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BumRushDaShow

(142,278 posts) Mon Oct 21, 2024, 03:37 AM Oct 21

John Kinsel Sr., one of the last Navajo Code Talkers who served in WWII, dies at 107

Source: PBS News Hour/AP

Oct 20, 2024 4:43 PM EDT

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — John Kinsel Sr., one of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers who transmitted messages during World War II based on the tribe’s native language, has died. He was 107.

Navajo Nation officials in Window Rock announced Kinsel’s death on Saturday. Tribal President Buu Nygren has ordered all flags on the reservation to be flown at half-staff until Oct. 27 at sunset to honor Kinsel.

“Mr. Kinsel was a Marine who bravely and selflessly fought for all of us in the most terrifying circumstances with the greatest responsibility as a Navajo Code Talker,” Nygren said in a statement Sunday. With Kinsel’s death, only two original Navajo Code Talkers are still alive: Former Navajo Chairman Peter MacDonald and Thomas H. Begay.

Hundreds of Navajos were recruited by the Marines to serve as Code Talkers during the war, transmitting messages based on their then-unwritten native language.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/john-kinsel-sr-one-of-the-last-navajo-code-talkers-who-served-in-wwii-dies-at-107

11 replies

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John Kinsel Sr., one of the last Navajo Code Talkers who served in WWII, dies at 107 (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Oct 21 OP

Thank you for your service. R.I.P. sinkingfeeling Oct 21 #1

a Great American! A Great NATIVE American! lastlib Oct 21 #2

Chi miigwetch for helping to keep my dad alive during that awful time, Sir. catbyte Oct 21 #3

Rest In Peace gademocrat7 Oct 21 #4

Movies, documentaries, about code talkers NJCher Oct 21 #5

Thx! Would like to watch one! LeftInTX Oct 21 #11

R.I.P. Marthe48 Oct 21 #6

There's An Excellent Memoire... GB_RN Oct 21 #7

A hero and patriot Bayard Oct 21 #8

RIP John, thank you for your services. republianmushroom Oct 21 #9

RIP Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Oct 21 #10

sinkingfeeling

(52,993 posts)

1. Thank you for your service. R.I.P.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 05:08 AM

Oct 21

lastlib

(24,905 posts)

2. a Great American! A Great NATIVE American!

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:27 AM

Oct 21

Sad to lose him--such important history.

May the Great Spirit receive you kindly, Sir. R.I.P.

catbyte

(35,766 posts)

3. Chi miigwetch for helping to keep my dad alive during that awful time, Sir.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:33 AM

Oct 21

Rest in peace to a true hero.

gademocrat7

(11,165 posts)

4. Rest In Peace

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:36 AM

Oct 21

Mr. Kinsey. Thank you for your service.

NJCher

(37,868 posts)

5. Movies, documentaries, about code talkers

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:37 AM

Oct 21

Windtalkers
A 2002 war film starring Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, and Peter Stormare, about two Marines protecting Navajo code talkers during World War II. The film received mixed reviews and some Navajo veterans said it was only 75% accurate.

Navajo Code Talkers: A Journey of Remembrance
A 2017 documentary about six Navajo code talkers who return to the Pacific islands where they fought in World War II. The film features interviews with the code talkers about their experiences.

Navajo Code Talkers of World War II
A 2018 documentary that tells the stories of six Navajo code talkers who returned to the Pacific islands with their families. The film was filmed on location in Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Guam, and Saipan. You can stream Navajo Code Talkers of World War II on Amazon Video or Hoopla.

LeftInTX

(29,998 posts)

11. Thx! Would like to watch one!

Reply to NJCher (Reply #5)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 11:15 PM

Oct 21

ETA: Found this on YouTube

Marthe48

(19,012 posts)

6. R.I.P.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 06:40 AM

Oct 21

Thank you for your service

GB_RN

(3,156 posts)

7. There's An Excellent Memoire...

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 07:46 AM

Oct 21

Of/By one of the original Navajo code talkers, Chester Nez, “Code Talker.”

I knew the CTs were involved in the Pacific, but was not aware that they were in the Pacific island battles right from the start. None of Chester’s contemporaries, whose memoirs I have read, ever mention the code talkers: Not the prolific writer, Robert Leckie (“Helmet for My Pillow: From Paris Island to the Pacific”, or his historical works, including, “Challenge for the Pacific: Guadalcanal: The Turning Point of the War”, or “Okinawa: A Decorated Marine's Account of the Last Battle of World War II”), nor Eugene Sledge (“With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa”), nor even Matthew Rozell and his series “Things Our Fathers Saw” (where he gathers first hand accounts from sailors, Marines, airmen and soldiers who fought on all fronts).

All are excellent books, but it’s a shame that the contributions of Chester and his fellow Marine Corps Navajo Code Talkers are ever mentioned.

Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge’s memoires are the basis for Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s mini series, “The Pacific”.
Not one code talker is even mentioned here, either.