The war in the Pacific ended in September 1945.

Navajo Code Talkers who had survived returned to the United States, to their families, to the Navajo Nation.

They came home with the same military service record as other veterans.

They were entitled to the same recognition ceremonies, the same discharge procedures, the same formal acknowledgments of service.

And they returned to a reservation community that was genuinely proud of the men who had served — the Navajo Nation had produced a remarkable number of military volunteers relative to its population, and the returning veterans were welcomed with the ceremonies and acknowledgments that Diné culture provided for warriors returning from combat.

But there was one thing the Code Talkers could not do.