PHOENIX — Navajos who served as code talkers in World War II urged lawmakers on Monday to pass legislation honoring them. But a Hopi tribal leader sparked debate by saying the Navajos weren't the only code talkers.
"We want to be remembered significantly for helping the U.S. in its time of emergency," Keith Little, a member of the Navajo Nation who served as a code talker in the Marine Corps, told the Senate Committee on Government.
Philip Quochytewa, a Hopi Tribal Council member and Vietnam veteran, told lawmakers honoring just Navajos would overlook members of his and other tribes, who he said have served as code talkers throughout U.S. history.
"It's only fair that other Native American code talkers are treated with the same dignity and respect," Quochytewa said.
Committee members sided with the Navajos, endorsing a bill to fund a Navajo code talkers monument already approved for Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, rejecting an amendment to rename it the "Arizona code talkers monument."
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The committee also approved a resolution calling for the U.S. Postal Service to create stamps honoring Navajo code talkers and other minorities who contributed to the war effort.
Sen. Jake Flake, R-Snowflake, compared the argument to a championship football team in which the quarterback gets all the credit despite the contributions of teammates.
"Life's not fair. But in this respect, in my opinion, the Navajos are the quarterback. They are the ones who worked this through," Flake said. "And others did a tremendous job, a great job. The Hopis were great running backs, they were great blockers, great pass catchers and should get some honor.
"In my opinion, when you say code talker, it's Navajo code talkers," Flake said.
Sen. Robert Blendu, R-Litchfield Park, said other tribes should seek their own recognition.
"In my opinion, all that served should be honored," Blendu said. "If there are stamps for Mickey Mouse, we can find room for all the Native American tribes."
More than 400 Navajos served as Marine code talkers in the Pacific during World War II, transmitting coded messages in the Navajo language. Their contributions were kept secret until 1968.
Sylvia Laughter, a Navajo and former state representative who is co-chairwoman of the Navajo Code Talker Memorial Foundation, said the recognition is overdue and well-deserved.
"The fact that it took 40 years before they were allowed to talk about their experience makes it important," said Laughter, who sponsored the original legislation creating the monument. "They didn't receive recognition for so long. And when the government did start to recognize them, so many had already passed away."
Gov. Janet Napolitano signed legislation in 2003 calling for the monument to be added to the plaza outside the State Capitol. SB 1192 would appropriate $100,000 for it if the Navajo Nation matches that amount. There are plans for a copy of the monument in Window Rock, depicting a crouched Navajo code talker speaking into a backpack radio.
SCR 1010 would urge the Postal Service to create stamps honoring Navajo code talkers, Japanese-Americans who served in World War II and black pilots who served with the Tuskegee Airmen.
"They didn't receive recognition for so long.
And when the government did start to recognize them, so many had already passed away."
Sylvia Laughter, co-chairwoman
Navajo Code Talker Memorial Foundation
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