4t Our hearts ache as we announce the passing of John Kinsel Sr., a cherished elder and one of the immortal Navajo Code Talkers. At 107, he leaves behind a legacy of unbreakable bravery forged in the fires of Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. From 1942 to 1946, as a U.S. Marine, he wielded his sacred language, the uncrackable code, to weave the vital communications that defied the enemy and tipped the scales of World War II. 

Our hearts ache as we announce the passing of John Kinsel Sr., a cherished elder and one of the immortal Navajo Code Talkers. At the remarkable age of 107, Kinsel leaves behind a legacy of unbreakable bravery forged in the fiery battles of Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima during World War II.

From 1942 to 1946, Kinsel served as a U.S. Marine in the secretive Navajo Code Talkers program, wielding his sacred language to transmit uncrackable code. This code wove vital communications that confounded the enemy and decisively influenced the outcome of the Pacific War. The Navajo language, with its intricate spoken form, was transformed into an unbreakable cipher that played a pivotal role in every major Marine assault, ensuring the success of missions whose stakes were nothing less than the survival of millions.

Born in Cove, Arizona, and rooted deeply in the Navajo community of Lukachukai, Kinsel’s life was shaped by resilience and service. Enlisting in 1942, he was part of the second group trained at Camp Elliott, following the original cohort that created the code. During his service, Kinsel faced harrowing moments, including severe injury during a bombing on Iwo Jima which earned him a Purple Heart. Despite the wounds sustained in battle, his dedication never waned, and he returned to fight bravely until his honorable discharge in 1946.

Navajo Nation officials, led by President Buu Nygren, expressed profound sorrow at Kinsel’s passing and ordered that all flags on the reservation be flown at half-staff for a week in his honor. Nygren praised him as a Marine who “valiantly and selflessly fought for all of us under the most harrowing conditions,” carrying the “immense duty of a Navajo Code Talker.” His service reflected a commitment not only to the United States but to the Navajo Nation’s honor and survival.

Kinsel’s story is intertwined with the broader tale of the Navajo Code Talkers—about 400 Navajo men who ingeniously transformed their language into a secure military code that Japanese cryptographers never deciphered. Their work saved countless lives and turned the tide of war, impacting battles across the Pacific, including the critical Battle of Guadalcanal and the iconic Iwo Jima.

Beyond the battlefield, John Kinsel Sr. emerged as a proud advocate for Indigenous rights, carrying the torch to preserve Navajo culture and history. His life’s journey inspired generations, combining unyielding patriotism with cultural pride.

His son remarked that John Kinsel passed peacefully, welcomed by ancestors as if called home by the first snowfall he had anticipated. Kinsel’s 107 years embodied endurance, service, and an extraordinary chapter of American history that will never be forgotten.

With his passing, only a handful of Navajo Code Talkers remain. Their stories serve as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made and the critical role Native Americans played in securing freedom during World War II.

John Kinsel Sr.’s legacy is immortal—etched not just in the annals of military brilliance but in the hearts of all who cherish courage and heritage. May we remember and honor his life, a true hero who carried the Navajo spirit into the pages of history.