Navajo Code Talker - Window Rock AZ is a photograph by Alexandra Till which was uploaded on August 16th, 2013.
Title
Navajo Code Talker - Window Rock AZ
Artist
Alexandra Till
Medium
Photograph - Photographs - Prints - Digital Images - Cards - Posters - Photo-calendars - Photo Art
Description
© Christine Till
As 1942 dawned, World War II was not going well for America and her Allies. Japanese carrier-borne bombers and fighters had crippled the U.S. Navy's proud Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. For the U.S. Armed Forces, communications, which had always been a complex issue, had now become a bewildering problem. Japanese cryptographers were proving themselves amazingly adept at breaking top secret military codes almost as rapidly as newer, more complicated procedures could be devised.
To most listeners, the language is virtually incomprehensible and has been variously likened to the rumble of a moving freight train, the gurgling noises of a partially blocked sink drain, or, jokingly, the resonant thunder of an old-fashioned commode being flushed. As a result, use of the Navajo tongue was confined almost entirely to the reservation; few non-Navajos spoke or understood it. And it was a 'hidden language,' there not yet being an alphabet or written form for others to study. That's why in September 1942 the Navajo Code Talkers Program was established as the result of a recommendation made by Mr. Philip Johnston to Major General Clayton P. Vogel. At Camp Pendleton, the Navajos, in addition to their other duties, were required to devise a new Marine Corps military code which, when transmitted in their own language, would completely baffle their Japanese enemies.
Exactly how the Navajos did their job remained a mystery to many Marine Corps staff officers. However, their proficiency, both under training conditions and later in actual combat, proved that the Navajos were completely reliable. By August 1943, nearly two hundred young Navajos had been trained at the camp. A Japanese general admitted after World War II that the most highly skilled Japanese cryptographers had not been able to decipher the Marines' messages.
Uploaded
August 16th, 2013
More from Alexandra Till
Comments (7)
Michael Hoard
Greetings Christine, your 2nd Place win the contest World Wide Statue and Sculpture Photo Contest has been featured on the home page of Photography and Paintings of Statues the host group for the contest, Administrator, Michael Hoard
Michael Hoard
Congrats Christine, on your 2nd Place win in the contest Its All About Statues From Around The World, this is a very unique and creative photo, L/F, Cheers, Michael Hoard
Kathleen K Parker
What a fabulous statue and so unexpected! Congrats on your second place win, Christine!
Ann Horn
Congratulations on placing second in The World Wide Statue And Sculpture Photo Contest, Christine. An awesome capture of a wonderfully unique statue... in a setting which also is a marvel! f/l
Barbara St Jean
Congratulations your amazing artwork has been FEATURED in MOUSE!! Thanks for your participation and submissions. Sorry for the delay in posting new work to MOUSE I have been away spending time with my Granddaughter. Cheers and have a great day! Barbara F/V
Randy Rosenberger
Superlative capture of this beauty, Christine! Love it! Love the beauty of this piece and the quality and care that went into its composition! It is my pleasure to PROMOTE this piece of beauty on our FEATURED ARTWORK section of the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group. Thanks for sharing! fave and vote Forever, Elvis