WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — John Kinsel Sr., one of the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers who played a vital role in World War II by transmitting messages in his native language, has passed away at the age of 107. His death was announced on Saturday by officials of the Navajo Nation in Window Rock.
In a statement on Sunday, Tribal President Buu Nygren expressed deep gratitude for Kinsel’s service, saying, “Mr. Kinsel was a Marine who bravely and selflessly fought for all of us in the most terrifying circumstances, taking on the great responsibility of being a Navajo Code Talker.”
In honor of Kinsel’s contributions, President Nygren has ordered that all flags on the reservation be flown at half-staff until sunset on October 27.
With Kinsel’s passing, only two original Navajo Code Talkers remain: Former Navajo Chairman Peter MacDonald and Thomas H. Begay. During World War II, hundreds of Navajo individuals were recruited by the Marine Corps to serve as Code Talkers, utilizing their then-unwritten native language. This unique form of communication baffled Japanese military cryptologists and proved crucial during the war.
The Code Talkers’ efforts were instrumental in numerous operations across the Pacific, including significant battles such as Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima, from 1942 to 1945. They successfully transmitted thousands of messages regarding troop movements and battlefield tactics without a single error, making a substantial impact on the war’s outcome.
Kinsel was born in Cove, Arizona, and spent his later years in the Navajo community of Lukachukai. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 and became an elite Code Talker, serving with the 9th Marine Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division during the historic Battle of Iwo Jima.
To commemorate the significant contributions of the Code Talkers, President Ronald Reagan established Navajo Code Talkers Day in 1982. This holiday is celebrated on August 14 and recognizes all the tribes involved in the war effort. It is observed both as an Arizona state holiday and as a holiday on the Navajo Nation, which spans parts of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southeastern Utah.
