Navajo Code Talkers. PROJECT (Just to show notes) - Aircraft of World War II

B-17engineer · 11-16-2009, 06:52 PM

Hi Guys. I've been assigned 5 page paper on the Navajo Code Talkers.

Let me get something straight I am not looking for help, just going to post notes as I go so if anyones interested can see my paper evolve from notes, outline, rough draft and then final copy.

So far :

Navajo's are from Southwest region.

Language has 4 different tones for pronunciation of words. Tones include High, low, rising, and falling. The words Medicine and Mourning are said the same but use different tones.

Navajo language takes 20 years to fully learn as opposed to an average 8 years for US language.

In 1940 only thirty people in the United States know to speak the language outside of Navajo's

The normal Cryptogram has been easily cracked ever since the 'frequency chart' and the US need a new unbreakable code.

Philip Johnston whose parents were Protestant Missionaries comes up with the idea that Navajo should be used.

he takes the Navajo case to a Marine base in LA (These are from memory I have tons in school) and the officers aren't persuaded.

To show he thinks the Navajo's are useful he speaks to the Marines and they are stunned at how hard it is.

After many talks the US allow Philips program but from a 200 men unit down to a 30 man pilot unit.

END.

I am reading quite a few books and using quite a bit of databases for this. I left notes in school. These are from memory.

Amsel · 11-16-2009, 06:59 PM

A very good subject to write about.

B-17engineer · 11-16-2009, 07:01 PM

Thanks! It had to be about Native Americans and I decided this was one of the only World War II topics.

Trying to develop a good thesis. I've had 6 trial and errors I don't like them that much. Will keep thinking.

RabidAlien · 11-16-2009, 07:17 PM

Excellent topic! Lookin forward to seein your progress!

piet · 11-16-2009, 07:22 PM

The name code talkers is strongly associated with bilingual Navajo speakers specially recruited during World War II by the Marines to serve in their standard communications units in the Pacific Theater.

Other Native American code talkers were used by the United States Army during World War II, using Cherokee, Choctaw and Comanche soldiers.

Soldiers of Basque ancestry were used for code talking by the US Marines during World War II in areas where other Basque speakers were not expected to be operating.

B-17engineer · 11-16-2009, 07:28 PM

Thanks Piet.

I can't really accept info because I am only allowed to use books and databases the school has.

Plus, I want to go into honors history so I need to do well on this. which means lots of work!

vikingBerserker · 11-16-2009, 08:57 PM

Great topic to do!

wheelsup_cavu · 11-17-2009, 01:39 AM

Great topic to research B-17.
I am looking forward to your "discoveries."

Wheels

Airframes · 11-18-2009, 11:51 PM

I'm hooked already H ! I've heard of this subject, but know very, very little about it, so I'll be very interested to read your finished work. Keep it coming!

B-17engineer · 11-19-2009, 05:49 AM

sure guys. Just got to get my notes of my laptop in school and get a book out.

Njaco · 11-20-2009, 04:15 PM

This should be cool, B-17! looking forward to more "notes"!

Messy1 · 11-23-2009, 04:30 PM

Great topic. I am sorry to say the most I know of this topic is from the movie Windtalkers. Not s great source to learn from. I will wait for your posts on this topic.

B-17engineer · 11-23-2009, 04:36 PM

Got my notes upstairs ! More later.

B-17engineer · 11-23-2009, 05:42 PM

After the pilot group of Navajo's were officially created they were sent to Camp Elliott in San Diego to learn how to operate Radios and various other equipment.

Code Talkers were given two months to devise the code.

First eight men were sent to New Caledonia to prepare for the invasion of Guadalcanal. ]

Johnston the creator of the project was itching to become part of project.

He received permission to enlist as a U.S. Marine Specialist at the ranks of Staff Sargent.

Under his management the Navajo's began to refine and expand the code in late December of 1942.

It was decided that alternate terms in Navajo should be devised for the 12 most frequently used terms in the English language. The repetition of letters is a key to unlocking any code. The letter 'A' in English is a vowel that appears regularly- so regularly that a code breaker knows exactly how many are used in a common English sentence. The code breaker then goes on to fill in the blanks based on the frequency of the terms used. Consequently, the Navajo code talkers began to use several terms for 'A,' including Wol-la-chee (ant), Be-la-sana (apple), ajd Tse-nihi (axe). Several terms were adopted for all the vowels and several consonants. Eventually the code contained 411 terms.

Since Japanese troops could speak English without an accent and call artillery on there own troops, a common asked question to radio operators at an artillery battery would be, " Do you have a Navajo?" and then a Navajo would be put on the line.

Navajo's carried a variety of weapons including M-1 Garands, BAR's, and .30 cal machine guns.

More later.

RabidAlien · 11-23-2009, 07:42 PM

I have to agree with Messy on this....I've read a little bit here and there, but most of what I "know" is from Windtalkers. And we all know how much research Hollywood does before putting out a film!

Keep up the lessons, H, we're learnin from ya!

