Jerry C. Begay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jerry ClasChee Begay Sr. (December 8, 1924[1] - 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,[1] in Sheep Springs, New Mexico.[2] His parents were Clauschee Begay and Hasktlishnii Bist'i.[2] He was a member of the Kinlichii'nii people and was "born for the Dzil tl'ahnii people."[2] Begay attended Toadlena Boarding School and Fort Wingate High School.[1]

Begay enlisted in the United States Marines when he was 17 years old while he was still a student at Fort Wingate High School.[2] He served in the Second Marine division, 297th Platoon, as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II.[2] Among the battles in which he served was the American invasion of the island of Tarawa, in present-day Kiribati.[2] Begay was wounded during WWII and was awarded the Purple Heart.[1][2] Begay was also awarded the Sharpshooters Medal,[1] the World War II Victory Medal,[1] the Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star for his service.[1] Begay received an hoonrable discharge and left the U.S. Marines in 1945.[2]

Begay began working at the Phelps Dodge Copper Mining Company in Morenci, Arizona, shortly after the end of World War II.[2] He remained at the company for 33 years until his retirement in 1982.[2] He also worked in community service, including at the Tsaile Health Center, in the towns of Tsaile and Lukachukai.[2]

Throughout his life, Begay remained active in the Navajo Code Talkers Association and the Disabled American Veterans.[1] 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.[2][3]

Jerry C. Begay died on Memorial Day on May 26, 2008, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 83.[2] His funeral and burial took place at St. Mary's Catholic Church and Memory Gardens in Farmington, New Mexico.[1] Begay, who was a redident 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.[1][2] He was preceded in death by one daughter, Evangeline Begay Alvarez.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Jerry ClasChee Begay Sr", Farmington Daily Times, 2008-05-29. Retrieved on 2008-06-06. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o de Bruin, Cornelia. "Navajo Code Talker dies on Memorial Day", Farmington Daily Times, 2008-05-29. Retrieved on 2008-06-06. 
  3. ^ "Navajo Code Talker Frank Thompson dies", Associated Press, Arizona Republic, 2008-06-03. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.