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Pacific during the war. The Navajos were recruited to
develop a language, based on their native tongue, that
the Japanese could not understand.
The code
talkers were featured in the 2002 movie "Windtalkers."
June was 16
when a recruiter came to the Navajo reservation in
Arizona seeking potential Code Talkers.
Mrs. June said,
"They told him he had to get his parents to sign
for him. He took a piece of paper, wrote his dad's name
on it and returned it to them. They selected him and off
he went."
June was among
35 Navajos selected for the job. Twenty-nine made it
through boot camp.
After a few
months of training, June was transported to the Pacific
rim, where he was involved in seven major battles and
crossed the equator eight times.
June, wearing a
leather Marine Corps jacket and red hat, downplayed his
role in the war.
"They
asked me to do it and I did it."
Mrs. June said
her husband's role in the war has gone virtually
unnoticed until just a few years ago.
In 2001,
President Bush honored the then-four surviving Code
Talkers in a celebration in Washington, D.C. At that
time, he also awarded the men a Congressional gold
medal.
A year later,
"Windtalkers" was released and the Code
Talkers received more recognition.
"He really
did a lot of remarkable things," said Mrs. June.
"It's a shame that it's taken this long for these
men to be recognized."
She said she
and her husband were honored to have been asked to
participate in Avondale's veteran's activities.
"We thank
you for honoring our family and the Navajo nation,"
she said. "This is a reflection of your generosity
and love for those throughout the world."
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