Bruce Alan Orr

An American legend has taken his final rest. John Kinsel Sr., one of the last original Navajo Code Talkers who used their language to outwit the Japanese in World War II, has died at 107. His passing closes a key chapter in the story of the men whose secret messages helped save countless lives in the Pacific. In 1942, the U.S. Marine Corps recruited Navajo men for a classified mission. Standard codes were being broken, but the complex, unwritten Navajo language—known to fewer than 30 non-Navajos—became the solution. Kinsel, born in Lukachukai, Arizona, was among those who stepped forward. He served with the 9th Marine Regiment in brutal battles including Guam, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima. Under constant fire, the Code Talkers sent fast, accurate radio messages using terms like “turtle” for “tank” and “chicken hawk” for “dive bomber”—a code the Japanese never cracked. The mission remained secret for decades. Kinsel returned home unable to speak of his role until the operation was declassified in 1968. He spent his final years in the log home he built himself and passed away peacefully in his sleep. With his death, we lose a living link to one of America’s most remarkable wartime contributions. As Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said: “He fought for all of us to have the freedom we enjoy today.” Rest in peace, warrior