CENTENNIAL SUNDAYS
The Code Talkers 鈥� America's secret weapon
One group of New Mexicans not included in newspaper stories at the time were those who served as Navajo Code Talkers. They used their traditional language to transmit thousands of coded messages to the Allies.
On May 4, 1942, the first group of 29 Navajo Code Talkers was sworn in at Fort Wingate. During the war, more than 450 Navajo Marines served along with hundreds of other Code Talkers from different tribes. They were often on the front lines, and their coded messaging proved essential during many of World War II鈥檚 most important battles.
In fact, 5th Marine Division signal officer Maj. Howard Connor was quoted as saying, 鈥淲ere it not for the Navajos, the Marines would not have taken Iwo Jima.鈥�
Many of the Navajo Code Talkers came from New Mexico, but their heroic work was kept secret until documents detailing their service were declassified in 1968.
