Severna Park Library To Explore History Of Native American Code Talkers

SEVERNA PARK, MD — A presentation at Severna Park Library will explore how Native American code talkers used Indigenous languages to protect military communications during World War II.

"Talking in Code: A History of the WWII Native American Code Talkers" will be presented by the National Cryptologic Museum on Monday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 7 p.m. The program takes place in the library's community meeting room at 45 W. McKinsey Road.

According to the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, approximately 534 Native American code talkers were deployed during World War II. About 420 were Navajo speakers serving in the Marine Corps, whose code-talking program supported operations across the Pacific. Comanche code talkers served in Europe, including during the D-Day invasion.

The practice began during World War I. Across both wars, servicemen from more than 20 tribes used their languages to transmit coded messages that enemy forces could not decipher.

The library program recognizes National Veterans and Military Families Month and Native American Heritage Month.

More information is available on the event page.