NCPR News - Mohawks seek recognition for WWII code talkers
Everyone knows about the Marines' Navajo Code-Talkers in WWII. Not much is known about the variety of Native American Code-Talkers the Army used in both World Wars.
According to The Comanche Code Talkers of World War II by William C. Meadows, in WWI tribes involved included Cherokee, Cheyenne, Choctaw, Comanche, Osage, and Sioux, mostly with the 36th Division, out of Oklahoma.Most of them simply spoke their language, but the Choctaw developed specific codes for military terminology from their language.
In WWII, use of Native American "Code Talkers" by the Army expanded to include those who served in that role in WWI, as well as Assiniboine, Cherokee, Chippewa/Oneida, Hopi, Kiowa, Menominee, Muscogee/Creek, Pawnee, Sac/Fox, Seminole, and other Sioux nations. Most of these were part of National Guard (state-raised) units, but a few were recruited for or assigned specifically to communications units with the intent of using them as a sort of organic Communications Security asset.
So, why haven't we heard more about these? Why do most think the Marines' Navajo were the original, and only, Code-Talkers? Well, the Naval Service has always been more savvy about public relations; note those who question the Navy helping with the making of a movie about the SEALS...
Seen at eHam.
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