When was Navajo code talker duty really known

[madmickey]

saw a documentary on Canadian History channel and it said the Navajo code talker were only declassified in 1969. It then said the lack of acknowledgement was a hardship because it came so late. I remember reading about Navajo using their language before than. In addition in the 1955 movie Battle cry there was a scene with Navajo phone talker


"Jonas Applegarth .... Pvt. Lighttower (Navajo Phonetalker)"

Battle Cry (1955)
Did the documentary fail to acknowledge that use of Navajo using their language was known, only the use of a special code was classified?

[Naskra]

The codebook was declassified in 1968.  The code talker program was never a secret.

[madmickey]

Naskra
Thanks
The documentary made a big deal out lack of recognition of Navajo codetalker until 1968 and how unfair it was. As I thought use as Navajo language by the USMC was well know before then.

[Drex]

And Nicolas Cage was in a terrible pseudo-historical movie "Windtalkers" ( or Windpasser depending on your liking of the movie) about the Navajo codetalkers. The Navajoes deserve better.