Navajo Code Talker Presentations

World War II Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald, Sr. will be in Michiana the week of Nov. 11 for appearnacs in Buchanan, Dowagiac and Notre Dame.

When: Nov. 11-14

Where: Nov. 11 and 12 in Buchanan, Nov. 13 at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, Nov. 14 at the University of Notre Dame

Specifics: Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Buchanan American Legion and at 7 p.m. at Buchanan High School, Nov. 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Buchanan High School speaking to students; Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac in the Lyons Theater; Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Notre Dame in the Jordan Auditorium in the Mendoza College of Business. He will also be attending the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game on Nov. 16.

Mr. MacDonald enlisted in the Marines at age 15 and was selected along with other Navajo Marines for the top secret Navajo Code School. He served from 1944-46. After the war, he went to college to pursue degrees in engineering and later worked at Hughes Aircraft on the Polaris Missile Guidance System. He was chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1971-83 and 1987-91.

Mr. MacDonald will recount his experiences serving in the South Pacific as a Navajo Code Talker and in North China with the Sixth Marine Division. The Navajo Code is a unique World War II legacy as the U.S. military used it and the Navajo Nation members who spoke and knew the language to transmit top secret and confidential messages.

Navajo Code Talkers were credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives to shorten the war in the Pacific. It is the only military code in modern history to never be broken by the enemy.

Mr. MacDonald received the Congressional Silver Medal for his heroic service as a Navajo Code Talker, was given a Special Commendation by President Richard Nixon and was featured in TIME magazine as one of 200 “Rising Leaders of America” in 1974. He is presently the President of the Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veteran Center in Arizona.

His appearances in Michiana are sponsored by the Buchanan American Legion Veterans Day Committee. Co-sponsors included the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi, Southwestern Michigan College, the University of Notre Dame, the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and several other organizations and businesses.

Contact:

Debra Haight, debrahaight@hotmail.com, 269-683-3666

Larry Money, moneylarry@hotmail.com

Jerry Flenar, jlflenar@gmail.com