One Of The Last Remaining Navajo Code Talkers, Who Played Crucial Role In WWII, Dies At 107
The famous American who delivered unbreakable codes during combat with the Japanese during World War II looks on before the start of the annual Veterans Day parade in New York City on November 11, 2009. A member of the elite Navajo Code Talkers Marine Corps. (Photo courtesy of Mario Tama/Getty Images)
OAN Staff James Myers 8:35am – Monday, October 18, 2024
One of the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers, who sent direct messages in Navajo-based codes during World War II and helped ensure Allied victory, has died.
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John Kinsell Sr., one of the surviving Navajo Code Talkers who helped lead the Allied forces to victory in World War II, has died. Kinsel's personal story of military service is one of those archived by the library's Veterans History Project (VHP). ➡️ https://t.co/ZiblTnOLGypic.twitter.com/Y5LV8fnu8x
Tributes have poured in from family members and members of the military for John Kinsel Sr., who died on Saturday at the age of 107 and was considered a brave and distinguished man.
“On behalf of all Navajo Nation members, Navajo veterans, military personnel, First Lady Jasmine Blackwater Nygren, and myself, we extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Mr. Kinsel's family,” said Boo Nygren of the Navajo Nation. the president announced. social media.
“Mr. Kinsel was a Marine who assumed the greatest responsibility as a code talker for the Navajo Nation and fought bravely and selflessly for all of us in the most horrific conditions. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps during the war. “I fought alongside my brothers to protect the Navajo Nation, for America, and to protect the Navajo Nation,” he added.
#RIP John Kinsel Sr. passed away on Saturday at the age of 107. Kinsel was one of the last remaining Navajo code talkers in the U.S. Marine Corps who developed unbreakable codes using the Diné language. He enlisted in 1942 and served with the 3rd Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima. pic.twitter.com/djd8zdOVrC
Meanwhile, Nygren on Sunday ordered all Navajo Nation flags to be lowered to half-staff and not be flown for an entire week.
The Navajo Code Talkers were a group of Navajo members in the Marine Corps who were responsible for sending coded messages in their native language that even the most skilled Japanese codebreakers could not decipher.
In addition, code talkers transmitted information about troop movements, tactics, and orders. According to the U.S. Navy, they were involved in every Marine attack in the Pacific between 1942 and 1945, and provided critical intelligence for the capture of Iwo Jima.
This code was based on Navajo, a very unique language, and assigned Navajo words to English key phrases and military tactics.
“This system allows code talkers to translate three lines of English in 20 seconds instead of the 30 minutes that was typical with existing code breakers,” he said. intel government.
This code required the development of military terms that did not exist among the Navajo people, such as “beschlow,” meaning iron fish for submarines, and “dahetich,” meaning hummingbird for fighter jets.
Kinsell's son, Ronald Kinsell, informed the president of his father's death in a statement, saying:
“Chey passed away in his sleep early this morning,” he said. “His parents and relatives came to pick him up early today because the wind was blowing. He used to ask, 'Did it snow?' He was waiting for the first snow to fall in order to embark on a spiritual journey. This morning, his footprints disappeared in the humidity. ”
“He lived a very long, full, and fulfilling life. What he and the other Code Talkers accomplished changed the course of history and will be remembered forever, and I am honored to be part of his legend and greatness. “I will continue to talk about it,” he added.
Navajo Code Talkers were born in Cove, Arizona and never left their homeland, attending many ceremonies and events honoring Code Talkers and sharing their stories with others about their time serving in the war. Navajo Times Reported.
After graduating from high school, Kinsel enlisted in the Marine Corps in the fall of 1942. From 1943 to 1945, Kinsel served in the Pacific at Iwo Jima, Guam, and Bougainville Island.
According to a Department of Veterans Affairs biography, Kinsell played a key role in “developing codes and transcribing messages.”
In addition, Kinsel received the Purple Heart Award in 1989 and the Congressional Silver Medal for his work in 2001.
Meanwhile, the only two remaining Navajo Code Talkers are former Navajo Nation Chairman Peter McDonald and Thomas H. Begay.
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