Informative Speech: The History of Code Talkers
Easton Seymore
Department of Communication: Missouri State University
COM 115 – 012: Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Prince Ankoenyenu
March 11 2025
Topic: The History of Code Talkers
General Purpose: To Inform the audience.
Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about the history of Code Talkers
Thesis Statement: Today, I will teach about the history of Code Talkers beginning with the
creation of the language, then how it was used in battle and ending with the single member who
was killed in action.
1. Introduction
Attention Getter: In the end of World War II, it would be hard to believe that the greatest
weapon wasn’t the bombs dropped or the blinding mustard gas, it was language. A secret
language that is. Thesis Statement: In a time where service in the military is hailed as being one
of the greatest things you can do for your country, why were these heroes classified information
for 30 years? I would like to give the history of these men. Credibility: I was born and raised in
a small town in the heart of Navajo County Arizona called Snowflake Arizona and was fully
immersed in the reservation lifestyle and am grateful to have many friends from that region.
Preview Main Points: In this speech, I will introduce you all to the Code Talkers, the creation
of the language, how this new language was implemented and used on the battlefield, and finally
the one and only member who was killed in the line of action Transition Statement: What is the
coolest ways you’ve seen someone communicate to another?
II. Body
A. Main Point #1: What is this Language and how was it made?
1. Supporting Statement:
1. According to sociologist and anthropologist William C Meadows in his book The
comanche code talkers of World War II in 2003, mentions that “Throughout the
history of warfare, military leaders have sought the perfect code—one that no
enemy could break down, regardless of the ability of its intelligence staff. For
centuries a great number of clever codes have been developed by political and
military personnel to disguise their messages.” (Meadows, 2003).
During times of war, information and the communication of that information could make or
break your side winning that certain battle. Knowing where your enemy is or is going to be
coming from, and being able to communicate that to your squad could save their lives.
2. Supporting Statement:
1. On the U.S. Department of Defense page, Code Talkers were used because their
language wasn’t understood by anyone on the opposite side. So they could send
and receive these easily. (Vergun D., 2024).
The effectiveness of these changes allowed the members of this group in each major platoon to
send and receive these messages that required a cipher to break. Yet no one knew how to even
begin to start to crack it.
Transition Statement: Now that we have the understanding of how this branch of the military
came to be, let’s ask ourselves, how was it used on the battlefield?
B. Main Point #2: Who were the first Code Talkers, how did they operate during the war, and
what was their return home like after the war?
1. Supporting Statement:
1. In their article, Naval History provides such information, “Phillip Johnston
convinced Major General Clayton B. Vogel that the marine Corp should recruit
200 Navajos” (Navajo Code Talkers: World War II fact sheet, 2020).
2. USMCU says that 29 Navajos were selected to comprise the first group and that
they “devised Navajo words for military terms” (Marine Corps University, 2006).
This first group of men fought from November of 1942 to the end of the war. Utilizing these
genius men and their ancestral language they created a complex use of obscure Navajo terms
mixed with English translated into Navajo.
2. Supporting Statement: The National
WWII Museum recalls that most of these code talkers were eventually paired off with
one other member. Then “one person would operate the portable radio while the second
person would relay and receive messages in the Native language and translate them into
English.” (Dave W., 2017).
After being the sole reason as to how and why the allied powers were able to come out on top,
how do you think they were treated after coming home after the war?
3. Supporting Statement:
Dahl from Santa Clara University said, “At a port where ‘a lot of people and balloons
waiting on the ship’ yet Navajos were ‘taken off the other side of the side of the ship on
wooden planks and immediately put on buses and sent home on trains.’” (Dahl, 2016)
Transition Statement: After hearing that I would like to honor the one member of the original
29 men who was the only fallen member of the original Code Talkers.
C. Main Point #3: Harry Tsostie, the only member killed in action
1. Supporting Statement: In his article about his grandfather, Gorman goes into detail on his
grandfather's life, his service in the military and finally his death
1. In the article, Gorman mentions that Harry was a part of the first group of recruits
who created the language. These men were called “The First Twenty-Nine”
(Gorman, 2006).
2. After contributing to multiple battles, Harry was faced with the orders of taking
the Philippines and moving upwards to Okinawa, but after landing the Japanese
had a massive amount of soldiers compared. This led to an ambush and during the
second day of the ambush and invasion, Harry was hit and retreated with his
platoon. He later succumbed to his wounds and was given a burial at sea
(Gorman, 2006).
Transition Statement: It wasn’t just this one man who gave their lives and became heroes.
There are countless amounts of people who never get the recognition they deserve due their
service, and I am grateful today to give my gratitude to these heroes.
III. Conclusion
1. Restate Thesis: After being kept from the public and getting recognition, the code talkers
showed true heroism in their pride of their ancestral language and how it could be used to
change the way wars are fought. Review main points: Today in this speech, I have gone
over the creation of the code talkers, their involvement in the battlefield, and the one
member who passed, Harry Tsostie. Closing Statement: Thank you all so much for
listening to my speech, I hope you learned about the history behind these fascinating men
and what they did to change what we know about language and communication.
References
Meadows, W. C. (2003). The comanche code talkers of World War II. 14-15
https://doi.org/10.7560/752634
Vergun D. (2024, Oct. 31). Code talkers helped U.S. win World Wars I and II | U.S. Department of
Defense
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3951611/code-talkers-helped-us-win-world-
wars-i-and-ii/
Navajo Code Talkers: World War II fact sheet. (2020, April 16).
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/code-
talkers.html
Marine Corps University. (2006, July). Marine Corps University > Research > Marine Corps History
Division > People > Navajo Code talkers in WWII. https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-
History-Division/People/Navajo-Code-Talkers-in-WWII/
Dave W. (2017, August 14). American Indian code talkers. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/american-indian-code-talkers
Dahl, A. (2016). The Navajo Code Talkers of World War II: the Long Journey Towards Recognition.
Series II, 21(11), 11.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1143&context=historical-perspectives
Gorman M. (2006).Veterans Day: A salute to Code talker: Harry Tsosie. Michael Gorman Gallery.
https://www.michaelgormangallery.com/code-talker-harry-tsosie
