Navajo code talkers: American heroes of World War II
by KC Jones, ne news editor

    TCC celebrates Native American Indian Heritage district-wide by sponsoring World War II veteran and Navajo Code Talker Thomas H. Begay and his wife Nonabah Doris Begay to share personal experiences next week.

    Begay fought in WWII and Korea. He served with an elite group of Native Americans known as Navajo Code Talkers, part of the 5th Marine Division.

    The Navajo Code Talkers played a major role in helping defeat the Japanese.

    Almost from the U.S. entrance into WWII, the Japanese managed to break every code the Marines used to send messages. On the suggestion of a son of missionaries, the Marines went to the Navajo reservation in early 1942 to recruit young Navajo men.

    In May 1942, the first 29 recruits attended boot camp. Afterwards, they created a code based on the intricate Navajo language. Unwritten and extremely complex, the language has no alphabet or symbols and is spoken only on Navajo reservations in the Southwest.

    The Code Talkers’ main responsibility was to talk, transmitting important battlefield messages, including troop movements, orders and information on tactics. Throughout the war they were praised for their skill, speed and accuracy. The Code Talkers also were credited with Marine successes in several important battles because the Japanese were never able to break the Navajo code.

    The couple will tour the campuses to lecture: NW Campus Tuesday, Nov. 13, 9:30 a.m. in B 118; NE Campus Wednesday, Nov. 14, 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center Galley; South Campus Thursday, Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. in the Carillon Theater and SE Campus Thursday, Nov. 15, 1 p.m. in the Roberson Theatre.