{"id":14049,"date":"2020-02-01T01:24:45","date_gmt":"2020-02-01T01:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/01\/navajo-code-talker-dies-at-96-less-than-a-handful-remain\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:33:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:33:53","slug":"navajo-code-talker-dies-at-96-less-than-a-handful-remain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2020\/02\/01\/navajo-code-talker-dies-at-96-less-than-a-handful-remain\/","title":{"rendered":"Navajo Code Talker dies at 96; less than a handful remain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the few remaining Navajo Code Talkers<\/a> who used their native language to confound the Japanese<\/a> in World War II has died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe Vandever Sr. died of health complications<\/a> Friday in Haystack, New Mexico, according to his family. He was 96.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tribal leaders called Vandever a “great warrior” and a “compassionate family man” and asked Navajos to keep his spirit and his family in their prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vandever was among hundreds of Navajos who served in the Marine Corps<\/a>, transmitting messages using a code based on the Navajo language. The code developed by an original group of 29 Navajos was never broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\t