The Natchaug River Young Marines from northeastern Connecticut joined 150 fellow Young Marines youth members and adult volunteers from across the country in Window Rock, Ariz. Recently to honor and learn from the WWII heroes, the Navajo Code Talkers, and their families.
The Navajo code talkers, selected by the U.S. Marine Corps, took part in every assault the U.S. Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. They transmitted messages by telephone and radio in their native language, a code that the Japanese never broke.
The Young Marines is a national youth organization for boys and girls from age 8 through high school graduation.
Every year the Navajo Nation celebrates these elite group of WWII veterans. These remarkable patriots served their country by transmitting top-secret messages across enemy lines using the Navajo language as code - the only code unbroken by the Japanese during World War II.
To date, only three of these original 29 veterans remain. Since 2006 (except during COVID), the Young Marines have traveled to Arizona each year to celebrate the Navajo Code Talkers and to meet the few remaining survivors in person and to listen to their stories.
The Natchaug River Young Marines helped escort these very special veterans to various events. They planned and participated in a community service clean-up at the Navajo Nation Zoo. The group also climbed the Navajo Code Talkers Monument in Window Rock. A major activity during the three days of service was to march in the Ruck March and the Young Marines held a 5K run to commemorate them.
“Year after year, our Young Marines report that meeting these World War II heroes has been a life-changing experience,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “Engaging with them, their fellow warriors, and families has been our Young Marines’ greatest honor. We are honored to preserve the legacy of those who changed the course of World War II.”
For more information on the Natchaug River Young Marines go to https://youngmarines.org/unit/natchaugriver/page.

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