We cut now to war footage of a Navajo code talker transmitting into a walkie talkie. His speech is of course in Navajo.
GREENE
For near three years German and Japanese war minds alike struggled to interpret the US code and learn knowledge of their war plans. But it was to no avail. The little known language, seemed a complete mystery to them. Not once was it ever broken.
We now see ships and carriers in the English Channel as they head towards Normandy beach for the D-Day assault.
GREENE
Operation Overload in June of 1944 was of little knowledge to the German army due to the deceptive use of the Navajo code. English, American and even French forces where able to communicate and exchange plans from generals, captains and all across the respective forces to coordinate the massive attack that is often credited with turning the tide of the war in favor of the Allies. When the great assault of June 6, 1944 hit the French beaches at Normandy, it arrived with the German's little knowledge of it's coming. Thusly after much bloodshed and valiant effort the Allies won the beach, the day and eventually the war. All could not have been possible or done in such secret without the help of The Code Talkers from Northern Arizona.
We see now in war footage once again, of the victorious forces of the Allies as they secure and set up camps on the ridges above Normandy beach.
GREENE
In the assault of Iwa Jima, which is so fantastically remembered in the statue now present in our Nation's capital, code talkers were also instrumental.
War footage now of the landing on Iwa Jima.
GREENE
A code talker, only known as "Evening Bird," because he was often heard singing of home in the evening, was stationed in the third company of a brigade under the command of Brigadier General Joshua Clemens. "Evening Bird's" company was successful in it's landing and after fierce fighting was able to move into a small wheat field west of the main army's line. This was the flank of the United States assault on the Island of Iwa Jima. When the third company was ambushed by Japanese, "Evening Bird" and two others rushed back to the main brigade, under General Clemens and informed him of the assault. Quickly the tides were turned, but just as fast it was learned that the main force of the Japanese army was stationed not far from the third company. With orders from Clemens the entire weight of the army was swung west and overtook the main Japanese force. Their final victory came on a small hill just west of the third company's position. A moment now forever memorialized by that small statue in Washington DC.
We cut now to the Iwa Jima memorial in Washington.
GREENE
It was in fact "Evening Bird" and his two fellow soldiers, who with their radio destroyed in the ambush, rushed back to General Clemens that made this moment possible. "Evening Bird" was eventually killed in the battle that followed his report to General Clemens, but no a memorial stands to mark his heroism.
We cut now to a long shot of the Vietnam wall, stretching across the mall in Washington.
GREENE
In fact no memorial stands to commemorate the more then 15,000 Navajo that served and died often in the very mist of battle during the Second World War. But perhaps such is just for a people who served without reason, except for honor, and whose speech was never understood except by themselves.
We are now back in the large Navajo village. We move though its street and finally come to small graveyard where a few of the returned dead from the great tragedy of World War II are laid to rest. Greene walks into the picture from the left and kneels down by one of the graves.
GREENE
Here is where my grandfather lays. He served under General Patton in the assault on the Elba River in the Spring of 1945. It was the last great fight to retake Europe and my grandfather is often credited as one of the last men killed before V-E Day. He, however is not alone, some 400,000 men died reclaiming this world for freedom in the first war that stretched across the entire world. But it was here in the desert of Northern Arizona where a people of simple custom and unknown language made such a victory wholly possible.
(In Navajo)
Aza Fielfa Dieoa.
Graham smiles wryly at the camera and then looks towards his Grandfather's grave. He bows down once to kiss the brown earth keeping him and then raises to his feet and walks off camera.
We cut to the young Navajo boy we say before. He is running about chasing a young roaeter. The film speed slows down to accentuate his movements as a Navajo song dances across the soundtrack.
FADE TO BLACK.
-UP WORDS-
The End.
-WORDS OUT-
BLACKNESS.
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