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sarisataka

(18,220 posts)
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 07:53 PM Jun 2014

A hero has passed...

Last of Original Group of Navajo Code Talkers Dies
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The last of the 29 Navajos who developed a code that stumped the Japanese during World War II has died.

Chester Nez, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died Wednesday morning of kidney failure, said Judy Avila, who helped Nez write his memoirs. He was 93.

Before hundreds of men from the Navajo Nation became Code Talkers, 29 Navajos were recruited to develop the code based on the then-unwritten Navajo language. Nez was in 10th grade when he enlisted, keeping his decision a secret from his family and lying about his age, as did many others.

"It's one of the greatest parts of history that we used our own native language during World War II," Nez told The Associated Press in 2010. "We're very proud of it."
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/last-original-group-navajo-code-talkers-dies-n122606

Despite all of the wrongs, when they were needed the Navajo and other Natives stepped forward when called.
RIP
46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A hero has passed... (Original Post) sarisataka Jun 2014 OP
R.I.P. pinboy3niner Jun 2014 #1
R.I.P. mtasselin Jun 2014 #2
This man certainly is a true American hero. Jenoch Jun 2014 #4
RIP L0oniX Jun 2014 #3
Cross easy, Warrior. nolabear Jun 2014 #5
Well put Alex P Notkeaton Jun 2014 #16
I heard on the radio (so no link) that they weren't allowed to tell anybody till 2001 renate Jun 2014 #6
+a zillion. nt laundry_queen Jun 2014 #21
IIRC sarisataka Jun 2014 #22
True heroes indeed. pintobean Jun 2014 #7
peace BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2014 #8
Peace, indeed. mrsadm Jun 2014 #9
Now that's a real patriot smallcat88 Jun 2014 #10
RIP burrowowl Jun 2014 #11
a most excellent point niyad Jun 2014 #12
RIP nt kelliekat44 Jun 2014 #13
a true hero, indeed. may his spirit be at peace. niyad Jun 2014 #14
Interesting video: Tanuki Jun 2014 #15
I'm frequently around fascilities opperated by our regional Native American tribe, The Nez Perce. brewens Jun 2014 #17
this might help: niyad Jun 2014 #18
We El Shaman Jun 2014 #19
Welcome to DU, El Shaman! calimary Jun 2014 #36
Yes a Hero ALBliberal Jun 2014 #20
Thank you for your service, Mr. Nez, and Rest In Peace... elzenmahn Jun 2014 #23
Visualizing Iwillnevergiveup Jun 2014 #24
Oh my... Iwillnevergiveup Jun 2014 #25
Thank you, Mr. Nez... nikto Jun 2014 #26
Semper Fi, Mr. Nez eom mrmpa Jun 2014 #27
Two interesting books on the men. whistler162 Jun 2014 #28
K&R DeSwiss Jun 2014 #29
Beautiful! PADemD Jun 2014 #30
De nada. DeSwiss Jun 2014 #43
I use Nakai's music for group meditations. Never fails to please people. KittyWampus Jun 2014 #34
This is WUNNNNNNNNNNNNderful! calimary Jun 2014 #37
De nada. DeSwiss Jun 2014 #42
Wonderful sarisataka Jun 2014 #38
It is my understanding in the Navajo traditions..... DeSwiss Jun 2014 #41
Beautiful dbackjon Jun 2014 #39
k&r thanks for posting. nm rhett o rick Jun 2014 #31
They did all they could to save our sorry asses when they could have rightfully abandoned mountain grammy Jun 2014 #32
Yeah, no kidding! No kidding. calimary Jun 2014 #35
That is beautiful, thank you. mountain grammy Jun 2014 #44
Images of a hero from the Greatest Generation... FailureToCommunicate Jun 2014 #33
Kicked and recommended a whole bunch! Enthusiast Jun 2014 #40
And in "gratitude" for the Navajos' service, Art_from_Ark Jun 2014 #45
Semper Fi and rest in peace, Chester. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #46

mtasselin

(666 posts)
2. R.I.P.
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 08:28 PM
Jun 2014

The death of this man will go unnoticed by 99.9999 percent of Americans and that is truly a shame. A true American Hero and Rest In Peace.

