World War II History Lecture: The Navajo Code Talkers

Historian Cyril Lagvanec, PhD, and Librarian Gwen Kelley will deliver a joint lecture about the Navajo Code Talkers on Monday, November 10, 7 pm, at the East Bank Regional Library. The lecture is timed to commemorate Veterans Day and National Native American Heritage Month.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public.

The Navajo Code Talkers were a group of Marines in World War II who used their native language to transmit crucial military communications, creating a secret, unbreakable code that was vital to the Allied victory in the Pacific.

The original 29 Navajo recruits developed a complex code using Navajo words for military terms and letters of the alphabet, allowing for error-free messages on the battlefield.

Their contributions went unrecognized until 1968, but they were eventually honored with Congressional Gold and Silver Medals for their heroic service and the preservation of their language.

You may also like the following events from Jefferson Parish Library:

• This Thursday, 13th November, 07:00 pm, West Bank Genealogy Series: Researching Military Records in Harvey
• This Thursday, 13th November, 07:00 pm, Local History Talk: The History of Mr. Bingle in Metairie