Excerpts taken from:

'REGARDLESS OF HISTORY': RE-ASSESSING THE NAVAJO CODETALKERS OF WORLD WAR II

Author(s): NOAH JED RISEMAN
Source: Australasian Journal of American Studies, Vol. 26, No. 2 (December 2007), pp. 48-73
Published by: Australia and New Zealand American Studies Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41054076

The Navajo Nation generally supported the United States in the Second World War and
encouraged participation of its members. Many Native American nations - including The Navajo
Nation - issued their own declarations of war against Germany and Japan. Even before Pearl
Harbor the Navajo Tribal Council on 3 June 1940 declared, 'Now, Therefore, we resolve that the
Navajo Indians stand ready as they did in 1918, to aid and defend our Government and its
institutions against all armed conflict and pledge our loyalty to the system which recognizes
minority rights and a way of life that has placed us among the greatest people of our race'.
Navajo women participated in groups such as the Women's Army Corps. Thus in multiple ways
the Navajo Nation proved its loyalty by positioning itself as an important part of the United
States.
For many of the Navajo who eventually became code talkers, the idea of loyalty and
membership in the United States was a major factor in their decisions to enlist. Codetalker
veteran Raymond Nakai remarked, 'Many people ask why we fight the white mans war. Our
answer is that we are proud to be American. We're proud to be American Indians. We always
stand ready when our country needs us.
Donald E. Patterson states, 'When I was inducted into the service, one of the commitments I
made was that I was willing to die for my country - the U.S., the Navajo Nation, and my family'.
Keith Little relates the following nationalistic anecdote as to why he and some friends joined the
military:
Me and a bunch of guys were out hunting rabbits with a .22.
We had a rabbit cooking down in the wash, and somebody
went to the dorm [at boarding school], came back and said:
'Hey, Pearl Harbor was bombed! '
One of us asked, Where 's Pearl Harbor? '
'In Hawaii. '
Who did it?'
'Japan. '
Why'd they do it?'

'They hate Americans. They want to kill all Americans. '

'Us, too? '
'Yeah, us too? ' Then and there, we all made a promise. We
were, most of us, 15 or 16, I guess. We promised each other
wed go after the Japanese instead of hunting rabbits.

Little's tale hints at several Navajo perspectives on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. An
assault on the US mainland would threaten Navajo just as much as non-indigenous Americans.
Based on the patriotism of the Navajo Tribal Council, it seems that a large portion of Navajo
considered themselves both American and Navajo. Patriotism was not the only reason why
many Navajos enlisted. One theme found in many accounts is the sense of excitement at the
prospect of being a Marine.
Sam Billison describes how propaganda about the glorious Marines had a profound influence: 'I
guess at that time John Wayne had already made some pictures of Marines and most of the
kids were "Gung Ho" about either being a cowboy or a hero. I guess in history they always say a
lot about the Marines, so I just wanted to be in the Marines'.
The glamorous image of the Marines was very influential - several interviews mention the fancy
uniform.
John Kinsel explains, 'Frankly, I just like the uniform, that is why I join the Marine Corps.
John Goodluck adds: 'And also they had this uniform too, they said they were first to fight, the
Marines, Semper Fidelis and all I thought this is the way I want to go. So I joined'
The image of the Marine was powerful enough to sway Harold Foster as well: 'Then I saw a
poster at the post office of a Marine in that uniform. The post office was right next door to the
boys dorm and when I saw that poster I decided to become a Marine. I wanted to defend my
country, my people and defend what I believed in.
The promises of military recruiters also influenced Navajo attitudes. Kee Etsicitty comments,
There were some Navy recruiters that came home on leave and told us if we joined the Navy
we could see the Seven Seas and have a girlfriend in every port'.
Some Navajos wound up in the Marines for less impressive reasons - either as conscripts or
because it represented a job with a steady income. This was an especially motivating after the
Great Depression left very few jobs on the Reservation.

Carl Gorman remarks, 'It sounded like the worst that could happen was Id have a roof over my
head and be eating regular'.
Paul Blatchford complained to the council chairman, 'we got to go [to military] because there is
no jobs, all they are doing is running to Gallup [New Mexico] and getting drunk, there is no job
here on the reservation so we wanted the councilman to approve so we can go and then he said
the same thing'.
The military also posed a career opportunity for future generations of Navajo. Kee Etsicitty
remarks, That was the idea of fighting them [Japanese] so that my son could go to school live a
better life'. Some Navajos, like other American citizens, were drafted into the service.
Joe Dedman recollects, 'This was in the year 1942. I was drafted and I have no
intention of going into the army'.
Keats Begay says, 'Some said if we wanted to join the Army we could, but otherwise, we would
be drafted, even though we didn't want to join.
Motives for joining the war effort were as diverse as in any social group. From patriotism to glory
to employment, the Navajo found many reasons to participate in the Second World War.
Although some Navajo soldiers did not necessarily achieve all they hoped, they consistently
remained unabashedly loyal to the United States.