Exhibit honors efforts of code talkers
By Myrna Petlicki (contributer)
Aug. 23, 2007
American Indians weren't allowed to become citizens until 1924, yet a number of them helped our country win World War I. They were an even more significant factor in the successful resolution of World War II.
The story of these valiant, selfless men is told through words and photos in "Native Words, Native Warriors." The Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition is at the Barrington Area Historical Society through Oct. 7, the only Illinois site for the display.
It's easy to take a self-guided tour of the exhibit, but perusing the panels with knowledgeable Historical Society President Michael Harkins is particularly enlightening.
"What this exhibit does is trace the history from the time period of the beginning of Native-American schools run by the government, starting after the Civil War," Harkins said. In those schools, the students were forced to only speak English.
Yet when war came, the banned native languages proved crucial. The role that the American Indians played in the world wars was as "code talkers," relaying coded information in their native languages via airwaves and telephone lines between battlefields and command centers, with other members of their tribe translating the messages. The U.S. enemies were never able to crack those codes.
Comanche Charles Chibitty, who served in the United States Army, is quoted in the exhibit as saying, "As a child I was forbidden to speak my native language at school. Later my country asked me to. My language helped win the war, and that makes me very proud."
Unfortunately, the role that the American Indians played in World War II was classified information for many years. They were sworn to secrecy about their contributions and received no official recognition until President Ronald Reagan finally broke the silence. Afterwards, code talkers were honored by presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Harkins said that General John J. Pershing, who was raised in the West, used Choctaw Indians as code talkers in World War I.
Useful language
During World War II, "as a result of what happened with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the government decided that we needed to move more strategically into breaking codes and communications," Harkins said. Members of the Comanche, Choctaw and Hopi Indians were recruited to serve as code talkers for the United States Marines. "They're always the first ones in. They have to communicate," Harkins explained.
He noted that many of the code talkers were young -- some only 14 -- and they had to be extremely accurate. They also had to be trained to defend themselves. "Many of them did come under attack because of the equipment they carried," Harkins said.
The code talkers were so effective that men were later recruited from other tribes, including the Dakota, Crow, Menominee, Seminole, Chippewa and others. "They were most active in the Pacific because with island hopping it was a struggle," Harkins related. "The Japanese were well fortified there. When we set up a plan to take those islands, we had to communicate."
War artifacts from the society's collection, dating from the 1900s on, are being added to the exhibit.
A related exhibit, "Native American Portraits" has been extended through Oct. 7. The hand-colored lithographs are from the McKenney & Hall Portrait Gallery of American Indians.
Harkins said the Barrington Area Historical Society wanted to present "Native Words, Native Warriors" because "our history here pre-settlement is very Native-American. And it really fits in with the school curriculum and the interests of the community."
Harkins said that a quote from Navajo Marine Corps member Samuel Tso "says it best." Tso declared, "I found out I am not only fighting for the little bitty piece of land I talk about, my immediate family. I found out I was fighting for all the Indian people, all the people in the United States."
"NATIVE WORDS, NATIVE WARRIORS"
Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, through October at the Barrington Area Historical Society, 212 W. Main St. $5 adults, $3 members and seniors, $2 students. (847) 381-1730.
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September 2007 Reports
Last updated on September 19, 2007