Native American Code Talker in World War II

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Native American Code Talker in World War II
Author: Ed Gilbert
Paperback - 64 pages
Publisher: Osprey
Series: Warrior 127
Price: £11.99
ISBN: 9781846032691

Introduction

We are reminded almost daily, how numerous 'unsung heroes' do or have contributed in some way or another to our very survival. The Native American 'code talkers' contribution most certainly qualifies them and until quite recently the code talkers were amongst these 'unsung heroes'. For many, the film “WindTalkers” changed this fact, bringing home the role they played. Even with this dramatized 'block buster' very few know that the first modern 'code talkers' appeared in world history in 1917 during WW1.

Contents

This paperback book contains the usual 64 pages with 55 black and white photographs, 7 colour plates / illustrations (number A - G) and one organogram. Including the Introduction and Index there are 17 chapters in the book.

Utilising a chronology / timeline Ed Gilbert sets out the Code talkers brief, but very important, encounter with history. I like the fact that although the title says WW2, the author starts with the Choctaw being the first to 'code talk' their way into history during the Meuse-Argonne Campaign during the closing stages of WW1. Here the Choctaw 'code talkers' helped the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) turn almost certain defeat into victory, just by using their 'mother tongue' over insecure lines of communication. Oddly as with most code talkers it wasn't until after their deaths that they received 'official' recognition for their deeds.

Ed Gilbert not only discusses the better-known USMC Navajo code talkers, but also the Comanche code talkers who served in the US Army. Whilst the USMC embraced (be it reluctantly) this cryptography / cryptology method, the US Army remained closed to this method being utilised on any large scale. Ed also explains briefly why the Army was more than reluctant to utilise the Native American code talkers. Although sceptical the Comanche were used to relay the more sensitive information. One of whom sent the first message from Utah beach which was basically “safe landing, wrong beach, what now?”.

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This book not only examines the code talkers, but also does a good job of explaining the various methods (and their development through the war) that were used to convey these messages. We mistakenly link code talking with radio communication, but actually anything from runners to field telephones were used to convey these coded messages. On many of the islands in the Pacific campaign, the field telephone was actually the most reliable method of communication. Obviously field telephones are quite easily tapped into, but when Navajo coded communications were being used, the enemy soon found that tapping into these lines didn't help them much. As the photographing of the code talkers was discouraged, many of the photographs included in the book are to emphasis the equipment used and for us model builders this is a very good thing.

This book holds within its 64 pages information pertaining to the culture shock the Native Americans encountered within the military. It also gives us an insight into the Navajo's culture and how large the difference between the Navajo's military and civilian lifestyle was. We also gain a small glimpse into the Navajo people's religious beliefs as it was in the 1940s. There is also a brief encounter with how the community handled PTSD. Contained also is the final blow fate dealt the Navajo code talkers. As their 'code' was highly classified, for the most part, the Navajo code talkers' names are lost to history, only to be remembered by those who knew them.

Conclusion

This book is an extremely easy read, with more than enough information for those curious about the code talkers. It also contains enough information regarding the battlefield radio communication devices used during WW2 to be of use to most model builders. Easily Recommended to all who have an interest in the code talkers of WW2.

My thanks to Osprey for providing the review sample.

For full information on all Osprey Publishing titles, please see their website: Osprey Publishing