11-16-2009, 06:52 PM	#1
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey..The Garden State! Posts: 9,216	Navajo Code Talkers. PROJECT (Just to show notes) Hi Guys. I've been assigned 5 page paper on the Navajo Code Talkers. Let me get something straight I am not looking for help, just going to post notes as I go so if anyones interested can see my paper evolve from notes, outline, rough draft and then final copy. So far : Navajo's are from Southwest region. Language has 4 different tones for pronunciation of words. Tones include High, low, rising, and falling. The words Medicine and Mourning are said the same but use different tones. Navajo language takes 20 years to fully learn as opposed to an average 8 years for US language. In 1940 only thirty people in the United States know to speak the language outside of Navajo's The normal Cryptogram has been easily cracked ever since the 'frequency chart' and the US need a new unbreakable code. Philip Johnston whose parents were Protestant Missionaries comes up with the idea that Navajo should be used. he takes the Navajo case to a Marine base in LA (These are from memory I have tons in school) and the officers aren't persuaded. To show he thinks the Navajo's are useful he speaks to the Marines and they are stunned at how hard it is. After many talks the US allow Philips program but from a 200 men unit down to a 30 man pilot unit. END. I am reading quite a few books and using quite a bit of databases for this. I left notes in school. These are from memory. __________________ Sh! I'm hunting Wabits! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-16-2009, 06:59 PM	#2
Amsel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,860	A very good subject to write about. __________________

11-16-2009, 07:01 PM	#3
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey..The Garden State! Posts: 9,216	Thanks! It had to be about Native Americans and I decided this was one of the only World War II topics. Trying to develop a good thesis. I've had 6 trial and errors I don't like them that much. Will keep thinking. __________________ Sh! I'm hunting Wabits! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-16-2009, 07:17 PM	#4
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 3,485	Excellent topic! Lookin forward to seein your progress! __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

11-16-2009, 07:28 PM	#6
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey..The Garden State! Posts: 9,216	Thanks Piet. I can't really accept info because I am only allowed to use books and databases the school has. Plus, I want to go into honors history so I need to do well on this. which means lots of work! __________________ Sh! I'm hunting Wabits! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-16-2009, 07:22 PM	#5
piet Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 439	The name code talkers is strongly associated with bilingual Navajo speakers specially recruited during World War II by the Marines to serve in their standard communications units in the Pacific Theater. Other Native American code talkers were used by the United States Army during World War II, using Cherokee, Choctaw and Comanche soldiers. Soldiers of Basque ancestry were used for code talking by the US Marines during World War II in areas where other Basque speakers were not expected to be operating.

11-16-2009, 08:57 PM	#7
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 6,222	Great topic to do! __________________ Take arrows in your forehead, but never in your back. - Samurai maxim

11-17-2009, 01:39 AM	#8
wheelsup_cavu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Corona, California Posts: 2,506	Great topic to research B-17. I am looking forward to your "discoveries." Wheels __________________ Cheers Wheelsup_cavu Wheels's Photos - Time lapse build of an F/A-18 Super Hornet - Lock N' Load

11-18-2009, 11:51 PM	#9
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 11,572	I'm hooked already H ! I've heard of this subject, but know very, very little about it, so I'll be very interested to read your finished work. Keep it coming! __________________

11-19-2009, 05:49 AM	#10
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey..The Garden State! Posts: 9,216	sure guys. Just got to get my notes of my laptop in school and get a book out. __________________ Sh! I'm hunting Wabits! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-20-2009, 04:15 PM	#11
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 11,836	This should be cool, B-17! looking forward to more "notes"! __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

11-23-2009, 04:30 PM	#12
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,678	Great topic. I am sorry to say the most I know of this topic is from the movie Windtalkers. Not s great source to learn from. I will wait for your posts on this topic. __________________ "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!" Franklin Roosevelt

11-23-2009, 04:36 PM	#13
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey..The Garden State! Posts: 9,216	Got my notes upstairs ! More later. __________________ Sh! I'm hunting Wabits! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-23-2009, 05:42 PM	#14
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey..The Garden State! Posts: 9,216	After the pilot group of Navajo's were officially created they were sent to Camp Elliott in San Diego to learn how to operate Radios and various other equipment. Code Talkers were given two months to devise the code. First eight men were sent to New Caledonia to prepare for the invasion of Guadalcanal. ] Johnston the creator of the project was itching to become part of project. He received permission to enlist as a U.S. Marine Specialist at the ranks of Staff Sargent. Under his management the Navajo's began to refine and expand the code in late December of 1942. It was decided that alternate terms in Navajo should be devised for the 12 most frequently used terms in the English language. The repetition of letters is a key to unlocking any code. The letter 'A' in English is a vowel that appears regularly- so regularly that a code breaker knows exactly how many are used in a common English sentence. The code breaker then goes on to fill in the blanks based on the frequency of the terms used. Consequently, the Navajo code talkers began to use several terms for 'A,' including Wol-la-chee (ant), Be-la-sana (apple), ajd Tse-nihi (axe). Several terms were adopted for all the vowels and several consonants. Eventually the code contained 411 terms. Since Japanese troops could speak English without an accent and call artillery on there own troops, a common asked question to radio operators at an artillery battery would be, " Do you have a Navajo?" and then a Navajo would be put on the line. Navajo's carried a variety of weapons including M-1 Garands, BAR's, and .30 cal machine guns. More later. __________________ Sh! I'm hunting Wabits! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-23-2009, 07:42 PM	#15
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 3,485	I have to agree with Messy on this....I've read a little bit here and there, but most of what I "know" is from Windtalkers. And we all know how much research Hollywood does before putting out a film! Keep up the lessons, H, we're learnin from ya! __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode