Navajo Code Talkers in Military History

Ryan Samanski from the Battleship New Jersey Museum discusses the role of Native American code talkers, particularly the Navajo, in military communications during WWII. Code talking involved using languages not widely spoken or written to encode messages, making them difficult to decipher. The Navajo code talkers were instrumental in the Pacific, using their language to send unbreakable codes. The video also highlights the use of Comanche and Cherokee languages in earlier wars and the legacy of these code talkers.

What is the significance of Native American Code Talkers in military history?

• They were the first to use radio communication.

• They were the first to use Morse code.

• They developed the first written code language.

• They provided an unbreakable code during wars.

Why was code talking crucial in military communications?

• It allowed for faster message delivery.

• It ensured messages were not intercepted by enemies.

• It was the only way to communicate over long distances.

• It was cheaper than other forms of communication.

Which language was first used by Native Americans for code talking in World War I?

• Cherokee

• Sioux

• Navajo

• Comanche

What was the primary role of Navajo code talkers in the Pacific during World War II?

• To send and receive coded messages

• To provide medical support

• To lead infantry divisions

• To operate heavy machinery

Why was the Navajo code considered unbreakable?

• It was written in a secret script.

• It was constantly changed every day.

• It was only used at night.

• It used a language not widely spoken or written.

What was the role of the Battleship New Jersey in relation to code talkers?

• It was the first ship to use the Navajo code.

• It was the main training center for code talkers.

• It was a fleet flagship that possibly had code talkers on board.

• It provided naval gunfire support using code talkers.

How did the Navajo code work in terms of encoding messages?

• By writing messages in invisible ink

• By substituting Navajo words for English letters

• By using a mechanical device

• By using Morse code

What was a unique feature of the Navajo code that made it difficult for enemies to decode?

• It used random grid coordinates.

• It was sung in a melody.

• It was only spoken at specific times.

• It was written in a complex script.

Why were code talkers not allowed to take their code books into the field?

• To reduce the weight they carried

• To prevent them from being captured

• To keep the codes secret from their own troops

• To ensure they memorized the codes

What was the purpose of using existing Navajo words in the code?

• To ensure only Navajo speakers could understand it

• To simplify the encoding process

• To make the code sound more authentic

• To confuse enemy codebreakers