[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 63 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INHOFE (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune, Mr. Grassley, 
        and Mr. Harkin):
  S. 1035. A bill to authorize the presentation of commemorative medals 
on behalf of Congress to Native Americans who served as Code Talkers 
during foreign conflicts in which the United States was involved during 
the 20th century in recognition of the service of those Native 
Americans to the United States; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, during World War I and II, Native 
Americans heard the call of their Country and enlisted in the United 
States Armed Services in unprecedented numbers. Many of these brave men 
performed the role of code talkers, using a code language derived from 
a variety of American Indian languages to ensure secure and rapid 
communication of information on the battlefield. Through three wars and 
five decades, enemy forces were never able to break the United States 
code language thanks to the service and ingenuity of Native American 
Code Talkers. These patriots provided an invaluable service to the 
United States and our allies and deserve recognition for their bravery.
  Until 1968, information related to the code talker's activities 
during both World Wars remained classified by the Department of 
Defense. The postponement in learning about the essential role of 
Native American Code Talkers has resulted in delayed recognition of 
these war heroes. The first step in recognizing these men came in 2000 
when President Bush signed into law legislation authorizing Congress to 
award gold medals to the twenty-nine Navajo Code Talkers as well as a 
silver medal to each man who later qualified as a Navajo Code Talker. 
While this legislation was a step in the right direction, it failed to 
recognize a number of Native Americans who also served as code talkers 
but were not members of the Navajo Nation.
  During the first World War, Choctaw code talkers served with 
distinction in France. By transmitting in their native tongue a variety 
of open voice messages relating to unit movements, United States forces 
completely surprised the enemy during battle. Following the success of 
the Choctaw code talkers, soldiers from the Navajo, Sioux, Comanche and 
Meskwaki tribes, along with members of 14 other tribes, served as code 
talkers in some of the most dangerous operations in both theaters of 
World War II.
  Today I introduce the Code Talkers Recognition Act to honor those who 
were overlooked when medals were awarded to the Navajo Code Talkers in 
2001. This bill authorizes the presentation of commemorative medals on 
behalf of Congress to Native Americans who served as Code Talkers 
during any foreign conflict in which the United States was involved 
during the 20th Century. I ask my colleagues to help honor the heroic 
contributions of these gentlemen by cosponsoring this bill.

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