Sunday, February 24, 2013

INDIAN CODE TALKERS


Like so many museums across our nation, the Heard Museum was founded by a rich 19th century family that gave its collection of art and artifacts to form the core of a new museum’s holdings.  The Heard family, heirs to the True Value Hardware Company of Chicago, had moved to Phoenix in the late 1800’s for health reasons.  They fell in love with the Southwest and were particularly taken with the Indian culture of the region – featured in this museum.
  
Down the hall, an exhibit honored the Code Talkers, valorous Indian men who first served in WW I and then more fully in WW II -- in both the South Pacific and European theatres.  Only in 1968 were these men given permission to talk of their wartime assignments and even still later in 2001 given full public recognition by our government—something they so richly deserved. These were brave men, who served in the front lines identifying enemy positions and calling in artillery, using a coded form of their native languages. The enemy was never able to decipher their messages which were critically important to the American war effort.

A large number of native Americans come to see their past portrayed at the Heard and no doubt leave with enhanced pride.

Code Book


Code Talker Radio Equipment

Navajo Code Talker Reunion




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