Annotated Bibliography
Shreya Sehgal
Navajo Code Talkers: Secret Weapon in WWII
Bibliography
Primary Sources:
Books:
Bruchac, Joseph. Code Talker. New York: Dial Books, 2005.
This book describes and focuses on one certain Navajo Code Talker and follows through
his life from a boy that was 12 through his adventures to learn English and go to boarding school,
to finally becoming a Navajo Code Talker and going through the war. It is a compilation of many
events joined into one book, and provides the feelings, sounds, and thoughts part of this story,
Nez, Chester and Scheiss, Judith. Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original
Navajo Code Talkers of WWII Chester Nez. [Old Saybrook, Connecticut] : Tantor Media, [2011]
℗2011
This book is a first-hand experience memoir and written by one of the 29 original Navajo Code
Talkers that ever existed. It includes, like the previous book, the thoughts and feelings of Chester Nez,
but also gives a timeline, and shows the poems, and a portion of the Navajo Code. Additionally, it depicts
the life of the famous Code Talker, and adding on background experiences, heritage information, culture,
and tradition. This book also outlined the main form of the website.
Turner, Jim. Navajo Code Talker Manual. Tucson, AZ : Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2019.
This book gives an extremely basic introduction to the Navajo Code Talkers. Unlike the other books, it
does not focus on one person, but outlines all of the Navajos together as one part. Of course, like the title
suggests, it teaches you how to use the code, as well as pronouncing all the words, and such. TO ad a
further bonus, it gives the original dictionary that the Code Talkers used before it added more terms to
make a total of over 600.
Images:
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Carl Gorman scouting out the area.
Photograph: https://www.radio.com/connectingvets/articles/navajo-code-talkers-used-language-help-win-
world-war-ii
This picture was important because it summarized a lot of what was said in a previous video.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35QYX94qz6g). The Navajos were not only useful in giving out the
code, they were also useful in scouting out the area and sending back messages in code. The picture
above shows Carl Gorman, Zonnie Gorman’s father. He is manning an observation post on a hill,
overlooking the city of Garpan, which there was a huge battle over. He was doing this, while the Marines
were consolidating their positions on the island of Saipan in 1944.
Dept. of the Navy, Naval Historical Center, [1999]. Navajo Code Talker Dictionary.
Photograph: https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS73077
This is a picture of the full Navajo Code Talker alphabet and dictionary with the Marine Terms that the
original 28 and so on used. At the end of the page, it also has the Marine hymn used by the Marines. It
shows the English Version of the hymn and also the part where Jimmy King, a Navajo Code Talker
translated it into Navajo.
Anonymous. Navajo Code Talker in Dense Forest.
Photograph: https://www.britannica.com/topic/code-talker
This is a picture of 2 Navajo Code Talkers, Henry Bake and George Kirk. The one on the left is translating
the messages from Navajo to English and using them to make a marine code word, while the other is
either saying something to the other side or receiving the message.
Anonymous. Chester Nez Personal Book Cover.
Photograph: https://wowlit.org/blog/2016/11/07/native-american-veterans-childrens-literature/
This is a picture of Chester Nez’s personal book cover, which was a memoir. It was used in the Primary
and Secondary Sources part of my website and showed the cover of the book, along with the one that
Joseph Bruchac wrote.
Anonymous. Joseph Bruchac. Personal Book Cover about Ned, Navajo Code Talker.
Photograph: https://thechildrenswar.blogspot.com/2015/03/code-talker-novel-about-navajo-marines.html
This book shows the book cover that Joseph Bruchac wrote about a Navajo Code Talker named Ned
Begay. It shows the timeline of Ned’s beginning life to when he was sent to a boarding school and also to
when he was in war, and finally to the part to after the war and being awarded the Congressional Gold
Medal.
Anonymous. Joseph Bruchac. Page from his Book showing a heaven rhyme.
Photograph: https://fliphtml5.com/lfpls/fuup/basic
This is a picture or snapshot from the page of his book showing the rhyme that Navajo people used to
remind themselves of their ancestors, relatives, and loved ones. Many sang this rhyme to give them hope
to survive the war and come back home, as there were both emotional and physical wounds inflicted.
That is called “battle fatigue”.
