Alfred K. Newman

Alfred K. Newman
Alfred K. Newman (right) in 2013
Born(1924-07-07)July 7, 1924
Rehoboth, New Mexico
DiedJanuary 13, 2019(2019-01-13) (aged 94)
Albuquerque
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchMarines
Years of serviceNovember 1943-December 1945
RankCorporal
Battles / warsWorld War II
Spouse(s)Betsy Eleanor
Children5
Other workAmmunition inspector

Alfred K. Newman (July 7, 1924 – January 13, 2019) was a United States Marine, best known for serving as a Navajo code talker during World War II.

Born in Rehoboth, New Mexico,[1] on the Navajo Nation, Newman and his fellow native students were not allowed to speak the Navajo language in school.[2] With the attack on Pearl Harbor in mind, he joined the Marine Corps on March 26, 1943, and became one of over 400 code talkers.[1]

In November 1943, Newman was part of the Guadalcanal Campaign, before he spent a month on Bougainville Island. He then went with the 3rd Division to Guam, before ultimately landing for the end of the Battle of Iwo Jima.[1][2][3] Newman was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal in December 1945, and he worked as an ammunition inspector at Fort Wingate and later at an open-pit mine overseeing blasting at Kirtland Field.[1]

Newman was married to Betsy Eleanor, his wife of 69 years. They had five children. He died at age 94 at the veterans hospital in Albuquerque.[1][2][3] His death puts the number of code talkers still living at around 10.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e "President Begaye Honors The Legacy Of Navajo Code Talker Alfred K. Newman". Navajo Nation. January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Ingber, Sasha (January 15, 2019). "One Of The Last Navajo Code Talkers Dies At 94". NPR. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Quintero, Donovan (January 14, 2019). "Code Talker Alfred K. Newman passes". Navajo Times. Retrieved January 16, 2019.