FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Allen Dale June, Code Talker ~ 09 April 2018

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and the Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Allen Dale June

           

From July 6, 2006

DRAPER -- Retired Marine Sgt. Allen Dale June, 84, doesn't say much about his experience as a Navajo Code Talker in World War II.

During an appearance Wednesday at the Utah National Guard headquarters, a child asked June if he had ever been in a submarine.

"I saw it," was all June replied, which was followed by chuckles among the estimated 150 audience members, most of whom were wearing camouflage.

Sgt. 1st Class Sam Galbraith, 54, and his son, Sgt. Joe Galbraith, 26, both of whom are Navajo and full-time Utah Guard members, were introduced to June. The elder Galbraith called it an honor and privilege to meet him.

"It's very meaningful to me," Sam Galbraith said.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Daniel Hudson dubbed June a "living legend." But for 23 years after World War II, June and others from the 29 original members of the Navajo Code Talkers were told to keep quiet about their experience, for national security reasons.

"This was a tremendous stress and strain on them," said Hudson, who gave Guard members a presentation Wednesday on Code Talkers.

By 1968, government officials had lifted the curtain of secrecy to reveal the war contributions of this elite group of American Indian soldiers, which included at least one other tribe. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan named Aug. 14 "National Code Talkers Day."

Charles Chibitty, the sole surviving member of the 17-member Comanche Code Talkers, was given the Knowlton Award in 1999, in recognition of his intelligence work in the Army Signal Corps in Europe during World War II.

President Bush in 2001 presented June and other Navajo Code Talkers with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award given by Congress. But to this day, June chooses to remain mostly silent on his war experiences.

June and his wife, Virginia, once West Valley City residents, now live in Longmont, Colo., north of Denver. Virginia does most of the talking for her husband.

"He was quiet," she said about the 23 years of imposed silence. And he's quiet now, she added, describing life these days as "smooth sailing."

The Junes walk about three to five miles every day. They make appearances when asked. And they were in Utah this week to help dedicate a war monument in West Jordan.

During the war, June was part of a group that helped the United States win the "war of words" with the Japanese. Code Talkers used their native language to communicate messages between U.S. troops.

The Navajo word for tortoise, for example, would have been used to identify the presence of an enemy tank. A single word with different voice inflections could have been used to mean several different things to a Code Talker.

It was a code unbreakable by the Japanese, although they tried.

June served uninjured in the Marines from 1942 to 1945. It was a time when in this country, Navajo Indians were sometimes punished for speaking their native language.

Virginia said her husband joined the Marines because there was nothing to do on the reservation. But he also wanted to serve his country and represent his tribe.

In the military, June and other Navajo Indians faced marked cultural differences and bigotry within their own ranks, Hudson pointed out. Even so, June's ability to speak what his wife says is now a dying language helped Marines stay a step ahead of the enemy on the battlefield in Japan.

Today, June is one of two Navajo Code Talkers still alive. The other, Samuel Tso, lives in Arizona (passed May 9, 2012).

"I just think it's great to teach people about what happened," Joe Galbraith said about June's appearance. "It's unfortunate there's not more Code Talkers around."

~ Stephen Speckman

 

On September 10, 2010 Mr. June passed away at the age of 91.  From the AP story:

June, who attained the rank of sergeant, received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2001 along with other members of the original Code Talkers.

With his death, only two of the 29 are still living.

"The Navajo Nation lost a great warrior," Tribal Council Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan said in a statement. "His unique service to his country brought positive attention to the Navajo Nation. He will be missed."

June first tried to sign up for the Marines in his hometown of Kaibeto on the Navajo Nation, but a recruiter told him he was too young. He then traveled to the reservation town of Chinle to enlist — because he figured people there wouldn't recognize him — and he could lie about his age and forge his father's signature, Virginia June said.

Our nation mourns a hero.

From Wikipedia:

A Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress and is, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Citizens Medal the highest civilian award in the United States. The decoration is awarded to an individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States. American citizenship is not a requirement.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

My laundry is now folded and put away!

More than a few folks have said the cough lingers....but I am so tired of it!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...any hunting lately? Weather ok?

You and Bo have a great Monday.

[E.G.C.]

Well, Bo did a little bit of exploring for grass and food leftovers yesterday. We’ll see how it goes today.

[radu]

We’ll be warmer than y’all tomorrow ..... er, today now. We get to break the 60 degree mark. YAY! LOL
Friday’s the day I’m looking forward to .... 80 degrees.
Then back down to 60 Saturday. With rain. *sigh*

It certainly was a special day, one I’ll never forget.
I looked him up tonight after seeing this thread and as of Feb. he was still alive and making appearances.

[radu]

Laundry is done here too.
Then I got another spurt of energy and cleaned the floors. I’ll pay for that later today. LOL!

There was some kind of Crud going around here recently that left folks with a lingering cough but we were fortunate enough to miss out on it. Wish you could have missed out too. Maybe your cough will let up REAL soon. It’s lingered long enough!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Hat tip to Retired Marine Sgt. Allen Dale June
Navajo Code Talker.

Thank you, Star (and Ma) for preparing
the Canteen for today's activities.

How is everyone this morning?
Have a peaceful weekend?
Ours was good.
Ran a couple errands first thing Saturday morning, then,
rented a couple movies from Redbox and chilled the rest of the day.

It's cold again.

We're in for a bit of nasty weather.
I just want to know when the heck warmer weather will come and stay?

Please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. About to go do some grass cutting. How’s it going for your this morning?

[MEG33]

Texas Bluebonnets with Evening Primroses

Good Morning To The Canteen
Hope your week goes well. Warming up here after the arctic visit.
*HUGS*
Thank You To All Who Serve Our Country

[left that other site]

It was chilly but sunny yesterday, and so Penny and I went for an early Spring Hike (3 miles).

Today it’s below freezing again!

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, MEG33. How’s it going? I just finished doing the grass cutting for the week.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning EG ((HUGS))

Kinda doing a few things at the same time, which is amazing since I really don’t multitask well anymore.

Hope you get to enjoy some time to enjoy the day after the grass cutting.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Meg ((HUGS))

[beachn4fun]

Good morning ML ((HUGS))

Today it’s below freezing again!

And it looks like more nasty weather headed your way. Come on Spring weather!

[left that other site]

My sister and BIL have graciously offered to drive me the 25 miles to pick up my motorcycle, but then I will have to ride the bike 25 miles back home!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[luvie]

Monday! Again!
...and it got chilly overnight.
95 yesterday..48 this morning.
It makes my head spin!
And truthfully, I like this better.
Hope all of you have a Mahv'lus Monday!
....and don't work too hard!
(((hugs)))