OT: Navajo Code Talkers

[rwsaunders]

The last of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers passed away today...still an amazing story.

http://marines.dodlive.mil/2013/11/22/navajo-code-talkers-the-uncrackable-language/

[Ahneida Ride]

These guys are true heroes .....They saved countless lives.

[thwart]

The lack of recognition for these guys must have been tough.

They couldn't talk about their work for 23 years after the war ended… ? :rolleyes:

Sounds like military logic...

[HenryA]

Thanks for posting this.

Wonderful humbleness.

“I am glad that my country, in a time when Native Americans could not vote in Arizona and New Mexico, gave us Navajo men a chance to prove our dedication to saving our land and our people,” Nez said. “We are citizens of the U.S., and we love our country just as other citizens do.”

[MattTuck]

I have to admit, if I were a minority that was the target of government sanctioned discrimination (black, japanese, native american), I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have seen it as 'my country', much less put my life on the line for it.

Maybe these folks were able to see the good parts of America at the time, or maybe they saw a greater evil in our enemy, but I am grateful for their actions and their sacrifices. Their sense of service and duty, is doubly impressive.

[pbarry]

Darrn, another poignant milestone. Those men were true heroes. I watch the film at least once a year, though the true story is broader. Thanks for the heads-up.

[mvrider]

I recently learned that code talkers actually started in WWI!

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26963624

This was before Native Americans were granted U.S. citizenship.

[Black Dog]

He left us all with his memoirs. Great read.

http://c745.r45.cf2.rackcdn.com/img/2009/code_talker.jpg