National Navajo Code Talkers Day

National Navajo Code Talkers Day holds great significance in the United States. During World War II, American soldiers used the Navajo language to encode military messages. This system proved impenetrable to the enemy, who failed to decode the transmissions. The holiday honors these remarkable heroes for their service and contribution to victory.

History

The Navajo language was ideal for creating secret military codes because it was virtually unknown outside the Navajo Nation. No enemy personnel were able to understand it, making it the perfect tool for battlefield communication.

The idea to use Navajo as a code was proposed by Philip Johnston, a World War I veteran who had grown up on a Navajo reservation. Following his suggestion, 400 Navajo men were recruited and trained to develop and operate the code.

The U.S. Department of Defense attempted to crack the code but failed, even after several days of testing. In recognition of their efforts, President George W. Bush awarded Congressional Gold Medals to the original 29 code talkers in 2001, while the rest received silver medals.

National Navajo Code Talkers Day was officially recognized as a public holiday in Arizona in 2020 by Governor Doug Ducey.

Interesting Facts

• The Navajo Code remains the only spoken military code never to be broken.
• Fluency in Navajo is essential to understand the code—non-native speakers cannot decipher it.
• Unfortunately, the Navajo language is endangered and not widely taught outside the community.

How to Take Part

• Create a fun code with your friends and try communicating in it for the day.
• Watch a documentary or movie about World War II and the Code Talkers.
• Visit the Navajo Nation Museum in Arizona to learn more about the language and culture.
• Explore online resources to discover more about the Navajo language and its legacy.

When is National Navajo Code Talkers Day in 2025?

National Navajo Code Talkers Day is observed on August 14 each year.

Observations