The Navajo code talkers invented the only unbreakable code in military history. They used their native Navajo language to transmit messages during WWII, allowing the US to communicate securely in a way that was never deciphered. The code was based on Navajo words for common military terms and grew to over 600 terms by the end of the war. It allowed messages to be sent 20 times faster than other codes at the time. Though only 29 Navajos originally volunteered, the code talkers played a pivotal role in the Pacific theater and helped hasten the end of the war. Their unbreakable code is credited with saving countless lives.

1. Navajo Code Talkers Inventors of the only unbroken code in military history.

2. The Code Attack- AL-TAH-JE-JAY Casualty- BIH-DIN-NEY-DAY Emergency-HO-NEZ-CLA Evacuate- HA-NA Headquarter- NAH-HA-TAH-BA-HOGAN Kill- NAZ-TSAID Pontoon- TKOSH-JAH-DA-NA-ELT Retreat- JI-DIN-NESS-CHANH Riflemen- BE-AL-DO-HOSTEEN Signal- NA-EH-EH-GISH Sniper-OH-BE-HI Torpedo- LO-BE-CHA

5. It could communicate in 20 seconds what took coding machines of the time 30 minutes to do.

6. In the field, they were not allowed to write any part of the code down as a reference.

7. The Navajo language is almost impossible to master without early exposure.

8. The code was declassified in 1968 but no official recognition was given until 2001

9. Only 4 code talkers are still alive today

10. The program was invented by a civilian who grew up on a Navajo reservation.

11. The Navajos had no military words in their language so to them a battleship was a whale and an airplane was a hummingbird so on…

12. The code was used in WWII, The Korean War and early in the Vietnam War.

13. August 14 is Navajo code talkers day.

15. Originally only 29 Navajos volunteered to be code talkers.

16. Many Navajos did not have birth certificates so boys of 15 and men over 35 enlisted with the army's knowledge.

17. Many times code talkers ran through enemy fire to retrieve radios to open communications and save their unit.

18. Marine cryptologists said they couldn't even transcribe the language, much less decode it.

19. The code talkers were never required to fight in battles because they were so important that the government did not want to risk their deaths.

21. Before: First platoon of Navajo code talkers graduate from Maine. Left: Navajos run to establish communications. Next Slide: Training required long hours in the classroom as well as basic marine training.

23. Importance and Impact When you ask Keith Little one of the four remaining code talkers why he joined the way he says “Because the Japanese made a sneak attack on the US, to protect our people, land and country.” But in truth the code talkers were essential to the war and their unbreakable code played a pivotal role in saving countless lives and hastening the war's end. Being the only code never broken it gave the US a substantial leg up in the war in the Pacific. It is said that the Navajos were some of the bravest marines in WWII.

24. Biblography http://www.navajocodetalkers.org/ http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq61-2.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_talker http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/navajacode.htm http://patwogan.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/world-war-ii-troop-movements/ http://mprofaca.cro.net/navajo.html