What school did Chester Nez go to?
University of Kansas
Chester Nez/College
Is Chester Nez alive?
Deceased (1921–2014)
Chester Nez/Living or Deceased
What did Chester Nez?
Chester Nez (January 23, 1921 – June 4, 2014) was an American veteran of World War II….
| Chester Nez | |
|---|---|
| Died | June 4, 2014 (aged 93) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Nationality | Navajo |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas |
| Known for | Being the last survivor of the original twenty-nine Navajo Code Talkers from World War II |
Where is Chester Nez from?
Chi Chil Tah, NM
Chester Nez/Place of birth
How old was Chester Nez when he died?
93 years (1921–2014)
Chester Nez/Age at death
When did Chester Nez died?
June 4, 2014
Chester Nez/Date of death
Who is Ned Begay?
Ned is a young Navajo man who is roughly 15 years old when World War II starts. Ned loves his duties and forms close friendships with both Navajo and white marines, including Georgia Boy and Smitty. He fights in the South Pacific, on Bougainville, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
How was the Navajo code created?
On May 5, 1942, 29 Navajo men arrived at the Recruit Depot in San Diego for basic training. That was followed by intensive courses in transmitting messages and radio operation at the Fleet Marine Force Training Center at Camp Elliot. The 29 recruits developed the code with communications personnel during this training.
How old is Ned Begay now?
Ned is a young Navajo man who is roughly 15 years old when World War II starts. Ned’s birth name is Kii Yázhí.
Why did Ned want to join the Marines?
Ned plans to join the Marine Corps to fight for his country and for the fine uniforms after a Navajo Marine spokesperson encourages Navajos to join. Ned’s parents allow him to join the Marines prematurely. His family performs a blessing to keep him safe throughout his travels.
When did Chester Nez graduate from the University of Kansas?
Update: Chester Nez, a hero and member of the Jayhawk family, passed away Wednesday, June 2, 2014. Decades after he last set foot on campus, Chester Nez can proudly call himself a war hero and a University of Kansas graduate. Back in 1952, he could not proclaim either. How he earned both achievements is a story 60 years in the making.
Where did Chester Nez live as a child?
Nez was born in Chi Chil Tah, New Mexico, to the Navajo Dibéłizhiní (Black Sheep Clan) of the Tsénahabiłnii (Sleeping Rock People). He was raised during a time when there were difficult relations between the U.S. government and the Navajo Nation. His mother died when he was only three years old.
What did Chester Nez do in World War 2?
In 1942, he was among the code talkers to be shipped out to Guadalcanal, where they worked in teams of two: one to send and receive, the other to operate the radio and listen for errors. Nez also fought in Bougainville, Guam, Angaur and Peleliu.
Why did Chester Nez choose the Navajo language?
The Navajo language was chosen because its complex syntax and phonology made it exceedingly difficult to learn as a second language, and it had no written form. Nez stated the developers used everyday words, in order to easily memorize and retain them.
