World War II Honoree

Willie K. Begay

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Pinon, Arizona

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HE WAS PART OF AN ORIGINAL ELITE GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE NAVAJO INDIAN TRIBE RECRUITED TO DEVELOP A CODE, BASED ON THEIR UNWRITTEN NATIVE LANGUAGE, FOR USE IN COMBAT. THE NAVAJO CODE WAS A COMBINATION OF U.S. MILITARY AND NAVAJO TERMS AND DESCRIPTIONS, NATIVE AMERICAN TONES AND DIALECTS, AND INFORMAL SHORT-CUT CODE WORDS. A CODE BOOK WAS DEVELOPED AND USED TO TRAIN NEW CODE TALKERS AND FOR STANDARDIZATION PURPOSES. THE COMPLEX CODE WAS NEVER BROKEN BY THE JAPANESE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN COMMUNICATING CRITICAL MESSAGES DURING THE HEAT OF BATTLE. THEIR CODE-TALKING WAS A KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF NUMEROUS COMBAT OPERATIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS. SERVED AS A NAVAJO CODE TALKER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 3RD MARINE 'FIGHTING THIRD' DIVISION. STATIONED OVERSEAS FOR 11 MONTHS AND PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT, INCLUDING THE ASSAULT AND OCCUPATION OF IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS. HIS DIVISION FACED WELL-ORGANIZED AND DETERMINED ENEMY RESISTANCE OVER TERRAIN FORTIFIED BY NUMEROUS PILLBOXES AND CAVES ON IWO JIMA. TOOK PART IN THE FINAL ATTACK ON IWO JIMA, A DRIVE TO KITANO POINT ON MARCH 16, 1945. AUTHORIZED THE NAVY PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS DIVISION AT IWO JIMA. ALSO THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR OUTSTANDING HEROISM IN ACTION AT IWO JIMA. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.