism, quickly gained respect. No code
ever written, they were living codes,
Battle of Iwo Jima-coded 800 transmissions perfectly and
was lynchpin this victory.
Code Talkers at War 2
Once trained-CT to a Marine Unit primary job was to talk
transmitting info on tactics and troop movements, orders
and other battlefield comm. Over phone and radio.
Iwo Jima- Maj Howard Connor(5th Marines) said, “Were it
not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken
Iwo Jima. Connor had 6 talkers-800 message w/o error.
Japanese remained baffled thru war.
Code Talkers at War 1
Teddy Draper, SR. Iwo Jima, wounded in face and leg by
mortar fire but kept fighting anyway.
Landed with marines on Green Beach and ran thru
enemy fire and back to get lost equip. to fix comm. Lines.
16. Topic 7: After the War/ Conclusion
VII. After the War Post War 1
After war-they were silent heroes
who kept code a secret. 1968 the
code was declassified
2001 CT finally rec’d recognition.
Post War 1
After war-they were silent heroes
who kept code a secret. 1968 the
code was declassified
2001 CT finally rec’d recognition.
Post War 3
Navajo Code Talkers cont’d thru
Korean War and ended toward
beginning of Vietnam.(longevity
speaks to effectiveness)
17. Preliminary Outline
I. World War I
A. German code breakers
B. Colonel Bloor discovers Choctaws
1. First Use of Choctaws
a. Successful troop removal
b. Bloor-complete surprise
c. Germans baffled
C. Cherokee
1. Battle of the Somme-3oth Infantry
II. Other Code Talkers
A. WWII-Hitler attempts code break
B. 30 Anthropologists
C. Meskwaki
D. Basque
III. Pacific Theater
A. Japanese Aggression
1. Invasion in the Pacific
2. Pearl Harbor
3. U.S declares war
B. Campaigns Against Japan
1. American efforts
2. Japan’s code breakers- Guadalcanal
3. What can the U.S. do?
