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[Page S2930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING JOE VANDEVER, SR.
Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, I pay tribute today to Joe Vandever, Sr.,
who was one of the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers.
Joe was born February 5, 1923, into the Red Running Into the Water
People clan, born for Two Who Came to the Water clan. He passed away 5
days shy of his 97th birthday, on January 31, 2020, in Haystack, NM.
Joe enlisted in the Marines when he was 19. He went through boot camp
at Camp Pendleton and spent 6 months of intensive training learning the
code and how to operate communications equipment to become a Navajo
Code Talker.
Navajo Code Talkers transmitted key military information through a
code based on the Navajo language that the Japanese never broke. They
participated in every major Marine operation in the Pacific theater and
gave the Marines a critical advantage throughout the war. However, when
they returned, they couldn't talk about their work, which remained
classified until 1968.
In 2001, Navajo Code Talkers, including Joe, received the
Congressional Silver Medal.
Joe epitomized the bravery and skill of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Joe's Navajo name means ``going places,'' and he certainly did during
the war. Serving in the 6th Marine Division from 1943 to 1946, Joe was
stationed on 16 battleships--serving from Samoa to Guadalcanal to Guam
to Japan to China. Joe translated messages from Navajo to English and
set up communications posts on the frontlines.
Joe was a spiritual man, and he provided spiritual support for others
in his Marine division. He liked to tell a story about how he knew he
would come home from the war. Before he left, he had been blessed in a
ceremony. When he was in Guam, a bird he called a sheep-face bird--
which was a Cassin's kingbird--came to him. There were no sheep-face
birds in Guam, and that bird gave Joe a sign he would return home
safely. And he did.
After he returned, Joe honored his Navajo traditions as a medicine
man. He held many different jobs over the years--working at an oil
refinery, in construction, and as a miner, prospector, farmer, and
chauffeur. For 14 years, he was employed at the Gallup Indian Medical
Center as a custodian.
Joe was fiercely proud of the Navajo language. According to Joe,
``Our language is powerful,'' and ``we [won]the war with our tongue.''
He wanted younger generations to learn the language and counseled them:
``Don't ever leave your language.''
Joe was a loving family man. After the war, he came home and married
Bessie, to whom he was married for 73 years, until she passed away on
September 24, 2019. He and Bessie had 9 children, 36 grandchildren, 55
great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. He inspired them and
encouraged them to pursue higher education, and he was beloved by them
all.
Joe lived a long life, and a good life--with kindness, optimism, good
humor, integrity, and commitment and love for family and community. His
light will continue to shine bright in his children and his future
generations. I am honored to pay tribute to Joe Vandever who faithfully
served our Nation and his family and Tribe.
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