Descendants of WWI code talkers to be honored

3 November 2002

Congress is considering legislation to give posthumous recognition to the original code talkers, recognized in 1989 by France for their role in the successful conclusion of World War I.  As Veteran's Day approaches, some descendants of the Choctaw Code Talkers will be honored at the Six Nations of Virginia Veteran's Day Pow-Wow November 9-10 at the Upper Mattaponi Tribal Grounds in King William.

"One of our objectives is to make known to the world that they were the first to use their language as a military code," said Evangeline Wilson, the president of the Choctaw Code Talkers Association of Chickasha, Oklahoma.  "Many people don't know that.  They just know about the Navajo code talkers of World War II.  We don't want the Choctaw men to be forgotten."

Wilson said that many people credit the Choctaw Code Talkers with shortening the length of the war, thus saving the lives of many soldiers.

Wilson's uncle, James M. Edwards, was a code talker, and her father's cousin, Mitchell Bobb, was also a code talker.  But she was not fully aware of their story until she began doing research into their activities.

"There were two different forms of code talking.  In type one there was a code set up using Choctaw words (as code) for military terms.  For example, one battalion was one grain of corn; two battalions, two grains.  The second type was conversational, "simply speaking in Choctaw," she said.

"After the war the men were sworn to secrecy in case the military needed to use their code again.   They kept their word and didn't even tell their families about the code.  Now they are all deceased."

In 1997 a group of their descendants formed the Choctaw Code Talkers Association.

The Choctaw Nation headquarters provided the group with a memo dated Jan. 23, 1919, from the commanding officer of the 142nd Infantry about transmitting messages in Choctaw.  It revealed that at St. Etienne, France, the Americans were virtually surrounded by the Germans who had broken their radio codes and tapped their telephone lines.  It was then that the Choctaws were asked to use their language to transmit messages.

According to the memo, "The first use of the Indians was made in ordering a delicate withdrawal of two companies of the 2nd battalion from Chufilly to Chardeny on the night of October 26.  This movement was completed without mishap.  ...The Indians were used repeatedly on the 27th in preparation for the assault on Forest Farm.  The enemy's complete surprise is evidence that he could not decipher the messages."

The Choctaw language used in World War I was the only code never translated by the German Army.

In World War II, Navajo men were recruited and trained to deliver messages during the bloody U.S. island-hopping campaign in the Pacific.

Their story was made into the recent movie "Windtalkers," starring Nicolas Cage and Adam Beach.  In July 2001, 29 Navajo Indians were presented the Congressional Gold Medal for their part in creating the World War II code.

Judy Allen, a spokeswoman for the Choctaw Nation, said the tribe is trying to get that same recognition for the World War I Choctaw Code Talkers and for other tribes that also helped in World War II.  She said the House has passed the legislation and it is now being considered by the Senate.  They hope for approval before the end of the year.

In addition to Wilson, three other members of the organization will travel to Virginia to make a presentation in a special honor ceremony.  After that they will be in the Native American Cultural Tent to talk with people.

Each of the six state-recognized Virginia tribes currently seeking Federal recognition will also present information in that tent.