In May 1942, the first 29 Navajo recruits attended boot camp, and later creating the code at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California. Twenty five were sent to the Pacific into action whilst four remained behind to teach the code. The original twenty-nine Code Talkers were honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. Their names are:

1. John Brown, Jr.
2. Alan Dale June
3. Chester Nez
4. Lloyd Oliver
5. Joe Palmer
6. Charlie Y. Begay
7. Roy L. Begay
8. Samuel H. Begay
9. John Ashi Benally
10. Wilsie H. Bitsie
11. Cosey S. Brown
12. John Chee
13. Bejamin Cleveland
14. Eugene R. Crawford
15. David Curley
16. Lowell S. Damon
17. George H. Dennison
18. James Dixon
19. Carl N. Gorman
20. Oscar B. Ilthma
21. Alfred Leonard
22. Johnny R. Manuelito
23. William McCabe
24. Jack Nez
25. Frank Denny Pete
26. Nelson S. Thompson
27. Harry Tsosie
28. John Willie
29. William Dean Wilson