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Unbreakable Warriors: The Navajo Marines of World War II

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Published in Code Talker: A Novel About The Navajo Marines Of World War Two

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By Johnnie Bobbitt

A Group Of Navajo Marines In Uniform, Standing In Front Of A Map Of The Pacific Ocean. Code Talker: A Novel About The Navajo Marines Of World War Two

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

by Joseph Bruchac

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Language	:	English
File size	:	789 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Print length	:	237 pages

In the annals of World War II, the story of the Navajo Marines stands as a shining example of courage, ingenuity, and unwavering determination. These Native American warriors, drawn from the Navajo Nation in the American Southwest, played a vital role in the Allied victory, using their native language as an unbreakable code that confounded the enemy.

The Navajo code talkers were recruited by the United States Marine Corps in 1942, after the Japanese had broken the American military's traditional code systems. The Navajo language, with its complex grammar and unique vocabulary, was unfamiliar to the Japanese, and it proved to be an ideal way to transmit sensitive information securely.

The Navajo Marines were trained at Camp Pendleton in California, where they developed a code that used Navajo words to represent military terms. For example, the word "bei" meant "tank," while "wolachee" meant "bomb." The code was so effective that the Japanese were never able to break it, even though they intercepted and decrypted numerous Navajo messages.

The Navajo Marines served in the Pacific Theater, where they participated in some of the most intense fighting of the war. They served on the front lines, delivering messages under fire, and they played a key role in the amphibious landings at Tarawa and Iwo Jima. Their bravery and skill earned them the respect of their fellow Marines, and they were instrumental in the Allied victory.

After the war, the Navajo code talkers returned home as heroes. They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2001, and their story has been told in books, movies, and documentaries. The Navajo code talkers are an inspiration to us all, and their legacy will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

Here are some of the key facts about the Navajo Marines of World War II:

They were recruited by the United States Marine Corps in 1942.
They used their native language as an unbreakable code.
They served in the Pacific Theater, where they participated in some of the most intense fighting of the war.
They earned the respect of their fellow Marines, and they were instrumental in the Allied victory.
They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2001.