Anonymous: Cook, Roy. Navajo Code Talkers marching in Formation at Camp Pendleton
Photograph: http://americanindiansource.com/aiwa/ndncodetalker/ndncodetalkers.html
This picture shows the Code Talkers marching in Formation at Camp Pendleton. Navajo Code Talkers
could go to 2 camps, Camp Pendleton and Camp Elliot. Both Camps gave the same amount and number
of training. Navajo Code Talkers at Camp Pendleton were taught everything that the others were taught,
with the exception of Code Talking. They were taught marching, swimming, running, etc. The Code
Talkers above are all learning and marching in the military form.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFBpTSd5FWA- Video)
Anonymous: Land of History. Navajos threading and sewing to make income right before the act.
Photograph: https://adventuresinhistoryland.com/tag/navajo-livestock-reduction/
This is a picture of the Navajos threading and sewing using a loom to make income. When Many Navajos
came home after the war, they discovered that the Navajo Livestock Reduction act had taken place. That
meant that the U.S government took all the sheep and other livestock that the Navajo had and used them
for their own purpose. The problem was that shearing the sheep, milking the cows, and all of that was the
only way that the Navajos could earn income, since the U.S government was neither helping them, nor on
their side. Because of this act, a lot of Navajos had problems, and some even died!
Anonymous. Mosquito Network.
Photograph: https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/meet-the-mosquito-network
This is a picture of the Mosquito Network. They were not Navajo Code Talkers, but kind of like them.
These people made the American Radio and helped operate it. Because they were so quick to act, and
smart, and the network speak immediately, it coined the term Mosquito Network.
Anonymous. Associated Press. Code Talker, at same location where Fleming Begaye was at the battle of
Tarawa.
Photograph:https://kutv.com/news/local/gallery/navajo-code-talker-felming-begaye-sr-dies-served-us-
during-wwii
These group of pictures show Navajo Code Talkers, like Fleming Begaye Sr. in the jungle talking, getting
awarded the medals, at the scene of Tarawa. The Battle of Tarawa is not a commonly known battle;
however it is kind of like Iwo Jima. There were a lot of causalities, and Navajo Code Talkers were a major
part in the victory of this particular battle.
Thomas H Begay.jpg." Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. 28 Sep 2020, 16:54 UTC. 3 Jan
2021, 16:46
Photograph: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_H_Begay.jpg
This is a picture of Navajo Code Talker, and veteran of Iwo Jima, Thomas Begay. He is standing outside
a white capitol building. He survived Iwo Jima but was not there to raise the flag with the others. This was
one of the many wars he survived
Anonymous. Marines and Code Talkers raised the American Flag on Iwo Jima.
Photograph: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/02/23/the-tale-of-this-marine-in-the-other-iwo-jima-
photo-can-at-last-be-told/
This is a picture of the Marines and Navajo Code Talkers together raising the American Flag on Iwo Jima.
Both parties are extremely proud, as many of their colleagues had died for them to get to this moment.
This was also one of the many bloody wars, but one of the most remembered and important.
Anonymous. The Journal. Peter Macdonald.
Photograph: https://the-journal.com/articles/75864
This is a picture of Peter Macdonald (right, shaking hands with President Trump) and Thomas Begay,
(left). They are standing beneath a picture of Andrew Jackson, which was meant to be honorary, but
because at his time, Andrew Jackson killed American Indians, that was offensive.
Websites/Articles:
Anonymous. The World Factbook 2020. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2020.
https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2008-featured-story-
archive/navajo-code-talkers/
This website discusses the basics of Navajo code and how it started. Most of the article is spend talking
about Phillip Johnston and how he first started the importance of the Navajo Code. It also discusses the
basics at the camp, etc. At the end of the page, it shows part of the original dictionary, and also offers 2
codes to solve.
Anonymous. “Navajo Code Talkers. WWII Fact Sheet” Naval History and Heritage Command.
Published: Thu Apr 16 15:08:36 EDT 2020.
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-
alphabetically/n/code-talkers.html
This article discusses the background history of Philip Johnston. It focuses mostly on Phillip
Johnston and how his contribution with the help of the Navajo Code Talkers was an extremely
big key in the success of the Allied Powers. It then talks about the Navajo Code Talkers’
Dictionary and how the Navajos interpreted it. Finally, at the end, it talks about the Department
of Defense Honors Navajo Veterans.
Anonymous. MCKAY, Mary- Jayne. “ The Code Talkers” Cbsnews.com. Published: May 29,2002
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-code-talkers-29-05-2002/
This article/website first starts with the basics of the Navajo Code Talkers, and in between the
paragraphs, taps into certain Code Talkers quotes, like Chester Nez and Bill Toledo. It was a
good source and strong base for my research.
