World War II Honoree

John V. Goodluck Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Lukachukai, Arizona

Honored By

Mary Ann Goodluck

Relationship

Daughter

JOHN, A NAVAJO CODE TALKER, UNDERWENT BASIC BOOT CAMP TRAINING AT SAN DIEGO, THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT BEFORE ASSIGNMENT TO THE FIELD SIGNAL BATTALION FOR TRAINING AT CAMP PENDLETON. WHILE AT CAMP PENDLETON, HE RECEIVED TRAINING IN BASIC COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT. UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING, HE WAS SENT TO THE PACIFIC FOR ASSIGNMENT TO THE MARINE COMBAT DIVISIONS WHERE HE TRANSMITTED AND RECEIVED MESSAGES BY TELEPHONE AND RADIO IN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE -- A CODE THAT THE JAPANESE NEVER BROKE. IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE TO AMERICA DURING WORLD WAR II, THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS WERE AWARDED A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN DECEMBER 1981.