Tag Archives: navajo code talkers

Frogskins, Reisings, and War Bonnets

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These 80-year-old images are for your perusal.

Official caption: Navajo Code Talkers on Bougainville, December 1943 (left to right, front row): Pvt Earl Johnny, Pvt Kee Etsicitty, Pvt John V. Goodluck, and PFC David Jordan. Rear row, left to right: Pvt Jack C. Morgan, Pvt George H. Kirk, Pvt Tom H. Jones, Cpl Henry Bake, Jr.

Note the H&R-made Reising M50 HR submachine gun and newly-issued M1 Garands, two with 1907 bayonets affixed. From the Photograph Collection (COLL/3948) at the Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections

USMC Navajo Code Talkers, Bougainville, December 1943, Note the compact Reising Model 55 SMG

Corporal Henry Bahe, Jr., left, and Pvt. First Class George H. Kirk, Navajo code talkers

While an estimated 420 members of the Navajo nation served in the Marines as Code Talkers, at the same time there were other members of the tribe in USMC units in other roles, while, elsewhere in the theatre, the Army’s 158th Infantry Regiment-– the “Bushmasters” — an Arizona National Guard unit that held members from at least 20 tribes, also had a sizable contingent of Navajo who were photographed at the same time.

Dec. 1943: American Navajo Indians from the Southwest United States, members of the 158th U.S. Infantry, are seen on a beach in the Solomon Islands. They are in their traditional dress for a tribal ceremony at Christmastime. From left to right are, Pfc. Dale Winney, Gallup, N.M; Pvt. Perry Toney, Holbrook, Ariz.; Pfc. Joe Gishi, Holbrook; and Pfc. Joe Taraha, Gallup. (AP Photo/U.S. Army Signal Corps)

Codetalkers to be Recognized Annually

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The Navajo Code Talkers Memorial in Window Rock, Arizona on the Navajo Nation, is fully equipped with an M1 helmet, Reising submachine gun, M1911, and 32-pound Westinghouse CRI-43007 transmitter. (Photo courtesy of the Navajo Nation)

Moving forward, August 14th will be recognized in Arizona as Navajo Codetalker day, with Gov. Doug Ducey recently signing such a proclamation in place.

“It’s wonderful to have the State of Arizona honor and recognize the sacrifices and contributions of the Navajo Code Talkers,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said. “It’s long overdue. We only have a few Navajo Code Talkers with us to this day, but we pay tribute to all of them and their families. Their legacy is strengthened with today’s signing of this bill and we hope that this will also help to share the stories of our Code Talkers so that many more people throughout the state are aware of everything that they gave for our country.”

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