One of original Navajo Code Talkers dies in Ariz.

[Kadie]

One of original Navajo Code Talkers dies in Ariz.
– 14 mins ago

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Allen Dale June, one of the 29 original Navajo Code Talkers who confounded the Japanese during World War II by transmitting messages in their native language, has died. He was 91.

June died of natural causes Wednesday night at a veterans hospital in Prescott, his wife, Virginia, told The Associated Press on Thursday.

His health had been failing since earlier this year when he was hospitalized for a urinary tract infection and kidney failure because he wasn't drinking enough water, his wife said. He was hospitalized again two months ago after visiting family on the Navajo Nation and was transferred from a Flagstaff hospital to Prescott, where he was under round-the-clock care.

The Code Talkers took part in every assault the Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. They sent thousands of messages without error on Japanese troop movements, battlefield tactics and other communications critical to the war's ultimate outcome.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100910/ap_on_re_us/us_obit_code_talker_3


This undated image provided by Virginia June, shows Allen Dale June, who is one of the last three surviving members of the Original 29 Navajo Code Talkers(AP Photo/Courtesy of Virginia June)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. strange.

I thought I had read a news story a couple of months ago that the last living code talker had died.

[Autumn Colors]

5. That was a Lakota code talker you're thinking of (different language)

article here:
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_9668c6fe-7a8a-11df-ab6b-001cc4c002e0.html

Wolf Guts, 86, the last surviving Oglala Lakota code talker, died Wednesday afternoon at the South Dakota State Veterans Home in Hot Springs.

A Native American code talker from World War II, Wolf Guts helped defeat Axis forces by transmitting strategic military messages in his native language, which the Japanese and Germans couldn't translate.

"He's the last surviving code talker from the whole (Lakota) nation. It's going to be a little like the passing of an era," Doyle said.

The 450 Navajo code talkers were the most famous group of Native American soldiers to radio messages from the battlefields, but 15 other tribes used their languages to aid the Allied efforts in World War II. Wolf Guts was one of 11 Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Native American code talkers from South Dakota.

[Froward69]

10. BY using different Native Languages in different theaters

It added another level of protection and security to the plan of using Native languages. as well as certain languages were used for certain levels of security. further perplexing enemy code breakers.
just knowing where the Lakota or Navaho languages were being used was top secret.

ON edit / :patriot: RIP SIR! :patriot:

[Ken Burch]

2. The Code Talkers were heroes who were, for the most part, never recognized as such while alive

They weren't even allowed to tell people in their villages what they'd done to help save this country during World War II(despite the fact that allowing them to do so would've posed NO security risk to the U.S. at all).

They were given few, if any medals.

Most of them died dirt poor.

I'm sure the fact that they were Native American had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with them getting this treatment.

:eyes:

[lonestarnot]

3. Ahhh. Thank you for your service sir.

:patriot:

[burrowowl]

4. Thank you for your service and

RIP

There are not many left!

[demodonkey]

6. I salute your service, sir...

...RIP and thank you.

:patriot:

[Tsiyu]

7. K&R

American Indian culture is irrelevant to some.

The Marines found one facet of that culture useful and relevant.

May you join all your relations Allen

[laughingliberal]

8. K & R nt

[LiberalAndProud]

9. ..

A Navajo Legend About Death
A Navajo legend explains why death exists in the world: One day, the Navajo people placed an animal hide in water. If it did not sink, then no one would ever die. However, if the hide sank into the water, then death would be part of life.

The Navajo did not watch the hide, but turned away from it instead. While their backs were turned, a coyote threw some rocks on top of the hide. Of course, this made it sink down into the water. The coyote's reason was that if no one ever died, there would come a point at which there wouldn't be any more land on which the people would live. This is the reason death comes for all of us eventually.

Good journey, Allen Dale June.

[rasputin1952]

11. Thank you sir, your service saved many lives...

May where your spirit dwells be warm and inviting, cool grass beneath your feet, crystal clear water in the streams and the comfort of those that have gone on before you.

:patriot: