Maxine Wadsworth’s father never told her that he was among 10 members of the Hopi Tribe who served as code talkers during World War II. It wasn’t until she spoke with another code talker that she learned about Orville Wadsworth’s role.
Now she and others in her tribe want that service recognized alongside the exploits of Navajo code talkers, and they are supporting legislation to do just that.
“The (Hopi) people have waited for something like this to happen for quite a while, especially those that knew from the beginning that they had contributed something very positive to the preservation of this country,” Wadsworth said.
During Indian Nation and Tribes Legislative Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee voted unanimously to endorse a resolution that would formally honor the 10 members of the Hopi Tribe who served as code talkers.
SCR 1009, sponsored by Sen. Jack Jackson Jr., D-Flagstaff, also would encourage schools to teach about the contributions of the Hopi and other Native American code talkers.
The U.S. military employed members of 17 tribes during WWII to transmit messages in their native languages. Their efforts confounded enemy troops and were credited with saving countless lives.
The 400 Navajo code talkers, who were employed by the Marine Corps and developed their own code, became national heroes when their exploits were revealed decades later. A statue dedicated outside the State Capitol in 2008 honors Navajo code talkers.
After a resolution honoring Navajo code talkers passed last year, it was only right to honor members of the Hopi Tribe who also served in that role, said Eugene Talas, director of Hopi Veterans Affairs.
“The Hopi people are very humble and don’t expect any glory or recognition, but for the most part they are supportive that we are finally recognizing the Hopi code talkers,” Talas said.
The resolution is long overdue, but the timing is right, said Jackson, who is a member of the Navajo Nation.
“I think things have a way of working out for the better,” he said.
Orville Wadsworth, Maxine’s father, died in 1969 from complications of alcoholism. She said the resolution gives her family a positive way to remember him.
“It’s been very difficult seeing a man of honor … die in such a manner,” she said. “It was very difficult for my family, so this is closure for our family.”
Rosa Honani said her grandfather, Perry Honani Sr., wouldn’t have wanted to be acknowledged for his service as a Hopi code talker.
“They took lives, and that’s something they didn’t want to be recognized for,” she said.
But Hopi Chairman Leroy Shingoitewa said Arizonans should know about the Hopi code talkers.
“We feel that it is important that the state of Arizona and this great nation of ours know the history of what our people did for this country,” he said.
There are no surviving Hopi code talkers.
SCR 1009 was headed to the Senate floor by way of the Rules Committee.
At a news conference following the vote, lawmakers who are part of the Native American Caucus also discussed plans to honor the 14 Native Americans who served in previous legislative sessions. Some of those former lawmakers were present.
James Henderson, a Navajo who served in the Senate from 1985 to 1998, said a resolution would recognize the hard work of Native American lawmakers.
“A lot of them they did represent their people, and they did a lot of good for their districts,” Henderson said.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 2:44 pm on Sat, Jan 22, 2011.
A long overdue rocognition of these "AMERICAN" Heroes of the Hopi Tribe. Many people don't realize that Native Americans have been members of our Military since the Revolutionary War. They were all ..."volunteers"... no draftees. Not one of them had to be in the US Military, they "choose" to be. In World War II, there were 44,000 Native Americans in the US Military out of a total Native American Population of only 350,000. Even the Native Americans back at the Homefront in World War II contributed to the war effort by purchasing over $50 Million dollars in World War II American War Bonds ($50 Million back then is probably $500 Million in today's dollar value). Of all the statistics that I found on the Internet, the one that really surprised me was that there were more that 200,000 Native American Military Veterans as of the year 2000.
Arizona has the distinct honor of being the home state to these Hopi Tribe "Code Talkers" who served with such bravery under unimaginable conditions in World War II. We will never know how many of their fellow Marine's, Soldier's, Seamen's and Airmen's lives...these Code Talkers saved. They never thought about that...they just did the what they were trained to do. Like the true heroes that they are...they never sought any of the recognition that they so justly deserved. For almost 50 years after World War II, the exploits of the "Code Talkers" were unheralded....they were America's Unsong Heroes. The White House has now honored many of them. We have seen movies and TV shows highlighting their actions. Now it is time for our grateful State to recognize and honor the Code Talkers of the Hopi Tribe.
DrunkenMonkey posted at 11:48 am on Sat, Jan 22, 2011.
Well... Black History is a thing of the past. We now have African American History Month. The American Indians have the month of November set aside as American Indian Heritage Month.
The National Archives has a Heritage Calendar at http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/topics/calendar/
What I fail to see, is a tribute to the largest minority group... the White American male... We may not be a minority in numbers, but all others rights seem to be placed before ours these days. As the "minority groups" are allowed recognition, jobs, privileges, and state/federal assistance. Even Illegals seem to have more rights.
azrepublican posted at 10:51 am on Sat, Jan 22, 2011.
I couldn't agree more with you Phonse. I've often wondered how it is that Blacks can have an entire month devoted to their history when other races have little to nothing honoring them. I've concluded that it is in fact true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Also, blacks are the protected race, and that gives them an elevated status above other races. The pendulum has actually swung that far.
Phonse posted at 9:38 am on Sat, Jan 22, 2011.
While the honoring of ALL code talkers is overdue, I'd like you to consider something. The black community has long had "Black History" month. Our Native Americans (Indian Community) were here and long established in what now is the USA before the first "slave ship" ever dropped anchor. Native Americans have a rich history & culture. In fact, each tribe had its' own culture, traditions, history, etc. I cannot think of another group that we Americans know less about. Less TRUTH about! it is a crime that these native peoples do not have a month set aside when all Americans, not just our children, learn about Native Americans.