Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval Captivates West Michigan Audience

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

GRAND RAPIDS - It was the Samuel Sandoval's first visit to West Michigan, but he soon won over the overflow audience with his moving story of how the Navajo Code Talkers help to win World War II with their accuracy, speed and secrecy in communicating in a code that was unbreakable.

Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval

At eighty-eight years of age, Navajo Code Talker Samuel Sandoval may need the assistance of a cane that was beaded by his wife, but his mind is still quick and sure. He totally captivated the audience of close to seven hundred at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids on Thursday afternoon. Those in the audience listened intently as he recounted his story that eventually won him a Congressional Silver Medal.

Sandoval was the featured speaker of a program co-sponsored by Grand Valley State University, the US Attorney’s Office - Western Michigan, Marine Corps League Detachment 151 and local American Indian tribes in West Michigan on the day before Veterans Day.

He told of how his great-grandfather lived in his home when he was a child. He said his great-grandfather was a 1800s Navajo warrior, a strict man and a medicine man.

700 hundred Listened

"He was a great influence on me as a child," recalled Sandoval. "He would wake me up early. That is why I did not like the man," joked Sandoval. "I now am happy he did wake me and I think about the wisdom he taught me."

Sandoval was born in Nageezi, New Mexico, joined the US Marine Corps in 1943 when he was eighteen years old.

Sandoval recalls how he was initially turned down by the US Marine Corps because he was Navajo. Then one day, they stopped him as he was leaving the recruiting center and asked him if he could speak English and Navajo fluently. He was told of how the US Marine Corps wanted to recruit Navajo for a special project during the war. Just how special the project was he never imagined.

"I actually wondered if the United States was trying to recruit us to take us out and put us somewhere," recalled Sandoval. "There was a time that we could not be citizens because we were Indian."

Sandoval soon was admitted into the Marine Corps and spent 20 weeks at Camp Pendleton to learn the Navajo code. He recalled how he grew up and went to school with eight of those who he served with during the war. They were a close group and remained lifelong friends.

While Sandoval could fluently speak his Native language, he said the Navajo language does not contain words that were compatible with military language.

"There is no Navajo word for the word "tank" and the military uses tanks. We thought about it and said 'what do tanks remind us of?' We thought they looked like turtles to us," said Sandoval.

The Navajo language has 63 letters.

The English language has 26 letters. So, the Navajo and Marine Corps developed a code that contained some 813 words to be used during World War II. There was no dictionary used; the Navajo code had to be memorized, according to Sandoval.

"Speed and accuracy, plus secrecy were the most important elements of what became the Navajo code," stated Sandoval. "Even today this code has never been broken."

Sandoval made the comparison between the military's usage of the Morse code and the Navajo code. They both were tested by military officials prior to implementation. In one trial test conducted by the military, the Morse code had some mistakes and it took someone 30 minutes to correct the mistakes. With the Navajo code, it could be figured out in 30 seconds.

During the war, there were no Navajo code talkers captured, according to Sandoval.

"However, there were 13 killed in action. These are my heroes," declared Sandoval.

As a Navajo Code Talker, he participated in five combat duties in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Pelelui, Guam and Okinawa. He was the only Navajo Code Talker to participate in the 3rd Marine Division's Amphibious Corps landing at Guam's Agat beach.

During the war, his brother Merril, who was two years his junior also became a Navajo Code Talker. "When we got home, we never talked about what we did. The code was still a secret and we were not allowed to discuss it. We took it seriously," said Sandoval. His brother died two years ago.

Upon returning home after the war, the Navajo Code Talkers were told their code would remain in secrecy - in the event it would be needed to by deployed again by the US Marine Corps. In 1969 the Pentagon unclassified the Navajo Code.

Already a highly decorated soldier for his contributions during World War II, Sandoval was given the Congressional Silver Medal, along with other Navajo Code Talkers.

Sandoval travels the country to inspire others of how great service to the country can be.

"I tell you: Respect veterans. They have done their duty," Sandoval admonished the audience.

"I am always amazed at some of the things I am able to do," said Assistant US Attorney Jeff Davis, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, executive director of the Indian Law and Order Commission. "But meeting Mr. Sandoval and participating in this program has been of the greatest things I have ever been involved in. Within the Native American community, we need role models. So, I say to Mr. Sandoval, 'Chi Megwetch!"

updated 11:18 am est; posted November 11, 2011 9:30 am est