Willard Varnell Oliver
Encyclopedia
Willard Varnell Oliver was an American
veteran of the United States Marine Corps
and a member of the Navajo Code Talkers during World War II
. Oliver was part of a unit of Navajos who worked to confuse Japan
ese forces in the Pacific during World War II through the transmission of messages in the Navajo language
. His older brother, Lloyd Oliver
, was also a member of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Oliver grew up in a rural area between Shiprock
and Farmington, New Mexico
and graduated from the Shiprock Agricultural High School in 1940. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
on March 23, 1943 and served with the 2nd Marine Division. He was honorably discharged on December 11, 1945.
Willard Oliver died on October 14, 2009, at the Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System Hospital in Prescott, Arizona
, at the age of 88. He was the fifth member of the Navajo Code Talkers to die since May 2009.
Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. ordered that American flags in the Navajo Nation
be lowered to half staff in Oliver's honor. His funeral was held on October 17, 2009, in his hometown of Lukachukai, Arizona.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
veteran of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and a member of the Navajo Code Talkers during 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...
. Oliver was part of a unit of Navajos who worked to confuse Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese forces in the Pacific during World War II through the transmission of messages in the Navajo language
Navajo language
Navajo or Navaho is an Athabaskan language spoken in the southwestern United States. It is geographically and linguistically one of the Southern Athabaskan languages .Navajo has more speakers than any other Native American language north of the...
. His older brother, Lloyd Oliver
Lloyd Oliver
Lloyd Oliver was an American veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a one of the original 29 members of the Navajo Code Talkers during World War II, and the brother of fellow Code Talker Willard Varnell Oliver....
, was also a member of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Oliver grew up in a rural area between Shiprock
Shiprock, New Mexico
Shiprock is a census-designated place in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, on the Navajo reservation. The population was 8,156 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Farmington Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and 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...
and graduated from the Shiprock Agricultural High School in 1940. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
on March 23, 1943 and served with the 2nd Marine Division. He was honorably discharged on December 11, 1945.
Willard Oliver died on October 14, 2009, at the Northern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System Hospital in Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, at the age of 88. He was the fifth member of the Navajo Code Talkers to die since May 2009.
Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. ordered that American flags in the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
be lowered to half staff in Oliver's honor. His funeral was held on October 17, 2009, in his hometown of Lukachukai, Arizona.
External links
- Willard Oliver - Daily Telegraph obituary