Q: What is a codetalker?
A: Many folks may not realize the critical service provided to the U.S. military by brave Native American soldiers during wartime in the last century. Many of these unsung heroes served America honorably by drawing upon their native languages to create an unbreakable wartime code that stumped the enemy and gave the Americans a communications edge over the Axis powers. The encrypted military messages developed by Native American codetalkers are credited with saving countless lives and hastening the end of two World Wars. From battlefields in the European and Pacific war theaters, Native American codetalkers worked around the clock under some of the heaviest combat conditions to secure a genuine advantage for American troops.
Q: What is Washington doing to acknowledge their service in the last century?
A: Congress is working to recognize with distinction the Native Americans who contributed to these covert communications operations during World War I and World War II. Some of these brave men lived in Iowa. In fact, an Iowan will be invited to testify before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee at a congressional hearing scheduled for September 22. A member of the Meskwaki Tribe in Tama County, Robin Roberts, will provide testimony about the profiles in courage and sacrifice made by members of the Meskwaki Tribe on behalf of the United States during World War II. I’m also co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate that would authorize Congress to present gold medals to all Native American codetalkers who served during wartime in the 20th century. In 2000, Congress voted to give Congressional Gold Medals to the original 29 Navajo Codetalkers who developed a code used in World War II. Extending public recognition and bestowing congressional medals to other Native Americans who helped light liberty’s lamp around the world is the right thing to do.