The Center for Minority Veterans (CMV) is celebrating 30 years of service by paying tribute to the women and underserved minority Veterans who have served our great nation. To honor their service, we’ll be recognizing the minority Veteran recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal. Throughout the year, CMV will highlight each month with a Congressional Gold Medal awardee.
The Navajo Code Talkers
VA News (previously “VAntage Point”) has been writing about the Navajo Code Talkers for several years. Readers are probably aware of their influential role in World War II’s Pacific theater from 1942 to 1945, as they took part in every Marine assault (Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima), successfully transmitting radio and telephone code messages in their native language.
The idea of using the Navajo’s language for radio communications was developed by Philip Johnston, son of a missionary to the Najavos and one of the few who spoke the language fluently. He was a World War I Veteran raised on a Navajo reservation with knowledge of the military’s need for a non-decipherable code. It is estimated that less than 30 non-Navajos, none of them of Japanese descent, could understand the language when the War broke out.
It was in early 1942 when Johnston met with Major General Clayton Vogel, commanding general of the Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet, to discuss the value of the Navajo Code Talkers. Based on the successful testing and transmitting of messages, Vogel recommended the recruitment of 200 Navajos to the Marine Corps Commandant. The first group of Navajo recruits attended boot camp at Camp Pendleton in California, where they created the Navajo code, dictionary, and words for military terms, which they memorized during training.
Long unrecognized because of the continued value of their language as a security classified code, the Navajo code talkers of World War II were honored for their contributions to defense on Sept. 17, 1992, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
The Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award given by the United States Congress, awarded to persons who have made a major and long-standing impact on American history and culture. Congress can decide to award the medal through legislative action.
Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.
On July 26, 2001, the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers received the Congressional Gold Medal in ceremony at the Nation’s Capitol.
About the Center for Minority Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Minority Veterans (CMV) was established in 1994. Under Public Law 103-446, Title 38, United States Code (USC), Section 317 reflects the current the Center’s responsibilities. CMV serves as an advocate for minority Veterans and to all Veterans by conducting outreach activities to promote the awareness and use of VA benefits and services.
A portion of this story was generated by AI. None of the data we reported included personal or sensitive information, and it was fact-checked and edited by a human copy editor prior to publishing.
Topics in this story
More Stories
VA joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus at a roundtable event to discuss the challenges faced by Hispanic Veterans and military families.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed annually on Nov. 20 to honor the memory of transgender individuals whose lives have been lost to anti-transgender violence. It is a solemn occasion that not only commemorates those who have died, but also raises awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by the transgender and gender-diverse community.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress. This prestigious award recognized the unit's outstanding service and the lasting impact it had on the military and society as a whole.
The Code Talkers were supposed to have been Celebrated Year’s ago !…But I guess better late than never. we owe our Gratitude to God and all the Code Talkers and for their families ? what an immense sacrifice, I t oo was in the Army 31 years, Thank you my Brothers!! And God speed.
I was born in 1940. As I know look back over the years I have been blessed to be an American with weak link to the Indian tribes. I can’t help but admire the guts and stamina of our fore fathers and the Indians of America. What a gift to be born here.
The code talkers proves that you should never underestimate any human being for their ability to perform an outstanding task. The code talkers, save thousands of lives, and should be greatly admired.
Should have include names and photos of the Code Talkers during the ceremony.
Very Nice Ron…Great work…Gregorio!