IOWA CITY (AP) — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved Congressional Gold Commemorative Medals for all Native American code talkers, including those of Iowa’s Meskwaki.

The Meskwakis, whose settlement is based in Tama County, were among those from 18 tribes who used their language as a secret code during World War II.

The U.S. military used the code to communicate enemy troop movements, direct artillery fire and other secret information through walkie-talkies. The codes were never cracked by enemy forces.

The Senate bill recognizes the contribution of the code talkers in World War I and World War II.