President Shelly orders flags at half-staff in honor of Chester Nez

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.— across the Nation to be at half- In 2011, Nez wrote about to serve and they developed Flags across the Navajo Nation staff from sunrise on June 5 his experience with co-author the code that would bewilder will be flown at half-staff in through sunset on June 8. Judith Avila in the book, the Japanese in World War II. honor of the last surviving Nez saw combat as a “Code Talker: The First and Nez was a member of member of the Original 29 Navajo Code Talker at the Only Memoir By One of the Chichiltah and Manuelito Navajo Code Talkers. Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle Original Navajo Code Talkers Chapters. The respective Chester Nez, 93, passed in of Guam, Battle of Peleiu, of WWII.” chapters are saddened with the his sleep on June 4, 2014 in and Battle of Bogainville “During a time in our loss of a larger than life hero Albuquerque, N.M. during World War II. He was Navajo history when our kids of the Navajo Nation. “The Navajo Nation has honorably discharged from the were shipped out to boarding President Shelly said the lost our last living treasure, Marine Corps in 1945. school and forbidden to speak passing of Nez closes another Chester Nez, an original Nez also served in the their native tongue, these chapter in the annals of Navajo member of the Navajo Code Marine Corps Reserves and brave men stepped forward history. Talkers,” said Navajo Nation again saw combat during the to protect our country with “Chester Nez and the rest President Ben Shelly. “We Korean Conflict, according to their ability to speak Navajo,” of the Original 29 now belong send his family and friends his son Michael. President Shelly said. to the ages. We salute their our deepest sympathy and The burial will be at the Nez was a member of the valiant service and memory,” condolences.” Santa Fe National Cemetery U.S. Marine Corps 382nd President Shelly said. President Shelly issued a on Monday or Tuesday, Platoon. The Original 29 were -30- proclamation to have flags Michael said. the first Navajo Code Talkers