Code Talkers

Here’s an excerpt from ‘A Brood of Vipers’, the second book in the Dax Hunter Files:

Along with his twin brother, Waya could easily have been lured into an adulterated life of crime, drugs and cheap booze. But thanks to the firm guidance of the boys’ father and uncle—both of whom were proud Navajo Code Talkers—Waya and Dyami Thunderclaw grew up with a noble sense of heritage and culture.

Who or what were the Code Talkers?

In 1942, twenty-nine Navajo recruits transformed their native tongue into an unbreakable weapon. By folding their complex language into military terms, they created a living code that baffled Japanese cryptographers throughout the Pacific.

Silencing the skeptics, they soon became known as the Code Talkers.

Whether they were enciphering or deciphering messages, the Code Talkers’ speed was legendary. Signals that previously took half an hour to encode were relayed by Navajo voices in mere seconds, providing the U.S. Marines with a vital edge during the heat of battle. Adding another layer of impenetrability, the Code Talkers memorized the entire system, obviating the need for machines or written keys. Their service proved that an ancient, once-suppressed language could literally shape the face of history.

Beyond just a military footnote, their story is one of intellectual bravery: by combining heritage with modern warfare, the Code Talkers turned cultural identity into a shield for freedom.

At the time of writing, there are only two surviving members of the original four hundred Code Talkers: Thomas H. Begay and Peter MacDonald. Celebrating their crucial WWII service, the Code Talkers were honored at an event in Gallup, New Mexico in July 2025. Rendered by a 500-drone formation, the picture shows a Code Talker on bended knee.