Code Talker (40 page)

Me in California, a Marine recruit
Courtesy of Chester Nez

Navajo Marine Platoon 382—First 29
(Front row): Frank Pete, Corp. L .P. Kohl, Sgt. L. J. Stephenson, Corp. R. J. Hays, Wilsie
Bitsie (Second row): Chester Nez, Eugene Crawford, John Brown, Jr., Cosey S. Brown, John
Benally, William D. Yazzie (later changed name to William Dean Wilson), Benjamin
Cleveland, Nelson Thompson (Third row): Lloyd Oliver, Charlie Y. Begay, William McCabe,
Oscar Ilthma, David Curley, Lowell Damon, Balmer Slowtalker (later changed name to Joe
Palmer), Alfred Leonard, Allen Dale June (Fourth row): James Dixon, Roy Begay, John
Manuelito, Harry Tsosie, George Dennison, Carl N. Gorman, Samuel Begay, John Chee, Jack
Nez, John Willie
Official Marine Corps Photo

Lloyd Oliver, a good man. Other than myself, the only of the original 29 code talkers still living as of February, 2011.
Official Marine Corps Photo #57876

Code Talkers Wilsie Bitsie and Eugene
Crawford at ease
Official Marine Corps Photo #61431

Code Talker William Yazzie
Official Marine Corps Photo #146005

Code Talkers Oscar Ilthma, Jack Nez, and Carl Gorman taking a photo break.
Official Marine Corps Photo #82619

Code Talkers Carl Gorman and Jack Nez keep watch.
Official Marine Corps Photo #83714

Guadalcanal, flooded Marine camp
Official Marine Corps Photo #74085

Bougainville, knee-high in mud
Official Marine Corps Photo “67151

Guam, another beach landing
Official Marine Corps Photo #88089

Peleliu, U.S. planes bomb Japanese forces hidden in the hills
Official Marine Corps Photo #97977

Peleliu, an island made desolate by war
Official Marine Corps Photo “96764

Jack Nez (from the original 29)
and me after the war
Courtesy of Chester Nez