topic Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr.... in Community Chat

RIP David Patterson, Sr....

MacDUFF — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:32:35 GMT

A true warrior...Semper Fi

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - A Navajo code talker who used the Navajo language to outsmart the Japanese in World War II has died in New Mexico, Navajo Nation officials said.

David Patterson Sr. died Sunday in Rio Rancho at age 94 from pneumonia and complications from subdural hematoma.

Although Patterson didn’t talk much about his service, one of his sons said his father was proud of being a Navajo Code Talker....

Patterson served in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945 and was the recipient of the Silver Congressional Medal of Honor in 2001.

After his military service, Patterson became a social worker and worked for the tribe’s Division of Social Services until retiring in 1987.

He raised his family in Oklahoma, California and Shiprock, New Mexico, and is survived by six children....

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2017/10/09/navajo-code-talker-david-patterson-sr-dies/747933001/

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

MacDUFF — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:34:48 GMT

Navajo Code Talkers and the Unbreakable Code...

https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2008-featured-story-archive/navajo-code-talkers/

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

MacDUFF — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:35:42 GMT

Mr. Patterson...

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

MacDUFF — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:38:26 GMT

@SouthFlorida321

What are the odds that a few minutes after posting to you about related subjects, I would come across this article! I include all the code makers, code breakers, and code talkers in the "intelligence community" along with Intrepid.

It's a nerdy MacDuff thang!

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

Noel7 — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:39:42 GMT

RIP Mr. Patterson, you saved many lives.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

Noel7 — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:41:32 GMT

FYI

The British used Welsh people for code talkers. The language was unknown to the Germans and Japanese.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

SouthFlorida321 — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:02:51 GMT

@MacDUFF wrote:
@SouthFlorida321
What are the odds that a few minutes after posting to you about related subjects, I would come across this article! I include all the code makers, code breakers, and code talkers in the "intelligence community" along with Intrepid.

It's a nerdy MacDuff thang!

@MacDUFF I'm going to look up that book you mentioned. I would like to get back into reading books. After Irma, I was so peaceful and just read booksfor 5 days. I miss it.

I used to read at least 2 books a week.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

maestra — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:12:07 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
FYI

The British used Welsh people for code talkers. The language was unknown to the Germans and Japanese.

At the time, the Navajo language wasnt written-strictly taught by oral tradition.

It has since developed an alphabet.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

Drythe — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:30:22 GMT

Bless you Mr. Patterson.

Never again will anyone be able to do for their country what you and your fellow Code Talkers accomplished.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

Kachina624 — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 04:46:02 GMT

I don't quite understand this Navajo Code Talker business. About three years ago much ado was made about the death of the last Navajo Code Talker. Of course we hear a lot about them here in NM. I even met one at breakfast in a restaurant one morning. Anyway, ever since the supposedly last one died, a bunch more have died. Very mysterious.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

Lindsays Grandma — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 05:11:35 GMT

@SouthFlorida321 wrote:
@MacDUFF wrote:
@SouthFlorida321
What are the odds that a few minutes after posting to you about related subjects, I would come across this article! I include all the code makers, code breakers, and code talkers in the "intelligence community" along with Intrepid.

It's a nerdy MacDuff thang!

@MacDUFF I'm going to look up that book you mentioned. I would like to get back into reading books. After Irma, I was so peaceful and just read booksfor 5 days. I miss it.
I used to read at least 2 books a week.

Oh gosh, me too, have to have my books. No E Books for me, real books with pages I have to turn. I always have one waiting in the wings when I finish one.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

Tadaki — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 22:23:19 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I don't quite understand this Navajo Code Talker business. About three years ago much ado was made about the death of the last Navajo Code Talker. Of course we hear a lot about them here in NM. I even met one at breakfast in a restaurant one morning. Anyway, ever since the supposedly last one died, a bunch more have died. Very mysterious.

I read that there was a group of 29 code talkers, and the last of them died in 2014. However, there were others who "qualified" as code talkers. Not sure what that means, but maybe that's why you see others.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

Kachina624 — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 22:51:28 GMT

On our local newscast at noon today, they said there are still about a dozen living. They must have been the "back-ups". The written Navajo language is virtually unpronounciable by English speakers. I see names of places and the pronunciation just baffles me.

Re: RIP David Patterson, Sr....

MacDUFF — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 02:15:57 GMT

@Tadaki wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
I don't quite understand this Navajo Code Talker business. About three years ago much ado was made about the death of the last Navajo Code Talker. Of course we hear a lot about them here in NM. I even met one at breakfast in a restaurant one morning. Anyway, ever since the supposedly last one died, a bunch more have died. Very mysterious.
I read that there was a group of 29 code talkers, and the last of them died in 2014. However, there were others who "qualified" as code talkers. Not sure what that means, but maybe that's why you see others.

@Kachina624

@Tadaki

In 2014, Navajo Code Talker Chester Nez died. One article I read said he was the "last of the original 29." There were some 400, I believe, so I think Tadaki is probably correct.

But, to be technically correct, the article should have said Mr. Nez was the last of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers from WWII...there were code talkers from other Nations as well. So, more confusion might be that one is the "last of the Navajo code talkers," and another might be the "last of the Hopi code talkers."

The first code talkers were used in WWI...Choctaw and Cherokee code talkers.

American heroes, all.