Gallup in McKinley County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Navajo Code Talkers' Mural

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 22, 2016

1. Navajo Code Talkers' Mural Marker

Inscription.
This mural shows the Navajo Code Talkers, U.S. Marines in World War II, who defended this country with the sacred Navajo language, bringing the Code Alphabet home from war to the future generations as a symbol to perpetuate the Navajo language and Navajo culture. The mural was painted by Be Sargent in 2001.

Navajo Code Talker Alphabet
A=wol-la-chee (ant) • B=shush (bear) • C=moasi (cat) • D=be (deer) • E=dzeh (elk) • F=ma-e (fox) • G=klizzie (goat) • H=lin (horse) • I=tkin (ice) • J=tkele-cho-gi (jackass) • K=klizzie-yazzie (kid) • L=dibeh-yazzie (lamb) • M=na-as-tso-si (mouse) • N=ncsh-chee (nut) • O=ne-ahs-jsh • (owl) • P=bi-sodih (pig) • Q=ca-yeilth (quiver) • R=gah (rabbit) • S=dibeh (sheep) • T= han-zie (turkey) • U=no-da-ih (Ute) • V=a-keh-di-glini (victor) • W=gloe-ih (weasel) • X=al-an-as-dzoh (x) • Y=tsah-as-zih (yucca) • Z=besh-do-gliz (zinc)

Note: The Alphabet was only a part of the Code which had over 400 terms. This is the way the Navajo words were spelled during World War II.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Native Americans • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II.

Location. 35° 31.653′ N, 108° 44.559′ W. Marker is in Gallup, New

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Mexico, in McKinley County. Marker is on South 2nd Street (New Mexico Route 610) north of West Coal Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is mounted above eye-level at the northeast corner of this building, facing South 2nd Street. The subject mural, which covers most of the east side of the building, is just to the left of this marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 West Coal Avenue, Gallup NM 87301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hoist (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gallup's Neon (about 400 feet away); Coal Car (about 400 feet away); Balloon Rally (about 400 feet away); Women's Multicultural Mural (about 500 feet away); The Rex Hotel (about 500 feet away); Main Street USA (about 600 feet away); Gallup's Brief History (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gallup.

Also see . . .
1. Navajo Code Talker Mural. Visit Gallup website entry:
These United States Marines devised a code using their sacred Navajo language. The code was never broken and helped to win a victory in World War II. The mural depicts the code being passed on to the children by the Code Talkers symbolizing the perpetuation of the Navajo language. You will be able to find all of the twentysix letters of the alphabet represented by the animals and things that the Code Talkers are passing on to the children. (Submitted on April 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Navajo Code Talkers Marker image. Click for full size.

2. Navajo Code Talkers Marker

2. Navajo Code Talkers. Thought Co. website entry:
Recruiters visited the Navajo reservation and selected the first 30 code talkers (one dropped out, so 29 started the program). Many of these young Navajos had never been off the reservation, making their transition to military life even more difficult. Yet they persevered. They worked night and day helping to create the code and to learn it. The program proved successful and soon the U.S. Marine Corps authorized unlimited recruiting for the Navajo code talkers program. The entire Navajo nation consisted of 50,000 people and by the end of the war 420 Navajo men worked as code talkers. (Submitted on April 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Navajo Code Talkers Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 22, 2016

3. Navajo Code Talkers Mural

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 294 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.