[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 75 (Monday, May 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNITION AND COMMENDATION OF THE LAKOTA AND DAKOTA CODE TALKERS

  Mr. KERREY. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 116, a resolution to 
recognize and commend the Lakota and Dakota code talkers submitted 
earlier today by Senator Daschle and Senator Pressler.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 116) recognizing and commending the 
     Lakota and Dakota Code Talkers.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and 
preamble be agreed to en bloc, and the motion to reconsider be laid on 
the table; that any statements appear in the Record as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today, as we celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of V-E Day, I am proud to submit a resolution honoring a 
special group of World War II veterans, the code talkers of the Lakota 
and Dakota tribes.
  In the early days of World War II, American radio codes were 
continually being broken by Japanese cryptographers, placing American 
lives at great risk.
  That changed with the code talkers, who used their native American 
Indian languages to communicate and relay critical communications. It 
was a code the Japanese could not decipher.
  The heroic efforts of the Lakota and Dakota code talkers saved many 
lives. And it was just one of the many ways in which native Americans 
served their Nation with great honor and distinction and valor during 
World War II.
  On December 1941, there were approximately 5,000 American Indians in 
the armed service. By the end of the war, more than 44,500 American 
Indians served in uniform. Indeed, more than 10 percent of all native 
Americans, alive at the time served in World War II.
  In 1982, Congress and a Presidential proclamation recognized the 
heroic contributions of the Navajo code talkers and their communication 
efforts during World War II. Today, let us also recognize the patriotic 
efforts of the Lakota code talkers who served in the same line of duty.
  And let us say to them ``pilamayapelo,'' thank you.
  I yield the floor.
  So the resolution was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 116), with its premable, is as follows:
                              S. Res. 116

       Whereas the Lakota and Dakota Code Talkers, Native 
     Americans who were members of the Sioux Nation, worked in 
     radio communications during World War II and used their 
     Lakota and Dakota languages to relay communications;
       Whereas Japanese cryptologists never deciphered the Native 
     American languages that were used as codes during World War 
     II, including the Lakota and Dakota languages; and
       Whereas the Lakota an Dakota Code Talkers deserve to be 
     recognized for their contribution to the successful 
     resolution of the war effort in the Pacific: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and commends the 
     Lakota and Dakota Code Talkers for their invaluable 
     contribution to the successful resolution of World War II.
     

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