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[article provided by Lona. Thanks!]

Navajo Code Talkers join Pimas to honor Ira H. Hayes
Tue, 29 Feb 2000

Reviving memories: Running his hand over the image of the flag raising on
Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, Navajo Code Talker Paul Blatchford remembered
his war experiences and those of his comrades, whose numbers are dwindling.

Story and photos by Loren Tapahe
Today correspondent

As World War II veterans gathered around the country to honor the 55th
anniversary of invasion of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean Feb. 19, Native
Americans Veterans of foreign wars came together to dedicate the Ira H.
Hayes Memorial Park on the Gila River Indian Community.

Hayes (shown right), a Pima Indian and U.S. Marine, fought on Iwo Jima
Island and died in 1955.

Hayes' image is permanently etched in the minds of Americans as one of five
Marines and a Navy corpsman who raised the American flag in Mount Suribachi
on Iwo Jima Island in the Pacific. The image is considered the most widely
reproduced military image. It was sculpted into a monument wall at the park
by Oscar Urrea, sculptor and veteran of the 101st Airborne Division.

As the number of the World War II veterans fades, the original Navajo Code
Talkers also dwindle. Paul Blatchford (shown left), 76, along with five
other Code Talkers made the trip to Sacaton, the heart of Gila River Indian
Community to attend the dedication. The Code Talkers used their Navajo
language as a military code to help bring an end to WWII. The code was never
broken by the Japanese.

"I was there and I knew Ira Hayes," said Navajo Code Talker Paul Blatchford.
"Ira was always pointing out the Navajos to people." He was pals with Ira
Hayes in Hilo, Hawaii, where ships were prepared for the invasion of the
Pacific Islands. They boarded on different ships to Iwo Jima and never saw
each other again.

After the dedication, WWII veterans gathered at the monument wall and
recounted battle experiences and where they were during the battle of Iwo
Jima.

"I was part of company that went on reconnaissance three days before any
Marines landed, only a few of us returned," Blatchford told members of the
Scottish-American Military Society, who were invited to the ceremony.

"It was night and we were on 'flying mattresses' floating around the
island," he said. One of the commanders he was with on the rubber raft
called out to him. "Chief, "make a drawing of the island coastline."
Blatchford responded and radioed information back to the battleship U.S.S.
Saratoga.

"We were sighted when the sun came up and the Japanese started shooting at
us," he said. "Only a few of us made it back to the ship."

Former Governor Mary V. Thomas of the Gila River Indian Community was
instrumental in securing funds for the site and it was a long awaited goal
of hers to see that veterans received proper recognition.

Vietnam Conflict Medal of Honor recipient Robert O'Malley, U.S. Marines,
stood with Thomas during the monument unveiling.

Sidney Bedoni of Indian Wells and Wilford Buck of Window Rock, both

Navajo Code Talkers, became emotional as they placed their hands on the
monument and recalled lost comrades and fellow Code Talkers. They hope
Congress will recognize their contribution. A spokesman for Rep. Jeff
Bingaman, D-N.M., said chances are good this year Congress will do
something.

One by one, veterans wearing their military service caps came to the
monument wall to have pictures taken by their children. A blind veteran came
to the wall with a fellow serviceman and slowly moved his hand over the
image. Head up and eyes squinting, he sketched the image in his mind.

As color guards stood in formation during the dedication, some had to wipe
away tears during a seven-canon statue. Veterans posts representing the
Republic of Vietnam, the Scottish American Military Society and American
Legion groups from as far away as Wisconsin attended.

Jerry Greendeer, Ho-Chunk from Legion Post 129 in Black River Falls, Wis.,
said it was an honor to be at the dedication.

Members of local Ira H. Hayes American Legion Post 84 were hosts. Leonard
Enos, senior vice commander, said the organization had been working to
secure the site and obtain funding for the monument for a long time. The
post was created in early 1970s with17 original members.

Janell Smiley, whose mother is Pima and father a Navajo, is a niece of a
Navajo Code Talker. She said the park had to be created for people to
remember the sacrifice of so many.

As the winds began a gentle swirl, veterans were hugging and beginning new
friendships with those who fought with them in wars in obscure places never
heard of before.

"Sometimes we grab a six-pack and sit in the garage with other veterans and
tell our stories," said a member of the Scottish American Military Society.
At times, others said, they didn't know how close they were to some of their
friends or even classmates until after the war.

As children played in the park, families came together to bestow their
gratitude to all veterans and to those who did not return, in hopes children
everywhere would never know the pains of war.

©2000 Indian Country Today
 

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