World War II Honoree

Samuel Billison

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Window Rock, Arizona

Honored By

Admirer

NAVAJO CODE TALKER. HE AND OTHER NAVAJO MARINES INVENTED A SECRET CODE BASED ON THE TRIBAL LANGUAGE TO CONFOUND THE JAPANESE. THEY USED THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE TO COMMUNICATE TROOP MOVEMENTS AND ORDERS, DEVELOPING A SECRET VOCABULARY THAT RENAMED MILITARY ARMAMENTS AND EQUIPMENT. THE JAPANESE NEVER WERE ABLE TO BREAK THEIR CODE.