Code Talkers Share Stories, Honor Native Americans, Vets
(November 22, 2010) |
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| KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M (11/19/2010 - AFNS) -- Two
members of the World War II Navajo Code Talkers took part in
a ceremony Nov. 10 here to pay tribute to veterans and to
celebrate Native American heritage month. |
Navajo Code Talkers Peter Macdonald (left) and Roy Hawthorne participated in a ceremony Nov. 10, 2010, at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. to pay tribute to veterans and to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. U.S. Air Force photo
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Peter MacDonald and Roy Hawthorne
were both Navajo Code Talkers during World War II.
As with all code talkers, they served in the Marine
Corps. Although both men served as a code talkers,
they came into the service in different ways.
Peter MacDonald was 15 in 1944 and wanted to work
for the Union Pacific Railroad. To do that, he had
to prove he was 17. His cousin suggested going to
the selective service office to get a card. That way
they could prove they were 17.
"Me and my cousin went to the selective service
office and asked for a card," Mr. MacDonald said.
"They asked me how old I was and I said '17.' They
said, 'Do you have a witness?' and I said 'Yes my
cousin.' So I signed, and he signed, and they handed
us the cards."
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After working for the railroad for about four
months, Mr. MacDonald received a letter from
selective service to report for a physical. He was
then drafted into the Marines. Mr. MacDonald said he
had no idea of the Navajo Code Talkers when he went
in. He went to boot camp and combat training before
being sent to Camp Pendleton, Calif., for code
training. |
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"After combat training, the Marines said they had a special
program for us," Mr. Macdonald said. "We were not referred
to as code talkers. We were referred to as radiomen. Our job
was to use our language in coded fashion. The Navajo
language was coded so not even a Navajo listening would
understand it."
After training, Mr. Macdonald was sent to Hawaii, Guam and
then finally to North China. He was there at the end of the
war and did not get back home until 1946.
Roy Hawthorne volunteered for military service in 1943. He
wanted to join the Navy and go on submarines. However, since
he was a Navajo, he was directed into the Marines.
"I wanted to join the silent service," Mr. Hawthorne said.
"I had just read Jules Verne's' 20,000 Leagues Under the
Sea. They said 'no, all Navajo males are directed to join
the Marine Corps.' They were recruiting heavily for code
talkers, but we didn't know that."
During the war, Mr. Hawthorne was deployed to Guadalcanal,
off the coast of Australia. He was part of the second or
third group of code talkers trained. After boot camp and
combat training, he went to code school at Camp Pendleton.
Only then did he learn what they would be doing.
"It didn't mean a great deal to us, other than that we were
in the military service," Mr. Hawthorne said. "That's where
we wanted to be."
After the war ended, Mr. Hawthorne was discharged from the
military. He was told not to discuss the code with anyone.
The code was not declassified until 1968. Mr. Hawthorne
rejoined the military in 1950 and served in the Korean War,
but not as a code talker. Many of the code talkers did not
realize the significance of their service until after the
code was declassified.
When asked why it took so long for the code to be
declassified, Mr. Hawthorne's initial answer was tinged with
humor.
"It gave us adequate time to make up some real good war
stories."
"Only when the code was declassified did the enormity of the
task that was given to us emerge," he said. "I suppose it
made us happy that we were chosen to serve our country in
that way."
The seed for the code talkers was sown by a non-Navajo,
Philip Johnston. He was the son of missionaries who grew up
on the Navajo reservation and was one of only a few
non-Navajos who spoke the language fluently.
"Philip Johnston learned the language and the way of the
Navajo. During World War I he had this idea that if we
needed a code that would be unbreakable, it probably would
be based on the Navajo language," Mr. Hawthorne said. "He
renewed his idea about the code in World War II."
Efforts have begun to establish a Navajo Code Talker Marine
Corps military academy as well as a Navajo Code Talker
museum. The museum will be a showcase for all Native
American military veterans.
"I think it's very important to remember the legacy of the
code talkers; particularly for this generation and the
generations to come," he said.
The code talker program was established in 1942 and used
through World War II. The code was never broken, and was not
declassified until 1968.
The code talkers were finally recognized for their
contributions Sep. 17, 1992, in a ceremony at the Pentagon. |
By Stefan Bocchino
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Copyright 2010 | |
Reprinted from
Air Force News
Service
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