[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE NATIVE AMERICAN CODE TALKERS

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Native American 
Code Talkers for their selfless contributions to America's defense 
during World Wars I and II. During these times of worldwide turmoil, 
hundreds of American Indians joined the United States' Armed Forces 
with the goal of protecting freedom and human rights around the world.
  The Code Talkers, as these brave soldiers became known, used their 
ancient tribal languages to develop a military communications code that 
no enemy was ever able to crack. American Indians served bravely in 
both World Wars, though the most well-known code group, the Navajo Code 
Talkers, was not formed by the Marine Corps until the 1940s.
  The Navajo Code Talkers came up with a code that enabled them to send 
and receive messages that were unintelligible to eavesdroppers. The 
Navajo language had no alphabet, and only an extraordinarily few 
individuals outside of the Navajo community were fluent in it, making 
it the ideal foundation for updating the U.S. military's slow-to-
decipher and easily broken codes. Over 400 Navajo Code talkers served 
bravely in World War II, and their code was considered so secretive 
that they were prohibited from writing it down. It was not until the 
declassification of the code in 1968 that Americans were truly able to 
appreciate the contributions of the Code Talkers.
  Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that as we remember the brave Americans 
whose lives were lost at Pearl Harbor 70 years ago this week, we also 
honor all of America's veterans who have committed their time and 
risked their lives to protect our nation. It is with great honor and 
respect that I offer my appreciation to the Code Talkers for 
exemplifying the spirit and commitment of public service and duty to 
country. Indeed, both their code and their commitment to America remain 
unbreakable, and to this day we remain in awe of their achievements.

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