William Riley Johnston, Margaret Wray, Johnston, Philip Johnston, about 1895 of 1896. NAU
Born on a Navajo Reservation where his parents were missionaries, Philip Johnston grew up learning a lot about the Navajo culture and the language.
Too old to serve in World War II, Philip Johnston seeked out ways to contribute to the US Military. His most notable contribution is introducing the Navajos to the Marines.
Technical Sergeant Philip Johnston Going on a Recruiting Tour of the Navajo Indian Reservation, October, 1942, NAU
In 1942, the US Military attempted to make use of the beautiful languages of the Native Americans as a means of secret communication. While reading an article about these plans, Philip Johnston came up with the idea to utilize the Navajo language, a complex and mostly unwritten language, as the basis of a code for World War II.
The use of Native languages had been used in the first World War, but not extensively. Because of this, the Marine Corps were hesitant to agree to Philip Johnston's plan. However, Johnston was able to convince them, leading to the creation of the "Unbreakable Code"
Eleven Navajo Students, 1883. Carlisle Indian Digital Resource Center
Tom Torlino, 1882 and 1885. Carlisle Indian Digital Resource Center
Eleven Navajo Students, 1883
Tom Torlino, 1882 and 1885
Eleven Navajo Students, 1883
Tom Torlino, 1882 and 1885
While recruiting Navajos to be a part of the Code Talking Program, the Marines specifically looked for those who could speak English and Navajo fluently. To find these bilingual future soldiers, recruiters went to boarding schools
Boarding schools were founded by the government and Christian missionaries and they worked to replace American Indian ways of life with mainstream American culture. At these schools, students were taught to only speak in English and were punished if they spoke their Native languages.
"All those years, telling you not to speak Navajo. And then to turn around and ask us for help with that same language. It still kind of bothers me."
- Chester Nez