Jerry C. Begay
Encyclopedia
Jerry ClasChee Begay Sr. (December 8, 1924 – May 26, 2008) was an American
World War II
veteran
and a member of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Begay was born on December 8, 1924, in Sheep Springs, New Mexico
. His parents were Clauschee Begay and . He was a member of the clan and was born for the . Begay attended Toadlena Boarding School and Fort Wingate High School.
Begay enlisted in the United States Marines when he was 17 years old while he was still a student at Fort Wingate High School. He served in the Second Marine division, 297th Platoon, as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II. Among the battles in which he served was the American invasion of the island of Tarawa, in present-day Kiribati
. Begay was wounded during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart
. Begay was also awarded the Sharpshooters Medal, the World War II Victory Medal
, the Presidential Unit Citation
and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star for his service. Begay received an honorable discharge and left the U.S. Marines in 1945.
Begay began working at the Phelps Dodge Copper Mining Company in Morenci, Arizona
, shortly after the end of World War II. He remained at the company for 33 years until his retirement in 1982. He also worked in community service, including at the Tsaile Health Center, in the towns of Tsaile and Lukachukai.
Throughout his life, Begay remained active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association and the Disabled American Veterans
. He was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor in November 2001 for his service as a code talker, alongside fellow veteran code talkers such as Frank Tsosie Thompson
.
Jerry C. Begay died on Memorial Day
on May 26, 2008, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
, at the age of 83. His funeral and burial took place at St. Mary's Catholic Church and Memory Gardens in Farmington, New Mexico
. Begay, who was a resident of Lukachukai, Arizona
, was survived by his wife, Ella Sorrelman Begay, and his children - Jerry C. Begay Jr., Daniel C. Begay, Priscilla Begay Coutu and Verna Begay Lopez. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Evangeline Begay Alvarez.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
and a member of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Begay was born on December 8, 1924, in Sheep Springs, New Mexico
Sheep Springs, New Mexico
Sheep Springs is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 237 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. His parents were Clauschee Begay and . He was a member of the clan and was born for the . Begay attended Toadlena Boarding School and Fort Wingate High School.
Begay enlisted in the United States Marines when he was 17 years old while he was still a student at Fort Wingate High School. He served in the Second Marine division, 297th Platoon, as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II. Among the battles in which he served was the American invasion of the island of Tarawa, in present-day Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
. Begay was wounded during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. Begay was also awarded the Sharpshooters Medal, the World War II Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
, the Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star for his service. Begay received an honorable discharge and left the U.S. Marines in 1945.
Begay began working at the Phelps Dodge Copper Mining Company in Morenci, Arizona
Morenci, Arizona
Morenci is a census-designated place in Greenlee County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,879 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, shortly after the end of World War II. He remained at the company for 33 years until his retirement in 1982. He also worked in community service, including at the Tsaile Health Center, in the towns of Tsaile and Lukachukai.
Throughout his life, Begay remained active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association and the Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans
The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...
. He was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor in November 2001 for his service as a code talker, alongside fellow veteran code talkers such as Frank Tsosie Thompson
Frank Tsosie Thompson
Frank Tsosie Thompson was an American Navajo code talker in the United States Marines during World War II.-Biography:...
.
Jerry C. Begay died on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
on May 26, 2008, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, at the age of 83. His funeral and burial took place at St. Mary's Catholic Church and Memory Gardens in Farmington, New Mexico
Farmington, New Mexico
Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S...
. Begay, who was a resident of Lukachukai, Arizona
Lukachukai, Arizona
Lukachukai is a census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lukachukai, a Diné word translated as "Many White Reeds", is located at ....
, was survived by his wife, Ella Sorrelman Begay, and his children - Jerry C. Begay Jr., Daniel C. Begay, Priscilla Begay Coutu and Verna Begay Lopez. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Evangeline Begay Alvarez.