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Essay / The Navajo Code Talkers during World War II - 1524
A. Survey PlanThis survey evaluates the extent to which Navajo code talkers helped the U.S. military during World War II? To assess the extent to which these soldiers assisted the U.S. military during World War II, this investigation focuses on their involvement in transmitting military messages in their native language, as well as the events surrounding these transmissions. Additionally, the contribution of other Native American speakers is considered and compared to that of Navajos specifically in the survey.B. Summary of Evidence The transmission of Native American codes began during World War I, with the Choctaw Indians (Meadows, “Honoring”). “Because indigenous languages were not based on European languages or mathematical progressions, the Germans were never able to understand the transmissions” (Meadows, “Honoring”). In fact, the Central Intelligence Agency called the Choctaws "instrumental" in attacks on the Germans during World War I ("Navajo-Unbreakable Code"). Because of this success, Native American code talkers were called upon again during World War II (Meadows, “Honoring”). Although Germany and Japan sent students to learn Native American culture and language after World War I, they were unprepared for the complexity of the Navajo language (“Navajo-Unbreakable Code”). “The Navajo language seemed like the perfect option as a code because it is not written and very few people who are not of Navajo descent can speak it” (“Navajo – Unbreakable Code”). First, to become a Navajo code speaker, one had to be fluent in Navajo and English and have at least a tenth grade education (Takaki, 68). Although they were not recruited until April 1942, the Navajo would see their first action as code talkers later that year...... middle of paper ...... Talkers Recognition Act of 2008. Np: American Indian Culture & Research Journal 35:3 (2011), nd PDF. “Navajo Code Talkers and the Unbreakable Code.” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, November 6, 2008. Web. March 9, 2014. “Navajo Coders Dictionary.” » Navajo Coders Dictionary. Naval History and Heritage Command - US Navy, nd Web. March 9, 2014. .Paul, Doris Atkinson. Navajo code talkers. Philadelphia: Dorrance, 1973. Print.Takaki, Ronald T. Double Victory: A Multicultural History of America during World War II. Boston: Little, Brown and, 2000. Print. Townsend, Kenneth William. World War II and the American Indians. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 2000. 145-48. Print.