The Plight of Native American Codebreakers

In this issue, we wanted to cover languages that are less spoken about and have historically faced suppression. We explored how the Romani language flourished during the Ottoman period, and how scholars (such as Edward Lhuyd) studied the Welsh language to preserve its legacy. However, our focus today has shifted to Native American languages, and the codebreakers which were both utilised and yet suppressed at the same time.

Image credit; Public Domain

When people think of Native Americans, the image of strong, resilient warriors fighting against oppressors comes to mind. This is a narrative shaped by Hollywood cowboy films. and has even influenced German perceptions, who learned about Native Americans through American films and wild west shows . However, this narrative oversimplifies the reality, leading to the misconception that Native Americans are a homogeneous group, rather than individual tribes all with their own languages, government, cultures and complex histories.

Native American tribes also have a complex history and Native American tribes had to navigate difficult American political landscapes, especially during pivotal moments like the American Civil War.

For example, during the American Civil War, Native American tribes such as the Seminole were forced to choose between aligning with the Union or the Confederacy. Both sides made promises of sovereignty while threatening their way of life. Despite their involvement in U.S. military conflicts, Native Americans were often overlooked, except when their languages served a strategic purpose. In World War I, the U.S. Army made use of Choctaw speakers and other Native groups, leading to confusion among Germans, who invested in studying these languages during the interwar period. This research may have even extended to languages like Navajo.

This brings us to the phenomenon sometimes referred to as 'Indian scout syndrome.' In 1942, Philip Johnston, a non-Native who had grown up on a Navajo reservation, read about the U.S. Army's interest in using Native American languages for military codes. With his deep knowledge of the Navajo language, Johnston realized it would be a perfect candidate for an unbreakable code. He had become so fluent in Navajo that at the age of nine, he served as an interpreter for a Navajo delegation advocating for Indian rights in Washington, D.C.

Despite some initial security concerns, the U.S. Marine Corps approved Johnston’s proposal and allowed him to enlist. A pilot project was launched, with 30 Navajo recruits (one dropped out) developing a code at Camp Elliott, near San Diego, in May 1942. The Navajo language was an ideal choice for the code due to its unwritten form and the small number of non-Navajo speakers, which added to its security. This made the code nearly impenetrable to enemy forces.

In total, more than 30 Native Nations contributed code talkers to the U.S. military during both World Wars. The sizes of these code talker groups varied, from just two individuals among the Ho-Chunk in World War I to the 400 trained Navajo code talkers, of which 285 saw combat during World War II. Despite Japanese efforts to crack the Navajo code toward the end of WWII, none of the Indigenous codes were ever broken in either of the world wars. For example, Joe Kieyoomia, a Navajo soldier, was captured and tortured by the Japanese, but he could not be forced to reveal the code because, despite speaking Navajo, the military code itself was indecipherable without the proper training.

Even after the war, secrecy surrounded the code talkers’ contributions. While Marine Corps reports from 1945 indicated that the service of the Navajo code talkers was no longer classified, the code itself remained secret until 1968. This continued classification contributed to the under-recognition of their efforts in the post-war years, even as the code remained a source of military advantage.

The traumatic legacy of Native American involvement in these conflicts, compounded by broader historical factors, led many Native veterans to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health struggles were likely exacerbated by their experiences both on the battlefield and within their communities, where they faced centuries of marginalisation and displacement.

Native American languages, like those of the Navajo code talkers, serve as a reminder of the complex and often contradictory roles Native peoples played in U.S. history . While their languages were valued for military purposes, the cultures and communities they came from faced ongoing suppression. This duality continues to shape the narrative surrounding Native American history, revealing both their resilience and the profound injustices they have endured.