The idea of using Native American languages as a basis for protecting U.S. military communication originated by chance during World War I with Company D of the 141st Infantry Division. The company enlisted the help of eight Choctaw Indians and sixty-eight Cherokee Indians to send messages in their native languages by telephone (Watkins; Meadows). 

The soldiers tasked with sending the messages did nothing more than use their native language because that alone was enough to keep the information from being understood by the enemy (Winterman). One limitation encountered was the fact that the Choctaw language didn’t have military terms (Winterman). At the time, since there was little information published about the Choctaw language, the enemy wasn’t able to decrypt or understand the messages. However, the method wasn’t very secure (Watkins; Winterman).  ​​​​​​​

“The United States must prepare itself and really prepare immediately. Of course, I’m not in favor of war, but if the peace of the United States is molested, we must be prepared to defend ourselves” 

-Joseph Oklahombi (Choctaw Indian Code).

                      "Code Talker tribes in WWI" (Native Words)

                      "Code Talker tribes in WWII" (Native Words)