[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10673]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 10673]]

                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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          REMEMBERING THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS ON MEMORIAL DAY

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, as our nation gratefully remembers 
the deceased men and women of our military, I have a special 
commemoration for this Memorial Day, 1999. This year, as brave American 
patriots willingly put themselves in ``harm's way'' to defend the 
values and national interests of all Americans in places like the 
Balkans and the Persian Gulf, I rise to remind my colleagues here in 
the United States Senate and the American people of one distinguished 
group of patriots who gave so unselfishly at a time when their rights 
of citizenship were restricted--the Navajo Code Talkers of World War 
II. I want to let everyone know how honored we Delawareans are to 
welcome to my state one of these Native American patriots and World War 
II veterans this Memorial Day weekend.
  The Clarence Vinson-John Chason Post #3238 of the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, in Camden, Delaware will have the distinct privilege of hosting 
Mr. Samuel Billison. Mr. Billison was one of the Navajo Code Talkers 
who helped the United States of America defeat the Axis Powers in the 
Pacific during World War II. Mr. Billison is traveling from Window 
Rock, Arizona to be the featured speaker at the May 31st Memorial Day 
observances being conducted by VFW Post #3238 at the Ceasar Rodney High 
School auditorium.
  My state--the First State, the State that started our nation--has a 
long and proud history of celebrating the culture and accomplishments 
of Native Americans. It is only fitting, therefore, that Post Commander 
Mark Newman and Memorial Day Program Director Thomas E. Weyant sought 
out Mr. Samuel Billison, once one of the select Navajo Code Talkers.
  Each Navajo Code Talker made an invaluable personal contribution to 
the success of our nation's effort in World War II to preserve freedom 
and democracy. What is most astonishing about this is that they were 
willing to take on the responsibilities of democracy at a time when 
they were not allowed to enjoy the full blessings and rights of 
democracy here at home.
  Their communications contribution to World War II began in 1942 with 
a small group of 29 Navajos who shared their unique and unwritten 
language with the United States Marine Corps. Together they developed 
an unbreakable verbal code. By 1943, nearly 200 Navajo Code Talkers 
were dispersed to three combat divisions of the U.S. Marine Corps. As 
part of Marine Corps signal units, they participated through 1944 in 
the Pacific battles whose names bear witness to the honor and bravery 
of America's Marines--Bouganville, Tarawa, Cape Gloucester, the 
Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam, and Peleliu.
  As 1945 unfolded, all six divisions of the Marine Corps in the 
Pacific theater were using the distinctive skills and loyal services of 
approximately 400 Navajo Code Talkers. These brave Native Americans 
joined other courageous Marines to recapture Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In 
the first two days of the battle for Iwo Jima, Navajo Code Talkers 
flawlessly translated over 800 messages. At the end of that month-long 
blood bath, it was Navajo Code Talkers who spelled out ``Mt. 
Suribachi'' as the flag was raised. By late 1945, the Navajo Code 
Talkers were serving with the occupation forces in Japan and China.
  The historical accomplishments and story of the Navajo Code Talkers 
must be preserved and retold for future generations. These Native 
American communications experts used their native tongue to thwart the 
enemy; to expedite military operations for critical territory; and to 
save countless lives in combat. Learning their story and repeating it 
is more than a matter of historical accuracy and completeness, or even 
a matter of just recognition and gratitude. As my friend Tom Weyant 
pointed out--speaking, I believe, for all Delawareans--it is also 
critical that Americans enter the New Millennium understanding the 
community ethos and deep patriotism of the Navajos who fought in World 
War II. The Navajos saw that ``pulling together'' was a matter of 
national survival. They gave unselfishly to defend ideals that even 
today, all we Americans still have not fully realized here in the 
United States, because the Navajos had faith that America would always 
continue to move toward the realization and fulfillment of those 
ideals.
  Mr. President, we in Delaware salute the Navajo Code Talkers of World 
War II. They are unsung heroes who played a vital role in our ultimate 
success in the Pacific by providing a code which the Japanese never 
could decipher. While many knew that Native Americans faithfully served 
in the war, including Navajos, it was not until 1968 that the existence 
of this top-secret code was finally declassified and made public. Our 
entire country is indebted to Mr. Billison, to all the Navajo Code 
Talkers, and to the thousands of Native Americans from various tribes 
who served so loyally and selflessly in both the Pacific and European 
theaters of World War II. We must never forget the ultimate sacrifice 
these Native Americans were willing to make at a time when they and 
their families were not even allowed to vote or participate in the full 
fruits of American citizenship in several states.
  Mr. Samuel Billison, the Navajo legacy of patriotism, the Navajo 
contribution of their unique skills, the Navajo heritage of heroism, 
and the Navajo example of love for America must be carried forward by 
us all. Your story embodies all that we Americans look for in our 
heroes today and that we revere in the rich tradition of our United 
States Marine Corps. To you and to all who served, I thank you.

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