Navajo Code Talker dies at 89
Samuel Tso
WINDOW ROCK, AZ (CBS5) -
The Navajo Nation is mourning the death of another heroic Arizona Code Talker.
Samuel Tso, 89, of Lukachukai, died Wednesday evening at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, NM.
Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly has ordered the Navajo Nation flag to be flown at half-staff May 10 through sundown May 14.
“Samuel Tso was a true Navajo warrior,” Shelly said.
Tso was born on June 22, 1922, at Black Mountain near Many Farms, AZ. However, he frequently told stories about how he made up his birth date to get a job.
Family members pointed out that Tso wasn’t one of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers.
Funeral services are pending with Desert View Funeral Home in Shiprock, NM.
Copyright 2012 CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
For the uninitiated, Code talkers was a term used to describe people who talk using a coded language. It is frequently used to describe 400 Native American Marines who served in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages. Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio communications nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon their native languages. Their service improved communications in terms of speed of encryption at both ends in front line operations during World War II. (Wikipedia)
h/t Judy
Hágoónee’, naabaahíí.
Posted by BobG | May 11, 2012, 4:26 pmIf I read that correctly, Goodbye Warrior.
Very nice!
thx
Posted by guffaw1952 | May 11, 2012, 6:54 pmI’ve spent some time with the Diné, both on and off the Rez and have a little familiarity with their complex language. It would have been just as appropriate to have said “ya’ah’tee” which is usually used as “hello”, but actually means “it is good”.
The Diné people deserve all respect given them when you consider how badly they and other Indians (most I’ve met prefer Indian rather than Native American) were treated by the government, yet still stepped forward when they were needed. Aoo’, ya’ah’tee. (Yes, it is good).
Posted by BobG | May 12, 2012, 12:23 amThanks for the history, information, recognition and kindness!
Posted by guffaw1952 | May 12, 2012, 6:41 am