World War II Honoree

Willard Varnell Oliver

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

San Juan County, Navajo Nation, New Mexico

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HE WAS PART OF AN ELITE GROUP OF ABOUT 300 MEMBERS OF THE NAVAJO INDIAN TRIBE RECRUITED TO USE A CODE, BASED ON THEIR UNWRITTEN NATIVE LANGUAGE, ADAPTED 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. THE COMPLEX CODE WAS NEVER BROKEN BY THE JAPANESE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN COMMUNICATING SECURE 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 MARINE NAVAJO CODE TALKER FROM 1943-1945, INCLUDING IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 2ND MARINE DIVISION. WOUNDED IN ACTION ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS DURING OPERATIONS IN JUNE-JULY, 1944. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.