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Last Navajo Code Talker Dies

Chester Nez, the last US Marine known as a Navajo Code Talker, dies in New Mexico at the age of ninety-three. Nez was chosen from among 250 Navajos who arrived at an Army base in Arizona for the project. He was in high school at the time of his enlistment and lied about his age.

The code took words from the Navajo language, which was spoken by less than 30 non-Navajos at the time, and matched them to military terms. The Navajo word for turtle became "tank", chicken hawk became "dive bomber" and "our mother" meant America.

This clip is originally from Up All Night.

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