Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Native American Code Talkers
Thirty-three Native American tribes were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal at a U.S. Capitol ceremony on November 20th.
Tribes from across the country were recognized for their contributions during World Wars I and II. Using their native languages these Native Americans, known as “code talkers” transmitted secret battlefield communications that could not be cracked by America’s enemies. Those who served rarely spoke of their work, which remained classified for many years.
In honoring the tribes with the highest medal Congress can bestow, Speaker John Boehner called the Code Talkers, “the bravest of the brave” and said they were, “unrecognized for far too long, but now given the highest recognition.”