Editorial: Nation loses two Navajo Code Talkers

Tuesday, May 8, 2007  

"Another heroic soldier of World War II has passed away, leaving stories of his tenure in the armed forces in the safe keeping of history's embrace.

Stewart Clah, of Hogback, lived a double life as a U.S. Marine and a Navajo Code Talker. He was 87 when he died in his sleep April 29.

There were more than 400 Navajo Code Talkers serving in all six Marine divisions. Without the help of these brave men, whose Navajo-language code baffled the enemy, it is questionable whether the U.S. would have taken Iwo Jima and other vital locations during the war.

Most of the 29 Code Talkers who developed the code have died, while the remainder of the trained Code Talkers are dwindling. The past has a way of slowly disappearing, and with that reality, the knowledge of these men's great deeds will be held in the memories of their relatives, friends and an appreciative country.

Another Navajo Code Talker, Andy T. Sage, shied away from speaking about his experiences as a Marine. But as four of his sons, and at least one grandson, made the decision to serve their country, he decided to open up, telling his children stories of his brushes with death and terrible flashbacks.

The Sage children served during war and peace, from the Vietnam conflict to the current war in Iraq. It was the values of discipline and hard work that their father instilled in them that kept them going.

It is the brave that defend Americans' honor during war time, but it also takes courage and faith to be the one left behind."

Get the Story:
Editorial: In service to country: Area loses another Code Talker (The Farmington Daily Times 5/8)

Related Stories:
Stewart Clah, Navajo Code Talker, dies at age of 87 (5/1)
Opinion: All Code Talkers deserve recognition (03/19)
Hopi Code Talkers excluded from postage stamp bill (3/2)
New Mexico bill supports Code Talker postage stamp (3/1)
Code Talker monument in Arizona excludes Hopis (01/30)
David Tsosie, Navajo Code Talker, dies at 83 (1/24)
Letter: Another warrior lost in David Tsosie (1/24)
Comanche Nation to honor Code Talkers (01/09)
Editorial: Code Talkers Day a welcome addition (1/8)
Oklahoma History Center honors Code Talkers (11/10)
Senate passes bill to recognize more Code Talkers (09/21)
Lakota code talker hailed as an American hero (08/17)
Students in Florida to hear from Navajo Code Talker (04/27)
Navajo Code Talkers return to Iwo Jima for first time (03/30)
Lakota Code Talker speaks about military service (11/17)
Code Talkers museum may be coming to Gallup (09/20)
Chibitty, last Comanche Code Talker, served on D-Day (07/26)
Chibitty, last Comanche Code Talker, passes away (7/22)
Bill introduced to recognize all Indian Code Talkers (05/19)
Student project on Code Talkers finds a home (05/03)
Meskwaki Code Talkers granted military medals (01/17)
Sam Billison, Navajo Code Talker, laid to rest (11/23)
Senate committee to hold hearing on Code Talkers (09/02)
Obituary: Frank Sanache, last Meskwaki Code Talker (08/25)
Meskwaki Code Talkers recognized by state of Iowa (04/08)
Professor dispels myths about Indian Code Talkers (01/22)
Comanche Code Talker wonders what Hitler thought (07/21)
Code Talkers to discuss experiences at event (7/18)
Code Talkers monument set for Ariz. capitol (04/25)
Bill signed for Code Talkers monument in Ariz. (4/22)
'Let's keep those damn Indians' (11/08)
Navajo Code Talkers frank about movie (08/23)
Code Talker inspires athlete grandson (08/12)
Opinion: Not just Navajo code talkers (07/26)
Opinion: Windtalkers ignored true story (7/1)
Weak opening for Code Talker movie (6/17)
Windtalkers movie opens nationwide (6/14)
Comanche man was Code Talker too (6/13)
Code Talker movie set for debuts (6/12)
Code Talkers movie premieres (6/5)
Code Talker movie features first-timer (5/13)
Code Talkers receive special medal (5/2)
Code Talkers upset with Begaye (3/25)
Code Talker gets his medal (3/11)
Code Talker day set (3/8)
Navajo Code Talker gets own day (3/4)
Code Talker to get his medal (2/26)
Paper blasts Navajo Nation (2/22)
Code Talker still doesn't have medal (2/19)
Navajo man confirmed as Code Talker (2/11)
Navajo man recognized as Code Talker (2/7)
Code Talkers on display in Ariz. (1/18)
Ceremony honors Code Talkers (12/10)
Navajo Code Talkers given awards (11/26)
Code Talkers honored at S.D. powwow (10/15)
Code Talker movie delayed (10/2)
Code Talker ceremony postponed (10/1)
N.M. honors Code Talker (9/13)
Code Talkers honored for contributions (7/27)
'Windtalkers' splashes onto DC scene (7/27)
In The Hoop: Navajo Code Talker Pics (7/27)
Bush to honor Code Talkers (7/23)