The first 29 Navajo Code Talker recruits being Sworn in at Fort Wingate, N.M., in 1942.U.S. National Archives & Records
“I had always lived by the Navajo custom which taught that no one should be treated as a hero for doing his duty.”
-Chester Nez: World War II Original Navajo Code Talker
In 1982, 14 years after the declassification of the Navajo Code Talkers story, President Ronald Reagan signed the Navajo Code Talkers Day to be recognized on August 14th each year.
KVOA TV News~ 2017~
Navajo Code Talkers Day: A Day Dedicated to heroes of World War II
Some critics were not happy with the special day because they felt it only recognized the Navajo when there were other tribes that served in World War II. To clear up the confusion, the day was established to recognize the Navajo Code, not the tribe itself, as it was the code that was unbreakable by the Japanese and German forces.
Navajo Veterans Honor Song ~ National Museum of the American Indian Smithonian ~ 2020
“In 2000, the Congress of the United States, in an effort to recognize and honor the heroic contributions of the code talkers, authorized the Congressional Gold Medal be struck in their honor.”
—Jeff Bingaman, Former senator of New Mexico, “Code Talker” 2011
Then finally in 2000, the United States Congress passed legislation to honor the Navajo Code Talkers and provided them with special gold and silver Congressional Medals. The gold medals were for the original twenty-nine Navajos that developed the code, and the silver medals for those that served later in the program. Now it was time to officially recognize the men that sucessfully used their native language as the key to winning World War II.
From the Act (S.2408-106th Congress) presented to Congress in 1999 describes: "Following the conclusion of World War II, the U.S.
Department of Defense maintained the secrecy of the Navajo code until it was declassified in 1968; only then did a realization of the sacrifice and valor of these brave Native Americans emerge from history."
2001 Gold Medal Ceremony ~ Orginal Code Talkers and President Bush~ CSPAN
President George W Bush ~ Gold Medal Ceremony 2001~ CSPAN
Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Navajo Code Talkers ~
U.S. Capitol Building ~ July 26, 2001,
President George W. Bush presents the Gold Medal to John Brown, Jr. ~Gold Medal Ceremony~ Washington, D.C.~Douglas Graham/Roll Call/Getty Images
Sam Tso, Navajo Code Talker~ National Museum of the American Indian Website ~2020
"What I want to do is to thank the whole people of America, the citizens. I learned that they are my people, too. For those that give us recognition through my travel, most of the Anglo people really show appreciation that how we contribute to the Second World War and I really deeply thank them for their recognition."
John Brown Jr., Navajo Code Talker~ National Museum of the American Indian Website ~2020
"Oh, yes, I’m proud of it, particularly when I shook hands with President Bush in Washington three years ago. He gave me the gold medal. He shook hands with me and then afterwards I spoke. So I spoke in English and then when I got through with my speech I spoke in Navajo, that amounted to about three minutes. I said, ‘You Navajo people that are now on the reservation between the four sacred mountains, I want the people should thank you for using our sacred language. This language was given to us by the Holy People, I don’t know how many thousand years ago,’ I said. ‘We use it for they, to help win for the United States."
Chester Nez, Navajo Code TalkerNational Museum of the American Indian Website ~2020
"You’re eighteen years old, you want to go and do something, man, it’s exciting, this is what I wanted. That’s what I got, I’m happy. Came out of the war unscratched, lucky to be home. That’s all what’s about, you know...life is something that you have to make and enjoy. This is what’s for me."