Wife Elsie T. Dixon of Littlewater
He was buried with full military honors provided by the VFW Post 2182
Albuquerque Tribune, The (NM) - September 28, 2000
Deceased Name: Harry Benally - Benally was decorated veteran, Navajo Code Talker during WWII
LITTLE WATER Harry Benally, a decorated World War II veteran and Navajo Code Talker, has died. He was 75.
Family members said Benally was cutting firewood Tuesday when he suffered complications of a heart-related condition.
Benally, who was born near Tocito, was drafted into the Marines and left for boot camp in January 1944.
He was trained and assigned to a select group of about 400 American Indians who made up the elite Navajo Code Talkers.
The Code Talkers developed and put into action the only unbroken military code used during World War II. They operated in many Pacific battles, including Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Okinawa.
The Code Talkers remained secret until 1968, when the program was declassified.
Family and work responsibilities kept Benally busy after the war. He continued his vocational training, and received certification as an auto and diesel mechanic in 1950.
He returned to the Navajo Nation and established Shiprock Automotive. He worked for Navajo Mine as a shop foreman before retiring in 1987.
Benally was part of a group of Code Talkers who welcomed President Clinton to the Navajo Nation during a visit to the area in April.
Services were scheduled for today.
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Chicago Tribune (IL) - October 2, 2000
Deceased Name: HARRY BENALLY , NAVAJO CODE TALKER
Harry Benally, a decorated World War II veteran and Navajo Code Talker, died Tuesday from complications of a heart-related condition. He was 75.
In recounting his experiences to family, Mr. Benally said that after being drafted into the Marines, it was during graduation ceremonies from Camp Pendleton, Calif., that he learned the military had a special assignment for him.
He was trained and assigned to a select group of about 400 American Indians who made up the elite Navajo Code Talkers. The Code Talkers, whose existence remained secret until 1968, developed and put into action the only unbroken military code used during World War II. They operated in many Pacific battles, including Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Okinawa
Wife Elsie T. Dixon of Littlewater
He was buried with full military honors provided by the VFW Post 2182
Albuquerque Tribune, The (NM) - September 28, 2000
Deceased Name: Harry Benally - Benally was decorated veteran, Navajo Code Talker during WWII
LITTLE WATER Harry Benally, a decorated World War II veteran and Navajo Code Talker, has died. He was 75.
Family members said Benally was cutting firewood Tuesday when he suffered complications of a heart-related condition.
Benally, who was born near Tocito, was drafted into the Marines and left for boot camp in January 1944.
He was trained and assigned to a select group of about 400 American Indians who made up the elite Navajo Code Talkers.
The Code Talkers developed and put into action the only unbroken military code used during World War II. They operated in many Pacific battles, including Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Okinawa.
The Code Talkers remained secret until 1968, when the program was declassified.
Family and work responsibilities kept Benally busy after the war. He continued his vocational training, and received certification as an auto and diesel mechanic in 1950.
He returned to the Navajo Nation and established Shiprock Automotive. He worked for Navajo Mine as a shop foreman before retiring in 1987.
Benally was part of a group of Code Talkers who welcomed President Clinton to the Navajo Nation during a visit to the area in April.
Services were scheduled for today.
----------------------------------------
Chicago Tribune (IL) - October 2, 2000
Deceased Name: HARRY BENALLY , NAVAJO CODE TALKER
Harry Benally, a decorated World War II veteran and Navajo Code Talker, died Tuesday from complications of a heart-related condition. He was 75.
In recounting his experiences to family, Mr. Benally said that after being drafted into the Marines, it was during graduation ceremonies from Camp Pendleton, Calif., that he learned the military had a special assignment for him.
He was trained and assigned to a select group of about 400 American Indians who made up the elite Navajo Code Talkers. The Code Talkers, whose existence remained secret until 1968, developed and put into action the only unbroken military code used during World War II. They operated in many Pacific battles, including Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Okinawa
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