A little reason to celebrate
National Navajo Code Talkers Day
History · Commemorative · August 14
Honoring the Navajo Code Talkers, Marines who used a code built on the Navajo language to send secure messages during World War II.
National Navajo Code Talkers Day falls on Saturday, August 14, 2027. That is 291 days away.
The Navajo Code Talkers were Navajo men who served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Their job was to send and receive messages by radio and telephone using a code built on the Navajo language, so that orders and reports could move quickly without being understood by the enemy.
The code worked in layers. Navajo words stood for English letters, and many military terms had their own Navajo names drawn from everyday things, such as birds for types of aircraft. A message that might take a long time to encode by machine could be passed along by a trained Code Talker in a fraction of the time. The code was never broken.
The Code Talkers served in the Pacific, including at the Battle of Iwo Jima, often in the middle of the fighting. For many years their work stayed secret, and much of the wider recognition came long after they returned home.
People mark the day by learning the history and by listening to the Code Talkers in their own words. Many recorded interviews and oral histories exist, and hearing a veteran describe the work in a calm, steady voice tells you more than any summary can. Museums, libraries and Navajo Nation communities often share exhibits and stories.
The heart of it is a language. The same words spoken at home, in families and ceremonies, carried messages that protected lives.
Ways to celebrate
- Listen to a recorded oral history from a Navajo Code Talker.
- Read a book or article about the Code Talkers' service.
- Visit a museum exhibit or library display about the Code Talkers.
- Learn a few words of the Navajo language from a reputable source.
- Write a note of thanks to a veteran in your community.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, August 14 |
| 2027 | Saturday, August 14 |
| 2028 | Monday, August 14 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, August 14 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, August 14 |
All national days on August 14
Also on August 14
Categories: History daysCommemorative days