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MARCH 5, 2001

Hoping to educate the American public about the importance of Navajo Code Talkers in American history, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) last week launched his own web site dedicated to the men who helped win World War II.

"Through pictures, text, and official historic records, the site will help educate and inform the public about these brave veterans," said Bingaman. "Because of government secrecy their existence was virtually unknown and for too long their contributions have gone unrecognized by the people of this nation."

Recognition has indeed been long in the making for the Code Talkers. Using the Dine language, the Code Talkers created the only unbreakable code which helped save the lives of numerous American soldiers at the battles of Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa, among others.

Despite their achievements, the Code Talkers project was kept under wraps until 1968 when it was declassified by the government. Even then, accolades for the Code Talkers have been few, partly due to the secrecy of the soldiers themselves, said Bingaman.

"Instead of coming forward themselves, their families and neighbors have discovered their military history only in passing," he said.

But in recent years, interest in the Code Talkers has picked up. Two Hollywood movies were engaged in a bidding war last year over the servicemen, both hoping to be the first to tell their unique story.

The Code Talkers were also recently honored with "Living Legends" awards at the Third Annual Native American Music Awards last November. In a ceremony which took place on Veterans Day, representatives from the Navajo Code Talkers Association accepted the award on behalf of the others, many of whom have now passed on.

Bingaman himself finally achieved his goal of awarding Congressional medals to the Code Talkers. President Bill Clinton in December signed into law a measure awarding Congressional gold medals to the 29 original Code Talkers and silver medals to the more than 300 who followed in their footsteps.

For now, Bingaman's site isn't as comprehensive as others on the subject. A website maintained by the son of Code Talker Harrison Lapahie contains more historical documents and information about the servicemen and their legendary code.

But Bingaman's site represents what the government hopes will be a better relationship with American Indian veterans who have served in the military in numbers far beyond their representation in society. Addressing the winter session of the National Congress of American Indians last month, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi noted the contributions of not only the Code Talkers but of all of Indian Country's tribal warriors.

"Native Americans did not hesitate to come to the aid of the United States when our nation needed them," said Principi. "In return, we need to be there when they need help."

Relevant Links:
Bingaman's Code Talkers' Site - http://bingaman.senate.gov/code_talkers
Harrison Lapahie Jr's Code Talkers' Site - http://www.lapahie.com/NavajoCodeTalker.html

Peter MacDonald released from prison (The Talking Circle 01/22)
Recognition of other Code Talkers sought (The Talking Circle 01/08)
Navajo Code Talkers to get high honors (The Talking Circle 12/19)
Stars shine at NAMMYs (Arts and Entertainment 11/13)
Original Code Talker dies (The Talking Circle 06/12)
Code Talker movie breaks the bank (Arts and Entertainment 06/12)
Code Talkers proposal approved (The Talking Circle 06/09)
Navajo GI Joe hits stores (The Talking Circle 05/22)
Bill would award medals to Code Talkers (The Talking Circle 04/13)