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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Navajo Nation mourns passing of Code Talker


The Associated Press
      WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Another Navajo Code Talker has died.
    Funeral services are scheduled Saturday for 84-year-old Matthew Martin of Crownpoint, N.M.
    Martin's daughter, Patricia Begay, says her father died at his home Monday after a lengthy illness.
    Martin was part of an elite group of Navajo Marines who confounded the Japanese during World War II by transmitting messages in their native language.
    The Code Talkers took part in every assault the Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. Their work was declassified in 1968.
    Martin received a Congressional Silver Medal in recognition of his service in 2001.
    He is the fourth Code Talker to die in the past five weeks.
   

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