Navajo Code Talkers Honored In Las Cruces Ceremony

Their service helped win wars and their language helped save lives.

The 29 original Navajo Code Talkers were honored this Memorial Day morning during a brick dedication ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Las Cruces.

“I’ve read a lot of books on them,” said Philip George, a Vietnam War veteran who attended the ceremony. “It’s nice that the (code talkers) are finally getting recognition for what they did, it took a long time.”

The Navajo servicemen created unbreakable codes based on their native language, which provided a safe way for military officials to communicate in the Pacific during World War II.

“It was a secret for so long,” said Frank Chee Willetto, one of three surviving code talkers who attended. “It’s nice that people now want to learn about our culture.”

Willetto, who now lives in New Mexico, thanked the people who came out to hear him speak about his experiences. “It’s really an honor to be here and accept some of the things that were given to us,” he said. “It feels good.”