 

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)
4. This man certainly is a true American hero.
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 08:46 PM
Jun 2014

What is intersting is that there were code talkers from several American Indian tribes.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_talker

renate

(13,776 posts)
6. I heard on the radio (so no link) that they weren't allowed to tell anybody till 2001
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 08:51 PM
Jun 2014

Can you imagine being, basically, one of the people who saved the world and you couldn't tell anybody for all those years?

And how grateful we should all be, especially considering how Native Americans have been treated by our government. Their decision to step up was true grace.

sarisataka

(18,220 posts)
22. IIRC
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 11:33 PM
Jun 2014

the Code Talkers were second only to the Manhattan Project in considering the importance of keeping a program secret

brewens

(13,400 posts)
17. I'm frequently around fascilities opperated by our regional Native American tribe, The Nez Perce.
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 10:03 PM
Jun 2014

You can't be around them much without noticing that it at least looks like their rate of military service is relatively high compared to everywhere else I go. Next time I see a military recruiter, I'm going to try and remember to ask how he does with the tribe. I bet pretty well.

calimary

(80,700 posts)
36. Welcome to DU, El Shaman!
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 12:38 PM
Jun 2014

Glad you're here. THIS is the true patriotism. Not the poseur type with their teabag-festooned toys and costume-play hats. THIS is the true patriotism. Remarkable story. THIS makes me feel proud. The other chickenshit types make me feel ashamed.

ALBliberal

(2,304 posts)
20. Yes a Hero
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 10:58 PM
Jun 2014

A reminder of the moral center. Our current political discourse seems so frivolous as I read about this man his journey and what he gave to our country.

calimary

(80,700 posts)
37. This is WUNNNNNNNNNNNNderful!
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 12:45 PM
Jun 2014

THANK YOU for posting this, DeSwiss! They used to use music like this in the cool-down period after cardio class. It was just so wonderful!!! Keeping it. I went to the Youtube version and bookmarked that whole page of R. Carlos Nakai. The tribes always seem to know best. Wonderful. JUST WONDERFUL!!!!

 

DeSwiss

(27,137 posts)
41. It is my understanding in the Navajo traditions.....
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:37 PM
Jun 2014

...that a warrior who leaves the protection of the four sacred mountains must have the Blessing Way Ceremony and this song is played and sung by the Hatałii (Medicine Man) and the family members the clan has chosen to do the blessing.

- He's had this ceremony once I assume, when he left in WWII. And now he leaves again for the final time in this world.....

Protection ceremonies, especially the Blessing Way Ceremony, are used for Navajo who leave the boundaries of the four sacred mountains. It is used extensively for Navajo warriors or soldiers going to war. Upon return, the person receives an Enemy Way Ceremony, or Nidáá', to get rid of the evil elements in the body, and to restore balance in his or her life. This is important for Navajo warriors or soldiers returning from battle. Warriors or soldiers often suffer spiritual or psychological damage from participating in warfare, and the Enemy Way Ceremony helps restore harmony to the person, mentally and emotionally. link
 

dbackjon

(6,578 posts)
39. Beautiful
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 03:24 PM
Jun 2014

R Carlos Nakai was born and raised in the sight of the west mountain, the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff.
One of our celebrated fellow NAU students.


NAU also has a nice statue of a Code Talker by famed Native Artist RC Gorman. Gorman was an NAU alum and son of one of the original code talkers

mountain grammy

(26,571 posts)
32. They did all they could to save our sorry asses when they could have rightfully abandoned
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 10:04 AM
Jun 2014

America like America abandoned them after first trying to annihilate their people.

It amazes me when oppressed people step up to serve the very country oppressing them and I thank them for their service.

calimary

(80,700 posts)
35. Yeah, no kidding! No kidding.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 12:36 PM
Jun 2014

THAT is a patriot. Not some aging slob with a three-cornered hat from the local costume shop, with tea bags stapled on from the rim of it. So glad sarisataka posted this. Keeping this entire thread! The music in the video DeSwiss posted upthread is so incredibly beautiful and healing! Here it is again. Check out that whole YouTube page. Comes as a most welcome antidote to the shrieking idiocy we're forced to slog through these days.

HIGHLY recommended!!!

#t=14

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)
45. And in "gratitude" for the Navajos' service,
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 02:02 AM
Jun 2014

they, and the neighboring Hopi tribe, were apparently tricked 20 years later into signing a lease to mine coal at one of their sacred places, Black Mesa:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mesa_Peabody_Coal_controversy

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