Willard Varnell Oliver (May 2, 1921 – October 14, 2009) was an American veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Navajo Code Talkers during World War II.[1] Oliver was part of a unit of Navajos who worked to confuse Japanese forces in the Pacific during World War II through the transmission of messages in the Navajo language.[1] His younger brother, Lloyd Oliver, was also a member of the Navajo Code Talkers.[1] Their parents were Howard and Olive (Lee) Oliver.[2]

Oliver grew up in a rural area between Shiprock and Farmington, New Mexico and graduated from the Shiprock Agricultural High School in 1940. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on March 23, 1943, and served with the 2nd Marine Division. He was honorably discharged on December 11, 1945.[3]

Willard Oliver died on October 14, 2009, at the Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System Hospital in Prescott, Arizona, at the age of 88.[1] He was the fifth member of the Navajo Code Talkers to die since May 2009.[4]

Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. ordered that American flags on the Navajo Nation be lowered to half staff in Oliver's honor.[1] His funeral was held on October 17, 2009, in his hometown of Lukachukai, Arizona.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Willard Oliver, Navajo Code Talker, dies at 88". Arizona Republic. Associated Press. 2009-10-15. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  2. ↑ Indian Census Roll Census of the Navajo reservation of the Northern Navajo juristiction April 1831. NARA Series M595, Roll 304, Sheet 454, lines 568-571. (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1967).
  3. ↑ Navajo Code Talker Willard V. Oliver passes on, The Navajo Times, 15-10-2009. Retrieved 20-10-2009.
  4. ↑ "Navajo Nation mourns passing of Code Talker", Associated Press, 14-10-2009. Retrieved 20-Oct-2009
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.