Merril Sandoval facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Merril L. Sandoval
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Sandoval in c. 2008
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| Born | April 15, 1925 Near Kimbeto, New Mexico, United States
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| Died | February 9, 2008 (aged 82) |
| Parent(s) | Julian Sandoval |
Merril L. Sandoval (born April 18, 1925 – died February 9, 2008) was an amazing American hero. He was a Navajo man who served in World War II. Merril was part of a special group called the Navajo Code Talkers. These brave Marines used their native Navajo language to send secret messages. This stopped the Japanese from understanding important information. Merril Sandoval was involved in every major Marine landing in the Pacific Ocean during the war, from 1943 to 1945.
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Merril Sandoval's Early Life
Merril Sandoval was born on April 18, 1925. His birthplace was near Nageezi, New Mexico. His very first language was Navajo. Later, he went to Farmington Methodist Mission School. There, he learned English and other subjects. These lessons were meant to help Navajo children learn American ways.
Merril's first family group, called a clan, was the Zuni Edgewater clan. His second family group was the Red Bottom People clan.
Merril Sandoval was still a freshman in high school. That's when Marine recruiters first talked to him. His brother, Samuel Sandoval, joined the Marines. But Merril's father, Julian Sandoval, said Merril was too young. Merril was only sixteen at the time.
One year later, Merril's father allowed him to join the Marines. Merril never worked with his brother Samuel. Samuel was also a Code Talker during the war.
In 1943, when he was 17, Merril took a train to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, he officially joined the United States Marine Corps. He finished his basic training in San Diego. Then, he went to Camp Pendleton. At Camp Pendleton, he trained to become a Code Talker.
Merril's Role in World War II
The Marines first sent Merril to Hawaii. During World War II, Sandoval served with two different Marine groups. These were the 2nd and 5th Marine Divisions. Merril's main job was to stay behind the fighting lines. He would translate reports from other Code Talker teams.
He then sent these messages, which were in Navajo, back to American commanders. These commanders were based in Hawaii. Merril also had to pass orders to the Marines who were fighting on the front lines.
Sandoval fought in important battles. These included Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Allied occupied Japan. During the Battle of Iwo Jima, Merril's boat was hit by enemy fire. He and his radio team were thrown into the Pacific Ocean. He swam about 100 yards to the beach of Iwo Jima. There, he survived constant attacks from the Japanese for a whole day.
Merril Sandoval was honorably released from the military in March 1946. He was a U.S. Marine corporal. He came back to the United States to finish high school. After the war, Merril and other Code Talkers were told to keep their work a secret. His own family did not know how important his missions were. They only found out in 1968, when the information about the Navajo Code Talkers became public.
Life After World War II
Merril Sandoval married Lorraine Humetewa Shingoitewa in July 1951. They had five children together.
Soon after getting married, he started a job as a machinist. He worked at the Garrett AiResearch company in Phoenix, Arizona. He worked there for 15 years. In 1963, he and his family moved to Lorraine's hometown. This was Tuba City, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation.
There, Merril joined the Navajo Tribal Police Force. He served as a police officer for three years. After that, he became a legal helper for D.N.A. Legal Services. This was a nonprofit law firm. He worked there for 23 years before retiring. Then, Merril Sandoval worked as an interpreter for the Navajo legal courts. He did this for another sixteen years.
Sharing His Story
As he got older, Merril traveled all over the country. He shared his personal story and experiences. He told people what it was like to be a Navajo Code Talker with the US Marine Corps. He continued to travel and share his story until the fall of 2007.
Merril Sandoval's Passing
Merril Sandoval passed away on February 9, 2008. He was 82 years old. He died at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. He had been sick for about a year before he passed. He and his wife, Lorraine, had been married for 56 years. They had lived in Tuba City, Arizona, for many years.
Merril was survived by his wife and four of their five children. He also had 17 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Sandoval received a full military burial in Flagstaff, Arizona. Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr. ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. This was from February 13 to 16, in Merril's honor.
