[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6677-S6678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NAVAJO CODE TALKERS

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, I rise to mark a solemn 
moment for the Navajo Nation and for our country.
  In the past month, three of America's veterans passed away: Willie 
Begay, Thomas Claw, and John Brown, Jr. These men were members of the 
small group of marines known as the Navajo Code Talkers. Their story is 
one of the most compelling in American military history.
  In May of 1942, 29 Navajo Indians arrived at Camp Pendleton in 
California. They were there to develop a code that could be deployed 
easily and would not be cracked by Japanese cryptographers.
  Over the course of the war, the original 29 became a team of roughly 
400 Navajos responsible for building and using their code. Their 
success in that mission helped the Marines capture Iwo Jima. It 
contributed to the American victory, and it saved untold numbers of 
allied soldiers.
  As most World War II veterans were returning home with stories of 
courage and victory, the Navajo Code Talkers were ordered to keep their 
story secret. Their mission was classified. Only in 1968 was it 
revealed to the world. And only in 2001 did these men finally receive 
the recognition they deserved when they were presented with 
Congressional Medals.
  It is often said that America's diversity makes her strong. During 
World War II, this country's cultural diversity contributed to 
America's military strength in a very real and concrete way. Because 
the Navajo language had survived and it had been passed down, Americans 
had a code that the Japanese were never able to crack--a weapon they 
could not counter.

  America is unique among the countries of the world. Almost every 
other country on Earth finds its sense of solidarity in a common race 
and a common culture. Even countries as diverse as our own trace their 
heritage to some imagined community older than their political 
institutions. Our Nation has always defined itself by its ideals, not 
by race or culture. Although we have not always lived up to this vision 
of a truly multicultural democracy, it has guided our development and 
spurred our progress.
  When the Navajo Code Talkers first arrived at Camp Pendleton, there 
were those who considered them less than fully equal. U.S. law had only 
acknowledged Native Americans as citizens for 17 years when our country 
entered World War II. Many of the code talkers were born as noncitizens 
in a land that had belonged to their people before the Europeans knew 
it existed. Yet 45,000 of 350,000 Native Americans in this country 
served in the Armed Forces during that conflict, including 400 Navajo 
Code Talkers.
  The Native Americans who signed up to serve this country in the Armed 
Forces were sending a message that they, just as much as anyone else, 
were citizens of the United States of America, their people were just 
as much a part of this country's cultural tapestry as any other.
  In the Navajo code, the word for America was ``our mother.'' As one 
code talker has explained:

       ``Our Mother'' stood for freedom--our religion--our ways of 
     life. And that's why we went in.

  The Navajo marines identified their culture with their country. When 
they fought, they fought for both. In fact, values integral to the 
Navajo experience spurred them to fight in America's war against 
tyranny. As Americans who faced bigotry and injustice, they eagerly 
signed on to free others from oppression. As individuals who had lived 
with the legacy of aggression against their people, they felt keenly 
the need to prevent other acts of aggression, even if these acts were 
being perpetrated on the other side of the world.
  The passing of the three code talkers--thousands of miles and dozens 
of years from the events that made them heroes--should make us all 
remember the great patriotism and honor all the code talkers displayed. 
It should make

[[Page S6678]]

us appreciate their work and honor their memory, and it should make us 
proud to live in a country where such things are possible.
  As time does the work Japanese guns could never do, the code talkers 
are slowly leaving us. Only 80 of the original 400 remain with us. Too 
soon, these men will live only in our memories. Let's keep those 
memories strong, lest we lose the inspiration they can offer.
  To Willie Begay, Thomas Claw, and John Brown, Jr., we honor your 
lives and mourn your passing. To all of the code talkers, alive and 
beyond, we celebrate your service. Whenever stories of courage and 
patriotism are told, we will think of you.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. BURRIS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BURRIS. Mr. President, I wish to speak on two different issues in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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