Navajo Code Talker David Patterson Sr. dead at 94
Oct 9, 2017, 9:21 AM | Updated: 11:29 am
Navajo Nation Code Talker David Patterson, Sr. (Navajo Nation Photo)
(Navajo Nation Photo)
PHOENIX — David Patterson Sr., who served as a Code Talker during World War II, died in New Mexico on Sunday, the Navajo Nation said.
Patterson was 94.
“It’s a sad day on the Navajo Nation when we lose a national treasure like we did in losing Navajo Nation Code Talker David Patterson, Sr.,” Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye said in a statement. “Beyond his service in protecting our freedom, he was a beloved husband, father and grandfather.”
Patterson served in the Marine Corps in the Pacific from 1943 to 1945. He and other Navajos used their language as code during World War II and the wars in Korea and Vietnam.
The code was never broken.
Patterson’s son said his father did not speak much about his service, but that he was proud of being a Code Talker.
“[My father] attended as many Code Talker events as he could,” he said in the statement. “It was only when his health started to decline that he didn’t attend as many.”
Patterson was honorably discharged from the Marines after World War II. He was awarded the Silver Congressional Medal of Honor for his service, as were about 300 other Code Talkers.
“The Navajo Nation salutes the service of our great warrior, Code Talker David Patterson, Sr., for his courage in protecting our lands,” Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez said in the statement.
Patterson is survived by his wife and seven children.
