World War II Honoree

Willie Anthony Notah

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Fort Defiance, Arizona

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. On October 16, 1943, he entered the United States Marine Corps from Arizona, receiving his Boot Camp Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Later he completed Navajo Code Talkers Radio School at Camp Pendleton, California. Served in Headquarters, First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marine Regiment, and a subordinate unit of the Fifth Marine ‘the Spearhead/Fighting Fifth’ Division in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. He died of wounds Friday, February 23, 1945 and buried in the Fifth Marine Division battlefield cemetery on Iwo. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were returned to his family for burial, with interment at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fort Defiance, Arizona. This American Patriot, a Native Indian citizen, a descendant of the Navajo Tribe was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.