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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Samuel Tsosie, a
retired Marine who served as a Navajo Code Talker during World War
II, looks into the faces of a younger generation of Marines sitting
before him.
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Samuel Tsosie, a retired Marine who served as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II, speaks to Marines serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, here at Camp San Mateo, March 27, 2013. Tsosie served with 2nd Bn., 5th Marines, in multiple battles including Peleliu, Okainawa, and Cape Gloucester. Tsosie
was able to see weapons and equipment currently used by Marines,
while visiting his old stomping grounds. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. James Gulliver
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He can almost see a younger version of himself.
Tsosie stood in front of group of Marines serving with 2nd
Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, here, March 27, and gave
them insight into the history of their beloved unit.
“These Marines remind me a lot of myself back when I was
in,” Tsosie said. “We may
have had different gear then, but we are the same men.”
The Castle Butte, Ariz., native served with 2nd Bn., 5th
Marines, during multiple combat operations in the Pacific
Theater. Among those were Peleliu, Okinawa, and Cape
Gloucester.
Marines from 2nd Bn., 5th Marines, were
invited to listen to Tsosie as he spoke about his four-year
tour island hopping in the Pacific.
“We were always
wet from the constant rain, always hungry, and always
worried if we were going to make it one more day,” Tsosie
told the Marines. “War is hell.”
The Marine Corps
recruited Navajo Indians during World War II to send
encrypted messages containing classified information in the
Navajo language. This was done to prevent the Japanese from
deciphering radio transmissions and discover plans of future
operations.
“Our code was never broken by the
Japanese. This is why we were so invaluable to the Marine
Corps,” Tsosie said. “We kept many Marines safe because the
Japanese could not figure out what we were going to do
next.”
“This is a honor having a Marine like Tsosie
visit our ranks,” said Sgt. Maj. Connie Travis, 2nd Bn., 5th
Marines, sergeant major. “This really sheds some light on
our past.”
Having a veteran as experienced as Tsosie
gives the younger Marines of the battalion a look into their
history, said Lt. Col. Timothy Bairstow, the commanding
officer of 2nd Bn., 5th Marines.
“All the Marines in
the battalion need to be a part of this,” said Bairstow, a
native of New York City. “Our Marines need to understand the
legacy they must live up to.”
Tsosie was able to see
weapons and equipment currently used by Marines during the
visit to his old stomping grounds.
“All this gear is
so much heavier then what we use to have,” said Tsosie. “But
it does look like the Marines nowadays are a lot safer
wearing all of this.”
Tsosie expressed pride in being
a Marine and serving in World War II.
“From the day
you first put on that uniform, you're a Marine. It changes
you,” said Tsosie. “Once a Marine, always Marine.”
By USMC Lance Cpl. James Gulliver
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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