VIDEO/WEBSITE:
Anonymous. “Navajo Code Talkers – Zonnie Gorman” History.com. Accessed on 12/2/2020
https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/navajo-code-talkers-zonnie-gorman-video
This video is about 1-2 minutes long and is from the perspective of Carl Gorman’s daughter, Zonnie
Gorman. She talks about how the differences saved this nation, about the medals that Carl Gorman
received, and another Navajo Code Talker, Dean Wilson.
Website- Continued
Anonymous. Greenspan, Jesse. “ How Native American Code Talkers Pioneered A New Type of Military
Intelligence” History.com. Published: May 29, 2014. Accessed: November 11, 2020
https://www.history.com/news/world-war-is-native-american-code-talkers
This article was a little deeper, and helped me get to the previous events of certain Navajo Code Talkers’
lives instead of when they were in the boarding academy and in war. It talked about when the U.S
military drove away the Navajos, but then needed help from them later on. It then went on to discuss
the boarding schools and other ideas located in the website.
Anonymous. Soptelean, Caleb. “ Sam Sandoval one of 40 left from elite WWII unit- Navajo Code Talker”
The Journal. Published: Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012 6:01 AM
https://the-journal.com/articles/2556
This article talks about an interview with Samuel Sandoval, and his personal life. It provided a lot of
background detail in the tab for Samuel Sandoval.
Anonymous. LeDoux, Julia. “Code Talkers spoke victory to help win World War II” Radio.com. Published:
April 1, 2019, 4:08 pm.
https://www.radio.com/connectingvets/articles/navajo-code-talkers-used-language-help-win-world-
war-ii
This article is another story of Zonnie Gorman’s father, Carl Gorman. It talks about how the forbidden
language was again, the language they needed to save the nation.
Anonymous. Silversmith, Shondiin. “Navajo Code Talker Samuel F. Sandoval talks about 'making a
Navajo code' “ Azcentral.com. Published: Aug 29,2019, 9:35 a.m.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/08/29/navajo-code-talker-samuel-f-
sandoval-ww-2-marines/1883296001/
This is a Sandoval Article and it is also an interview kind of a story. He talks about serving in the Marine
Corps during WW2. One of the main and IMPORTANT things that was in this paragraph was about the
bodyguards. They were supposed to shoot the Navajos if they were to be captured.
Anonymous. Leal, Reynaldo. “ The Battle of Iwo Jima and the Unbreakable Code” Published: Wednesday,
February 19, 2020 6:00 pm
https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/71737/the-battle-of-iwo-jima-and-the-unbreakable-code/
This article talks about Iwo Jima and Peter Macdonald. At first, it talks about the unbreakable code, and
gives a few examples, of the code. It then gives a video about Peter Macdonald and he talks about some
of his personal life, but also an overview for all the Code Talkers.
Anonymous. “ American Indian Code Talkers” Accessed on November 24, 2020
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/american-indian-code-talkers
This article was one of my favorites and also a really strong base for the information that was
researched. It starts by giving the definition of a code talker, explaining the types of codes, and the
levels. For example, type 1 coding and type 2 coding, etc. There is a hint about word substitution in this
article. It also talks about the U.S military, something that wasn’t so easy to find, when researching
about the Marines.
Anonymous. American History TV C-SPAN. Published on April 17,2019. Peter Macdonald Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1jMys1VVqM
In this video, Peter Macdonald’s gives many examples of the military terms, and also gives the Navajo
Pronunciation of them. He explains very thoroughly about the rules of the Navajo Code Talkers. Only the
Navajos that were in the top-secret school were allowed to know about the code and learn it. NOBODY
else.
Anonymous. Peter MacDonald, Sr.: Navajo Code Talker, World War II 1944-1946 and Former Leader of
the Navajo Nation. Accessed on December 22, 2020
https://al.nd.edu/news/events/2019/11/14/peter-macdonald-sr-navajo-code-talker-world-war-ii-1944-1946-and-former-
leader-of-the-navajo-nation/#:~:text=the%20Navajo%20Nation-
,Peter%20MacDonald%2C%20Sr.%3A%20Navajo%20Code%20Talker%2C%20World%20War,Leader%20of%20the%20Navajo%2
0Nation&text=At%20the%20age%20of%2015,)%2C%20San%20Diego%2C%20CA.
This article gives an insight on Peter McDonalds’ life. It talks about how he was included in the Marines,
how he got discharged with the rank of corporal. How he got married, his personal life, etc. This was a
great website for the peter Macdonald tab on my website.
https://www.history.com/news/world-war-is-native-american-code-talkers
