via CNN
Chester Nez, last of original Navajo code talkers of World War II, has died.
Chester Nez, the last of the original Navajo code talkers credited with creating an unbreakable code used during World War II, died Wednesday at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Navajo Nation President said. He was 93.
Nez was one of the 29 Navajos recruited by the U.S. Marine Corps to develop the code that would be used by hundreds of code talkers during the war.
“The Navajo Nation flags will all be lowered to half-mast in honor of our hero passing away,” President Ben Shelly said.
Nez was a teenager when he was recruited to develop the code. He was assigned with the other code talkers to the Marine Corps’ 382nd Platoon.
Military authorities chose Navajo as a code language because it was almost impossible for a non-Navajo to learn and had no written form. [ MORE ]
Part of the greatest generation..who we are letting down
“Never has been so much owed…to so few”
I’ve attended 3 Pow Wows. 2 in Rapid City and one in Asheville. Code Talkers, along with veterans and active duty military, were honored at each one during the opening ceremony.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Thank you soldier.
Those guys were genuine heroes! RIP Code Talkers.
Amen to all these sentiments. RIP Code Talkers.
Outstanding.
Rest in Peace, Marine.
Semper Fidelis
The code talkers have quite a legacy. There was a Lakota talker article posted recently at our local newspaper in RC, SD. There are a couple still alive here in western SD.
If anyone has a right to hate America, it is the native Americans. Yet, these fine men stepped up and performed a phenominal service during the war. I salute them.
Well done, good and faithful servant. You’ve earned your rest.
Note to Obummer: This man was an honest to goodness, genuine HERO!!! And I’ll bet my eye teeth Mr. Nez never considered himself one, either.
Like most vets he undoubtedly would tell you the real heroes were the guys who didn’t come home – like those who died trying to find Boo Bergdahl, a sniveling, lying, cowardly deserter. NOT a POW, but a POS!!!
SF Marine
This is the American first, ethnicity second kind of diversity that this country was founded on.
Not the neck tatooed, dope smuggling gangbangers that are flooding the country now.
Godspeed.
RIP