(5) A major impediment to Allied operations in 
general, and American operations in particular, was 
the fact that the German forces had deciphered all 
codes used for transmitting information between Al-
lied commands, leading to substantial loss of men 
and materiel during the first year of American ac-
tion. 
(6) Because of the proximity and static nature 
of the battle lines, a method to communicate without 
the knowledge of the enemy was needed. 
(7) An American commander realized the fact 
that he had under his command a number of men 
who spoke a native language. While the use of such 
native languages was discouraged by the American 
Government, the commander sought out and re-
cruited 18 Choctaw Indians to use for transmission 
of field telephone communications during an upcom-
ing campaign. 
(8) Because the language used by the Choctaw 
soldiers in the transmission of information was not 
based on a European language or on a mathematical 
progression, the Germans were unable to understand 
any of the transmissions.
(9) The Choctaw soldiers were placed in dif-
ferent command positions, to achieve the widest pos-
sible area for communications. 
(10) The use of the Choctaw Code Talkers was 
particularly important in the movement of American 
soldiers in October of 1918 (including securing for-
ward and exposed positions), in the protection of 
supplies during American action (including pro-
tecting gun emplacements from enemy shelling), and 
in the preparation for the assault on German posi-
tions in the final stages of combat operations in the 
fall of 1918. 
(11) In the opinion of the officers involved, the 
use of Choctaw Indians to transmit information in 
their native language saved men and munitions, and 
was highly successful. Based on this successful expe-
rience, Choctaw Indians were being withdrawn from 
frontline units for training in transmission of codes 
so as to be more widely used when the war came to 
a halt. 
(12) The Germans never succeeded in breaking 
the Choctaw code. 
(13) This was the first time in modern warfare 
that such transmission of messages in a native
American language was used for the purpose of con-
fusing the enemy. 
(14) This action by members of the Choctaw 
Nation is another example of the commitment of 
American Indians to the defense of our great Nation 
and adds to the proud legacy of such service. 
(15) The Choctaw Nation has honored the ac-
tions of these 18 Choctaw Code Talkers through a 
memorial bearing their names located at the en-
trance of the tribal complex in Durant, Oklahoma. 
SEC. 302. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appro-
priate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the 
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design honoring 
the Choctaw Code Talkers. 
TITLE IV—GENERAL 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 401. MEDALS FOR OTHER CODE TALKERS. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—In addition to 
the gold medals authorized to be presented under section 
102, 202, and 302, the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate 
shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, 
on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate
design to any other Native American Code Talker identi-
fied by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection 
(b) who has not previously received a congressional gold 
medal. 
(b) IDENTIFICATION OF OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN 
CODE TALKERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any Native American mem-
ber of the United States Armed Forces who served 
as a Code Talker in any foreign conflict in which the 
United States was involved during the 20th Century 
shall be eligible for a gold medal under this section. 
(2) DETERMINATION.—Eligibility under para-
graph (1) shall be determined by the Secretary of 
Defense and such Secretary shall establish a list of 
the names of such eligible individuals before the end 
of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 402. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL MEDALS 
UNDER THIS ACT. 
(a) MEDALS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY.—Medals 
authorized by this Act may be awarded posthumously on 
behalf of, and presented to the next of kin or other rep-
resentative of, a Native American Code Talker. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—