Allen Dale June
Allen Dale June (November 28, 1921 – September 8, 2010) was an American veteran of World War II. June was one of the 29 original Navajo code talkers who served in the United States Marine Corps during the war.[1]
June was born in Kaibito, Arizona[2] on November 28, 1921, to a Navajo family. His mother was Kinłichíiʼnii, born for Tłʼízíłání, and his father was named Yéʼii Dineʼé, born for Tachíiʼnii.[1] June graduated from Tuba City Vocational High School in Tuba City in 1941.[1] Once the United States entered World War II later that year and began recruiting Navajos as code talkers, June hitchhiked to Fort Defiance and Fort Wingate to enlist.[1]
June enlisted in 1941 and became one of the 29 original Navajo code talkers in the U.S. Marines.[1] he served until the end of World War II in 1945, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.[1]
June received a bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting and economics from New Mexico Highlands University in 1952.[1] He later also obtained a master's degree in 1975 from the University of Utah.[1]
Dale, along with the other original 9 Navajo code talkers, received the Congressional Gold Medal on December 21, 2000.[3] In recent years, residents of Longmont, Colorado, raised money to buy June and his third wife, Virginia June, a home when they learned the couple had no permanent place to live.[4]
Allen Dale June died at Presscott Veteran's Hospital in Prescott, Arizona, on September 8, 2010, at the age of 89.[1] June had become ill while on a trip to Arizona from the family's home in Longmont, Colorado.[4][5] He was survived by his wife, Virginia June; eleven children; four brothers - Adolph June Jr., Floyd June, Jackie June and Keith June; as well as grandchildren, nieces and nephews.[1] He was buried at a family cemetery in Kaibeto, Arizona.[1]
With June's death in 2010 and Lloyd Oliver's death in 2011, there is only one survivor of the original 29 Navajo code talkers, Chester Nez.[4][6] Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. ordered all flags to be flown at half staff in June's honor.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hardeen, George (2010-09-14). "Navajo Code Talker Allen Dale June passes away". Navajo Hopi Observer. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ Find A Grave
- ^ Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives - Congressional Gold Medal Recipients
- ^ a b c Fonseca, Felicia (2010-08-29). "An original Code Talker keeps tale alive, Few remaining members of elite Navajo Marine unit". Associated Press. Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "WWII Navajo code talker dead at 91". United Press International. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ^ "One of original Navajo Code Talkers dies in Ariz". Associated Press. Washington Post. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-09-23. [dead link]
