Skip to content

Navajo Code Talker Dies at 107

John Kinsel, Sr., who was a Navajo code talker during World War II, has died.

John Kinsel, Senior is a young man in uniform in an enlistment photo and a photo seated with his platoon.

© Mark Henle—The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK

The photo on the left shows John Kinsel, Sr., when he enlisted in the U.S. military in 1942. The photo on the right shows Kinsel (first row on the right) with the 920th Platoon.

John Kinsel, Sr., one of the Navajo code talkers, has died. He was 107. Like the other code talkers, Kinsel played a decisive role in helping the Allies win World War II.

The code talkers were a group of Indigenous (also known as American Indian or Native American) soldiers who used radios to transmit classified (secret) wartime information in their Native language. Most code talkers were Navajo. With Kinsel’s death, just two code talkers are still alive. In a statement, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren offered praise for Kinsel.

“Mr. Kinsel was a Marine who bravely and selflessly fought for all of us in the most terrifying circumstances with the greatest responsibility as a Navajo Code Talker,” Nygren said.

Born in Cove, Arizona, Kinsel was a young man in 1941, when the United States entered World War II. Within months, many Navajo men had gone to work in shipyards and other places where they could contribute to the war effort. Others decided to enlist in the military. Kinsel chose the Marine Corps.

Kinsel saw combat in numerous battles in the Pacific and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in 1945. (The Purple Heart is a military decoration for soldiers who are wounded or killed in battle.)

Kinsel also helped develop the military code that was based on the Navajo language and that the enemy found impossible to break. According to the Navajo Times, his contributions included “rabbit trail” for “route,” “turtle” for “tank,” and “bird carrier” for “aircraft.”

Olin Kieyoomia, the deputy director of the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration, said Kinsel was a hero to many.

“The Navajo Nation has lost a treasure, a hero, a man who shaped history by saving countless lives with our Navajo language and instilled pride within the Navajo Nation and the world,” Kieyoomia said in a statement. “He is an example of the title United States Marine. He will be forever missed and remembered.”

NEWS EXTRA

Election Day 2024

At a polling place, some voters sign in with poll workers while others stand at voting booths.

© Hill Street Studios—DigitalVision/Getty Images

Today, November 5, is Election Day in the United States. Americans will head to the polls to choose a new president. (Many other Americans have already voted early or by mail.)

The two major-party candidates are Vice President Kamala Harris (a Democrat) and former president Donald Trump (a Republican).

When will we know who won? It’s possible the winner will be announced on election night. But since some states don’t allow officials to start counting mail-in ballots until Election Day, there’s a good chance the results of the election won’t be known for a while.

Did You Know?

Two soldiers in uniform sit among vegetation as one writes in a notebook and the other holds equipment.

U.S. Marine Corps/National Archives and Records Administratio

Navajo code talkers Corporal Henry Bake, Jr., (left) and Private First Class George H. Kirk, Marine Signal Unit, operate a portable radio set in December 1943.

Despite their contributions to the Allied victory in World War II, the code talkers were not recognized for their service until years later. Even their families were unaware of the code and its mission until it was declassified in 1968.

Father and Son in the NBA!

LeBron James and Bronny James face away from the camera as they stand on a basketball court in jerseys that read James and James Junior.

© Gina Ferazzi—Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and his son Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) enter the game together during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22, 2024.

LeBron and Bronny James made history last month, when they made their season debut as the first father-son teammates in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

LeBron James, 39, is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Widely considered one of the greatest players the league has ever had, he has four NBA championships and four NBA MVP (most valuable player) titles.

Bronny James, 20, was drafted by his dad’s team, the Los Angeles Lakers, last June.

Since then, Lakers fans have eagerly awaited the start of the new NBA season and the moment when James and James Jr. (the name on Bronny James’s jersey) would share the court. That moment came during the October 22 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. LeBron had started the game and had already played for 13 minutes. He reentered the game partway through the second quarter, and Bronny was called off the bench at the same time. The crowd cheered as the pair stood up.

“That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, [is] something I will never forget,” LeBron said after the game. “No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment.”

Bronny had one rebound during the game. LeBron had 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists. The Lakers won 110–103.

The Code Talkers

A table shows examples from the Navajo code, including English words, Navajo words, and the literal translation.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Today’s main article was about John Kinsel, Sr., who served in the U.S. Marines as a code talker during World War II. The table above shows some examples of how the code was used.

You can read more about the code talkers, and why the Navajo code was never broken, at Britannica.

WORD OF THE DAY

cryptography

PART OF SPEECH:

noun

Definition:

: the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code or cipher

Definitions provided by
Merriam-Webster Logo

Word Search

See if you can find all the basketball words.

O
O
O
O
O
O

In Case You Missed It

A painting that was created by a robot using AI sold for more than one million dollars.
November 26, 2024
After saving multiple lives, a bloodhound called Bo won an award for his heroism.
November 24, 2024
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun has helped plant more than a million trees, and she’s just getting started.
November 20, 2024
In a new study, people had more lucid dreams—where they knew they were dreaming—after using an app.
November 16, 2024