The Independent-News, Volume 122, Number 26, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 7 November 1996 — Page 2

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— INDEPENDENT NEWS — NOVEMBER 7, 1996

Honoring Unsung Heros —

Navajo Indians volunteered to serve the United States as Code Talkers serving on Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, Peleliu, Saipan, Okinawa and low Jima. These brave men using their native tongue making an instant code, served like magic, to help save many lives following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Navajo Tribal Council had resolved to defend the U.S. against invasion but no official call was issued for the Indians to serve. Then in the Spring of 1942 (April) recruiters were sent to the Navajo Nation located in the southwest desert, with fewer than 40,000 Navajos living in a territory the size of the state of West Virginia, to look for a few good men who were fluent in both Navajo and English. These few good men were not even able to vote until 1948 in Arizona; 1953 in New Mexico and 1957 in Utah. Twenty-nine men were selected and sent to San Diego moving from their hogans (houses) to Quonset huts — another world to them. They became the 382 d Platoon of the USMC. There were no code books as the Navajos were rooted in Athabaskan

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Navajo Voice Coders Baffle The Enemy

tongues. They named planes after birds and ships after fish. Other translations from English to Navajo are as follows: Dive bomber: chicken hawk; fighter plane: hummingbird; battleship: whale; submarine: iron fish; destroyer: shark and tank: turtle. After it was proven that the Navajo Code Talkers lingo could not be broken by experts here in the U.S., the men were shipped overseas to Guadalcanal. Two of the Code Talkers were left behind to train the next group. In all there were more than 400 Navajos who served. Despite the Code Talkers’ undeniable speed and mystifying language the officers were still reluctant to trust lives to a code still untested in combat. Instead the Code Talkers were used as everyday soldiers, fighting both the jungle and Japanese. They lived off of the land using slingshots to kill chickens for stew as well as hunting, skinning and dining on goats and horses. During the heavy fighting in late 1944 seven code talkers aboard a flagship had no time to rest or sleep for three days due to the heavy fighting. The military used grid maps that identified small sections in the battle zones and

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WOMEN’S CLUB GATHERS FOR GUEST NIGHT The GFWC Walkerton Women’s Club met at Al’s Diner, Koontz Lake, for their Guest Night, recently. Twenty members and 10 guests attended. President Carol Knop gave a short summary of future club events. The members were saddened to hear of the recent death of an honorary member, Marjory Curl. After a social hour and a delicious dinner the guests were entertained by Florence Seekings, a local singer who sang a selection of “oldies but goodies.” The audience joined the singing too. Birthday celebrants were Nadine Keiper, Alice Walker, Mildred Casey, Dorothy Dolmer and Mildred McKesson. Mrs. Casey drew the lucky number and received the birthday gift. INSTALL TEAM AT NORTH LIBERTY The North Liberty Church of the Brethren recently installed Everett and Lois Shattuck as pastoral team after they had served sixmonths in an interim position. Everett Shattuck graduated from Manchester College, earning a B.S. degree in 1978 and received a Master of Divinity degree from Ashland Seminary in 1982. He is coordinator of volunteers with the LaPorte Juvenile Services, a program he developed and has a background of coun-

The Independent-News Publication Number 261460 SUSAN R. URBIN EDITOR INDEPENDENT NEWS CO., PUBLISHING CO. 601 Roosevelt Road, Walkerton, IN 46574-1294 Phone (219) 586-3139 FAX 586-3139 Publication Time: Thursday of Each Week Copy Deadline: Tuesday, 12 Noon Second Class Postage Paid At Walkerton, IN 46574 Subscription Rates 35* Per Copy — $ll.OO Per Year ($2.00 Additional If Mailed Out Os State) NOTICE All advertising designs prepared by the Independent News are the property of the Independent News and may not be used without the written permission of the Independent News. The Independent News reserves the right to reject any and/or all advertising copy that is contrary to the policies of the newspaper or may be considered as liable. All classifieds are to be paid for in advance, they will not be taken over the telephone.

seling and working with troubled juveniles. Lois Shattuck holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Psychology and also earned a Master of Divinity degree from Ashland Seminary in 1982. She has experience as counselor and ombudsman for patients and families in a health care facility. Together they have served as team pastors in Ohio, lowa and Indiana. The Shattucks bring to the church and community a vision of ministry drawn from scripture, including the Great Commission in Matthew 28, and from the unique history and practices of the church. They see their mission as ministry to challenge and encourage the congregation and individuals to live Godly lives, following the example of Jesus Christ, to grow spiritually and in our relationship with Christ and each other. The family, which includes 14 year old Jacob, lives on a mini-farm at Mill Creek, where they raise poultry, rabbits, bees and organically grown fruits and vegetables. HALLOWEEN PARTY ENJOYED BY THE AREA CHILDREN The Grovertown Community Conservation Club was filled with little ghosts, goblins, princesses and other little costumed critters. The Halloween Party was a great success. Game stalls were busy and little kids were having a great time winning gifts from the fish pond and other booths.

the Code Talkers transmitted positions of troops and artillery targets by identifying the grid sections with pinpoint accuracy. The Code Talkers are by some officers of the marines said to have been the main reason that Iwo Jima was taken. Following the war a few Navajo stayed in the marines and fought in Korea and Vietnam, but the code was never used again - it was declassified in 1968. The first Code Talker reunion was in 1969 and in 1982 President Regan named August 14th as National Navaho Code Talkers Day.

The costume competition resulted in Cassandra Niles and Andrew Porter winning the pre-school awards; Gabrielle Minix, Aubry Minix and Brandon Porter won the kindergarten to second grade prizes; in the third grade to sixth grade division the winners were Sarah Goble and Chris Porter and in the seventh and eighth grade division the winners were Nathan Singleton and Danielle Grigsby. The clubhouse was beautifully decorated for the occasion. A fish fry was held on Saturday evening and a jam session on Sunday afternoon. Due to the holidays the fish fry for Dec. has been cancelled and the next one will be held on Jan. 11th. Shop At Home □nnnnnnnnnnnr^^ o c E WHAT IS • © a | CONVENIENT « o ECONOMICAL S I TIMELY • S FLEXIBLE S o EFFECTIVE © I U O WELL RECEIVED o an i ADVERTISEMENT. IN THE ’ INDEPENDENT ! . NEWS i ° CALL • o Sue or Cheryl ° I 586-3139 • ^fIQOOPOOQQQQPQ QQQ Qp QQ p ”