Navajo Military Code Talkers

The other day I found out that the schools no longer teach cursive handwriting. Teachers must now print their comments on student work. Otherwise many of the students can’t read it.

This suggest that if we have another war, (I hope not), we could communicate secret information by having us oldsters write it in cursive, photograph the note, and then email the photo to our fellow service men and women. We would be Code Writers.
 
The other day I found out that the schools no longer teach cursive handwriting. Teachers must now print their comments on student work. Otherwise many of the students can’t read it.

This suggest that if we have another war, (I hope not), we could communicate secret information by having us oldsters write it in cursive, photograph the note, and then email the photo to our fellow service men and women. We would be Code Writers.

Very few schools teach any type of basic life skills like home econimics, wood, metal and auto shop, music and after school programs. Shame

www.cursivelogic.com/why-cursive/

www.signaturely.com/does-signature-have-to-be-in-cursive/

I didn't even know what cursive was until the Rachel Jeantel testimony.

Rachel Jeantel Isn’t the Only One Who Can’t Read Cursive

Penmanship - Wikipedia

Handwriting - Wikipedia

Cursive - Wikipedia

Block letters - Wikipedia


Thanks for posting.
 
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Sadly, the first American Indians that used their language to confuse the enemy, is little known and they are seldom given credit for their contribution. The Choctaw started code talking during WW 1. We mainly hear only about the Navajo of WW2 and most know them as the only code talkers. The Choctaw code talkers were among the group that helped take out the German railguns at Anzio during WW2. While the Navajo served an important role due to their having the largest group of young men available, other tribes also served and deserve to be honored also.

Code Talkers.
 
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I saw a documentary on those guys. It must have been 50 years ago. Never heard about them again until this thread.

IMHO like the NASA "Hidden Numbers" some programs were top secret while others were swept under the proverbial rug. Thanks for posting.
 
Sadly, the first American Indians that used their language to confuse the enemy, is little known and they are seldom given credit for their contribution. The Choctaw started code talking during WW 1. We mainly hear only about the Navajo of WW2 and most know them as the only code talkers. The Choctaw code talkers were among the group that helped take out the German railguns at Anzio during WW2. While the Navajo served an important role due to their having the largest group of young men available, other tribes also served and deserve to be honored also.

Code Talkers.

True, however for whatever reason the Cherokee and Navajo tribes seemed to be in the credit limelight. Thanks for posting.
 
True, however for whatever reason the Cherokee and Navajo tribes seemed to be in the credit limelight. Thanks for posting.
The Navajo is best known because of the large number of native speaking young men available during WW2. Cherokee was lesser used although they also had a large number of young native speaking men, because their language was easier to crack since it is similar to some middle eastern languages.

The Choctaw and the Chickasaw also had code talkers during WW2, but they were of lesser numbers since they had fewer young men skilled in their native language.

Navajo was the most used because it is a difficult language where one word can have four tones with each tone changing the meaning. Growing up next to the Navajo rez in the Four Corners, I learned to speak basic Navajo, but trying to carry on a conversation at a trading post in Navajo usually led to a lot of laughter. Old Tony that had the trading post next to my grandparents ranch, was always teaching me things to say when I came in, to amuse his old friends that gathered there for coffee and dominos.

Here is a wonderful video that explains the language. It is easy to see why the Germans couldn't crack the codes, because even Navajo not well versed in things like ceremonial language, couldn't decipher it.
 
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Knowing the history of the code talkers, sheds a new light on the genius of this method that was crucial in winning both WW1 and WW2. While the Navajo language is considered difficult because of its four languages, the Choctaw were skilled in 26 languages within their language. Before the enemy could decipher one dialect, they were talking in another.

This video is a must to watch for anyone seriously interested in the history of the military code talkers. The host explains about the equipment used, which makes it easier to understand why these Indian Code Talkers were so valuable.

 
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