THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS, JOHN KINSEL AMONG THEM, WERE CRITICAL TO THE VICTORY AT IWO JIMA

Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel, Sr. turns 106 

 

Arizona Public Radio

February 1, 2023

                                                                    John Kinsel, Sr.

 

Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel, Sr. turned 106 over the weekend. He celebrated his birthday at his home in Lukachukai, Arizona.

More than 400 Navajo Code Talkers served in World War II and helped win the war by using the Navajo language to create an unbreakable code for radio communication.

Kinsel served during World War II in the 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division from Oct. 1942 to Jan. 1946, taking part in the Battles of Guam and Iwo Jima. He was awarded the Purple Heart in 1989 for his service at Iwo Jima.

This year marked the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Navajo Code Talkers.

Three Code Talkers remain today – Kinsel, Thomas H. Begay, and Peter MacDonald Sr.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

In 2000, Congress passed legislation to honor the Navajo Code Talkers by providing them with special gold and silver Congressional Medals. The gold medals were awarded to the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers that developed the code, while the silver medals were presented to those that served later in the program. 

A wave of Marines begins its drive inland toward Japanese positions at the base of Mt. Suribachi on D-day. 

Marine infantry and tanks attack Japanese positions on rocky Northern Iwo Jima during a direct frontal assault. The explosion seen is an enemy mortar shell. This advance gained 20 yards at a cost of 30 Marines.

 

During the nearly month-long battle for Iwo Jima, six Navajo Code Talker Marines successfully transmitted more than 800 messages without error. Marine leadership noted after the battle that the Code Talkers were critical to the victory at Iwo Jima. At the end of the war, the Navajo Code remained unbroken.