Code Talkers Recognition Act
CODE TALKERS RECOGNITION ACT -- (Senate - September 21, 2006)
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, this is a historic day. Last night we passed S. 1035, the Code Talkers Recognition Act.
As my fellow Senate colleagues may know, code talkers played a unique role in our battlefield successes by transmitting commands and messages in their native language, which, of course, completely baffled the enemy. I was fortunate to meet one of these heroes during a visit to the Meskwaki settlement a couple years ago. Frank Sanache was modest and soft spoken about his heroism. But history has recorded his deeds in battle. And his passing was a loss to all of us who knew and respected him.
In January of 1941, Frank and seven other Meskwaki tribal members--Edward Benson, Dewey Roberts, Dewey Youngbear, Mike Twin, Jude Wayne Wabaunasee, Mike Wayne Wabaunasee, and Willard Sanache--enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. They were recruited for code talker training, and served in the 168th Infantry, 34th Division.
In the Second World War, communication in Native American languages proved to be the perfect tool for frustrating enemy eavesdropping. Indian languages were used to develop military codes that were difficult to intercept and impossible to break. This is ironic, because in the years prior to the war, the Meskwaki and other tribes had been under constant pressure to abandon their traditional languages and cultures.
The use of these codes is credited with saving countless lives. Until recently, however, only the Navajos and the Navajo code were given broad recognition and credit. But, in fact, at least 17 other tribes, including Iowa's Meskwaki, served as code talkers during the Second World War.
Congress has already recognized the courageous service of Navajo code talkers. And by passing S. 1035, the Code Talkers Recognition Act, last night, we are recognizing the service and sacrifice of all the code talkers and awarding congressional commemorative medals to these heroes.
I thank Senators FRIST, SHELBY, and SARBANES for allowing this important and historic legislation to move forward and the bipartisan effort from Senators INHOFE, JOHNSON, THUNE, and GRASSLEY in gaining 79 cosponsors.
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