Joe Morris Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Morris Sr.
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|---|---|
| Born | April 19, 1926 Indian Wells, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 2011 (aged 85) Loma Linda, California, U.S. |
| Buried |
Riverside National Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  United States |
| Awards | Congressional Silver Medal |
Joe Morris Sr. (born April 19, 1926 – died July 17, 2011) was an American hero. He was a Marine during World War II. He was also a special Navajo code talker.
Contents
Early Life and School
Joe Morris Sr. was born on April 19, 1926. He grew up in Indian Wells, Arizona, a small village. This village was part of the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona. He was one of four children in his family.
His family raised animals like horses and sheep. Joe helped take care of them. The area where he lived had no electricity or running water. There was also no school nearby.
When Joe was twelve, he started a boarding school. It was about 70 miles from his home. At this school, he learned to speak English. When World War II began, his school closed. The building was then used as a camp for Japanese-Americans.
Joining the Marines
In 1943, Joe wanted to join the military. He told the draft board he was 18, but he was actually 17. He worked in an ore mine in Arizona for a few months. Soon after, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps.
Before he left, a Navajo medicine man prayed for him. Joe believed these prayers helped him survive the war. He was sent to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.
Becoming a Code Talker
At Camp Pendleton, Joe joined about 400 other Navajo men. They were trained to become special code talkers. Their job was to use the Navajo language to send secret messages. This code was very hard for enemies to break.
Joe Morris served as a Marine code talker in the Pacific Ocean area. He was part of the 2nd Marine Regiment. He fought in important battles like Guadalcanal and Guam. He also took part in the Battle of Okinawa.
In 2004, Joe said, "My weapon was my language." He explained that the code talkers saved many lives. After the war, he was told to keep his work a secret. He didn't even tell his parents or his wife. The code talkers' mission was kept secret until 1968.
Life After the War
Joe Morris was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1946. He then married his wife, Charlotte Morris. He got a job at a Marine supply center in Barstow, California. He and Charlotte settled in Daggett, California. This is a small town in the Mojave Desert.
Joe worked as a supervisor in the maintenance department. He stayed at the same supply center until he retired in 1984.
Honoring the Code Talkers
In the 1990s and 2000s, Joe Morris began to share his story. He spoke a lot about the Navajo code talkers. In 1992, he attended an exhibit at the Pentagon that honored them.
In 2001, he went to a special ceremony. President George W. Bush gave awards to the original 29 Navajo code talkers. Joe and 200 other surviving code talkers received the Congressional Silver Medal. This happened on November 25, 2001, in Window Rock, Arizona.
Later Years and Legacy
Joe Morris Sr. passed away on July 17, 2011. He was 85 years old. He died from problems caused by a stroke. He passed away at a medical center in Loma Linda, California.
President of the Navajo Nation Ben Shelly honored Joe. He ordered American flags on the Navajo Nation to be lowered. This was done to show respect for Joe Morris. He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.
