[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 108 (Thursday, June 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING JOE VANDEVER, SR.

  Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, I pay tribute today to Joe Vandever, Sr., 
who was one of the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers.
  Joe was born February 5, 1923, into the Red Running Into the Water 
People clan, born for Two Who Came to the Water clan. He passed away 5 
days shy of his 97th birthday, on January 31, 2020, in Haystack, NM.
  Joe enlisted in the Marines when he was 19. He went through boot camp 
at Camp Pendleton and spent 6 months of intensive training learning the 
code and how to operate communications equipment to become a Navajo 
Code Talker.
  Navajo Code Talkers transmitted key military information through a 
code based on the Navajo language that the Japanese never broke. They 
participated in every major Marine operation in the Pacific theater and 
gave the Marines a critical advantage throughout the war. However, when 
they returned, they couldn't talk about their work, which remained 
classified until 1968.
  In 2001, Navajo Code Talkers, including Joe, received the 
Congressional Silver Medal.
  Joe epitomized the bravery and skill of the Navajo Code Talkers. 
Joe's Navajo name means ``going places,'' and he certainly did during 
the war. Serving in the 6th Marine Division from 1943 to 1946, Joe was 
stationed on 16 battleships--serving from Samoa to Guadalcanal to Guam 
to Japan to China. Joe translated messages from Navajo to English and 
set up communications posts on the frontlines.
  Joe was a spiritual man, and he provided spiritual support for others 
in his Marine division. He liked to tell a story about how he knew he 
would come home from the war. Before he left, he had been blessed in a 
ceremony. When he was in Guam, a bird he called a sheep-face bird--
which was a Cassin's kingbird--came to him. There were no sheep-face 
birds in Guam, and that bird gave Joe a sign he would return home 
safely. And he did.
  After he returned, Joe honored his Navajo traditions as a medicine 
man. He held many different jobs over the years--working at an oil 
refinery, in construction, and as a miner, prospector, farmer, and 
chauffeur. For 14 years, he was employed at the Gallup Indian Medical 
Center as a custodian.
  Joe was fiercely proud of the Navajo language. According to Joe, 
``Our language is powerful,'' and ``we [won]the war with our tongue.'' 
He wanted younger generations to learn the language and counseled them: 
``Don't ever leave your language.''
  Joe was a loving family man. After the war, he came home and married 
Bessie, to whom he was married for 73 years, until she passed away on 
September 24, 2019. He and Bessie had 9 children, 36 grandchildren, 55 
great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. He inspired them and 
encouraged them to pursue higher education, and he was beloved by them 
all.
  Joe lived a long life, and a good life--with kindness, optimism, good 
humor, integrity, and commitment and love for family and community. His 
light will continue to shine bright in his children and his future 
generations. I am honored to pay tribute to Joe Vandever who faithfully 
served our Nation and his family and Tribe.

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