Tarrant County Young Marines
A group of Tarrant County Young Marines took the time to travel to Window Rock, Arizona earlier this month to learn from and meet three of the remaining Navajo Code Talkers, and their families.
The Young Marines, which is a national organization for boys and girls from age eight to high school age, joined 150 fellow Young Marines in Window Rock on August 14, to celebrate this elite group of World War II Veterans along with their friends and families.
The Navajo Code Talkers were selected by the U.S. Marine Corp to transmitt messages by telephone and radio in their native language, which was a “code” the Japanese never broke. In fact, the Navajo Code Talkers took part in every assault the U.S. Marines sent out from 1942 to 1945. This real-world experience, combined with the Young Marines’ training was a benefit to both groups involved.
August 14 marks the day the Navajo Nation celebrates these heroes of WWII. To date, only three of these original 29 Code Talkers remain. Since 2006 (except during COVID), the Young Marines have traveled to Arizona each year to celebrate the Navajo Code Talkers and to meet the few remaining survivors in person and to listen to their stories.
The Tarrant County Young Marines also helped escort the three remaining veterans to various events. Other activities this group participated in included a community service clean-up at the Navajo Nation Zoo, a climb at the Navajo Code Talkers Monument in Window Rock, and a 5K run.
Starting out in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the Young Marines has grown to over 200 units with over 5,000 youth and 1,950 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan (Okinawa), and affiliates in a host of other countries, according to a press release.
“Year after year, our Young Marines report that meeting these World War II heroes has been a life-changing experience,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “Engaging with them, their fellow warriors, and families has been our Young Marines’ greatest honor. We are honored to preserve the legacy of those who changed the course of World War II.”
