Code Talkers Code talkers was a term used to describe people who talk using a coded language. It is frequently used to describe Native Americans who served in the United States Marine Corps and whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages. Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio communications nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon their native languages. Their service improved communications in terms of speed of encryption at both ends in front line operations during World War II. The name code talkers is strongly associated with bilingual Navajo speakers specially recruited during World War II by the Marines to serve in their standard communications units in the Pacific Theater. Code talking, however, was pioneered by Choctaw Indians serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. [Those soldiers are referred to as "Choctaw Code Talkers".] Other Native American code talkers were deployed by the United States Army during World War II, including Cherokee, Choctaw, Lakota, Meskwaki, and Comanche soldiers. [Source: wikipedia] List of 29 Original WW2 Code Talkers List of WW2 Code Talkers Original 29 Code Talkers In May 1942, the first 29 Navajo recruits attended boot camp, and later created the code at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Cal. 25 were sent to the Pacific into action with four remaining behind to teach the code. The original 29 Code Talkers were honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. Charlie Y. Begay Roy L. Begay Samuel H. Begay John Ashi Benally Wilsie H. Bitsie Cosey S. Brown John Brown, Jr. John Chee Bejamin Cleveland Eugene R. Crawford David Curley Lowell S. Damon George H. Dennison James Dixon Carl N. Gorman Oscar B. Ilthma Alan Dale June Alfred Leonard Johnny R. Manuelito William McCabe Chester Nez Jack Nez Lloyd Oliver Joe Palmer Frank Denny Pete Nelson S. Thompson Harry Tsosie John Willie William Dean Wilson Chester Nez is the last survivor of the original WW2 Navajo code talkers BACK Copyright ©Genealogy Trails & each Contributor All rights reserved