World War II Honoree

Jerry C. Begay, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Honored By

Grateful American

SERVED AS A NAVAJO CODE TALKER, WHO HELPED CONFOUND THE JAPANESE. HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL SILVER MEDAL. CODE TALKERS WERE AN ELITE GROUP OF MARINES WHO TRANSMITTED RADIO MESSAGES DURING THE WAR IN A CODED VERSION OF THE NAVAJO LANGUAGE. THE CODES WERE NEVER CRACKED BY THE JAPANESE. HE SERVED IN TARAWA UNTIL HIS DISCHARGE IN 1945.