In 2019, the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) planned to start traveling in SE Alaska to award the families of the Tlingit Code Talkers with the Congressional Medals along with the ANB
Resolution #21-01 recognizes the valor, mettle, and honor of these men that gave everything for their country, family, and clan. Finally, in June 2021 ANB was able to come out and deliver those items
in person.
Our Commander was invited by ANB Camp 1 President (Peter Karras) and nephew of the Code Talkers brothers, Mark and Harvey Jacobs, to speak.
Commander Vince Winter:
In 2019, the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) planned to start traveling in SE Alaska to award
the families of the Tlingit Code Talkers with the Congressional Medals along with the ANB
Resolution #21-01 recognizing the valor, mettle and honor of these men that gave everything for
country, family and clan. Finally, in June 2021 ANB was able to come out and deliver those items
in person. Our Commander was invited by ANB Camp 1 President (Peter Karras) and nephew of
the Code Talkers brothers, Mark and Harvey Jacobs, to speak. Today we honor the great bravery and skill of
Alaska Native American military heroes in the course of American history.
Alaska Native Americans have demonstrated outstanding valor on the battlefield, and
today we remember the vital role they played as code talkers during World War II. These individuals
embraced their cultural heritage and used it to prevent highly-sensitive wartime messages from being
intercepted by the enemy. Because of their service and unique contributions, countless lives were saved
and victory was claimed more quickly by the Allies. This ceremony inspires great pride in the First Nation
American hearts. But for all Americans, it should serve as a reminder of true bravery and sacrifice.
During the war, the Japanese had cracked every code the United States used, but when the Marines turned
to Navajo, Tlingit, and other Native American recruits to develop and implement a secret military language,
they created the only unbroken codes in modern warfare and helped assure victory for the United States
over Japan in the South Pacific. During 48 hours on Iwo Jima, it is said that over 800 Native-language battle
communications were received and translated. It took seconds, at a time when decoding by machine could
take half an hour. These men never discussed their top-secret role, even decades after the war ended, in
liberating millions of people and saving the lives of countless American soldiers.
These American heroes are shining examples of the long and proud history of Native Americans' military
service to our country. Many Americans are familiar with the story of the Navajo code talkers, but until very
recently, no one knew that Tlingit code talkers also used the Tlingit language as a code that the enemy was
never able to crack. Even the families of the Tlingit code talkers did not know of their secret service, but
today we recognize the contributions of these 5 veterans from the Killer Whale Clan and specifically here in
Sitka the heroic accomplishments of Harvey Jacobs and his brother Mark Jacobs Jr. Using the languages
of their people, these brave soldiers created unbreakable codes that aided in the Allied victory and saved
the lives of many of their brothers-in-arms. Upon returning home, the service of the Code Talkers was kept
secret to protect those programs. As a result, these veterans faced the hardship of never being able to tell
their families and communities the details of their valiant service. Today, we offer this long-overdue honor
in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to our Nation.
