Navajo Code Talkers - Wesley Bolin Memorial Park - Phoenix, AZ - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

This memorial is located in Wesley Bolin Memorial Park, which is adjacent to the capitol building in Phoenix. A Navajo soldier talking on his radio is depicted in the memorial.

The main text on the plaque reads as follows:

In recognition of the Navajo Code Talkers who distinguished themselves in developing a Navajo language code - the only unbreakable code in modern military history. As members of the United States Marine Corps these young Navajo men performed a unique and exemplary military service that saved countless lives and hastened the end of World War II in the Pacific theater. This memorial is a tribute to the renowned contribution the Navajo Code Talkers made to the success of the United States military forces during World War II and honor these remarkable individuals for their valor and patriotism

A quote is also included on the plaque: "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima" -- Major Howard Connor, USMC 5th Marine Division Signal Officer

The Navajo language was chosen as a form of communication because it had no alphabet and, therefore, no written form. At the beginning of the war, less than 50 people outside of the Navajo Nation could understand it. Philip Johnston, a World War I veteran who was raised on the Navajo reservation, proposed the idea to the US Marine Corps. Simulated trials showed that trained Navajo code talkers could encode, transmit, and decode messages in mere seconds compared to 30 minutes or more required by the best machines of the day. Later, during the first two days of fighting at Iwo Jima, the Navajo men serving under Major Connor encrypted and decrypted over 800 transmissions without making a single error.

The brilliant service by the Navajo was unknown to the public until 1968 when details of the operation were declassified. In 2001, the code talkers were each awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

The artist who designed the nine-foot-high bronze sculpture, Oreland Joe, is of Navajo descent.

Date of Dedication: 02/28/2008 Property Permission: Public Access instructions: Public access 24 hours Location of waymark: 1700 West Washington St Phoenix, AZ United States 85007 Commemoration: Navajo Code Talkers Access times: Not listed Website for Waymark: Not listed

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