Intelligence

DATE=7-26-01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH/CODE TALKERS (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-278682

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush has honored a group of Native Americans whose complex language offered U-S military an unbreakable code that helped defeat Japan in World War Two. Mr. Bush bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal the nation's highest honor on surviving members of the so-called Navajo code talkers at a ceremony in U-S Congress. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports.

TEXT: Twenty-nine Navajo Indians made up the original group of Navajo talkers during World War Two.

Only five survive today, four of whom attended the Capitol ceremony. The fifth was represented by his son. Various family members represented the other 24.

The group had devised a code that blended Navajo and English translation and confounded Japanese code breakers. The code talkers took part in every assault the U-S Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945.

President Bush underscored their important role in the conflict:

/// BUSH ACTUALITY ///

In war, using their native language, they relayed secret messages that turned the course of battle. At home, they carried for decades the secret of their own heroism. Today, we give these exceptional Marines the recognition they earned so long ago.

/// END ACT ///

Speaking on behalf of his fellow code talkers, John Brown accepted the honor.

/// BROWN ACTUALITY ///

Our language is older than the Constitution of the United States. I am proud that, at this point in American history, our native language and the code we developed came to the aid of our country, saving American lives and helping the others of the U-S forces defeat the enemy.

/// END ACT ///

Also on hand for the ceremony was American actor Nicholas Cage, who is starring in a film about the code talkers called 'Windtalkers,' to be released in November. (SIGNED)

NEB/DT/MAR