Chester Nez last Navajo code talker passes

[Dustbuster]

We've lost another true hero. I had the honor of shaking this mans hand and thanking him several years ago. His story is too important and must be shared...rip old warrior!!


Chester Nez, the last original Navajo Code Talker, has passed away in his Albuquerque home.

Nez was recruited with 28 other Native Americans by the U.S. Marines to create a code the Japanese couldn't crack during World War II.

Nez went into kidney failure Wednesday morning. He was 93.

"Many people have met him," said Judy Avila, a friend and author of Nez's memoir. "When you meet him, you're charmed by him."

He was the last living member of the group.

"There were a lot of people and naysayers who said, 'How can these young Navajo men help us?' But it turned out to be the only unbroken spoken code in modern warfare," said Avila.

After Avila wrote the memoir, so many people showed up to a 2011 book signing in Albuquerque that the store sold out.

"I'm just happy that all these people reading (the memoir) will know what my Navajo people did for this country," said Nez.

After the success of the original 29 code talkers, more were recruited. Avila believes about 400 Navajos were enlisted.

The original 29 Code Talkers were given the Congressional Gold Medal in 2001. When then-President George W. Bush stuck out his hand to congratulate Nez, he stood at attention and saluted the commander-in-chief.

Mobile users: Click HERE to watch Royale's full on-air report

All flags on the Navajo Nation will be flown at half-staff until June 8 in honor of Nez.

Nez's public viewing will take place June 9 from 5-8 p.m. at French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE.

A mass will be held June 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 4020 Lomas Blvd. NE. A graveside service will be held at the Santa Fe National Cemetery from 1:30-2:15 p.m.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 of course it ate my spelling.

[Jonnin]

It sounded like there were additional recruits (a few hundred?  Yours said 4, another I read said over 2, no one seems to know details) after the inital group, some of those may still be alive (unclear?).   Regardless, whoever thunk this up deserves a medal; it was a *great* idea.   I am glad he was able to live a long, full life and that he was allowed to discuss his role and write his book to get the history down.    Sounded like a dangerous job, more than I would have guessed until reading deeper.

 

Few enough of that era left, and soon none... talk to any you know while you still can. 

Edited June 5, 2014 by Jonnin

[Falcon1]

Rest in peace, Marine.