Why were the details of the Code Talkers' work kept a secret for many years after the war?

The correct answer emphasizes that the U.S. military considered the work of the Code Talkers to be highly sensitive. This sensitivity stemmed from the strategic advantage it provided during the war. The unique and complex Navajo language, which was used to create an unbreakable code, was crucial in military communications. Keeping this information secret was essential to protect U.S. military strategies and ensure that adversaries did not gain knowledge of the code, which could potentially compromise operations.

The other options, while they may touch on related themes, do not capture the primary reason for the secrecy as effectively. For instance, while it is true that there may have been concerns about misuse or protecting the Navajo community, these reasons were secondary to the overarching military strategy and national security concerns that guided the decision to keep the details of the Code Talkers’ contributions confidential. Likewise, the notion that information was simply "lost in archives" does not accurately reflect the deliberate choice made by the military to maintain secrecy surrounding the code for decades after the war was over.