This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Kim Sowinski (Sgt Brooks)
to remember
Marine Cpl Jimmie Begay (Navajo Code Talker).
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address Sawmill, Arizona
Date of Passing Feb 01, 2012
Location of Interment Aragon Cemetery - Red Lake, Arizona
He was one of the last of our Living legends, the Navajo Code Talkers.We all know our Marine Corps history, these brave Warriors had the only “UNBREAKABLE CODE” using the Dine(Navajo) language.
I had the honor and privilege to be able to meet him in person when he came to the DC Metro area for special events.In fact I remember the first time I ever met any of the Dine Code Talkers, we had a Peace Pipe Ceremony in Arlington Cemetery and afterwards my Color guard and I marched down to the Lincoln Memorial and the few that came that day refused to drive in the vehicle we had provided for them that day and they Marched behind us all the way.It was such an honor and very motivating experience, something I will never forget! OOH RAHH!
Other Comments:
Indian Country reported -
Flags across the Navajo Nation are whipping in the wind at half mast this weekend, as Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly ordered the move in honor of Sgt. Jimmie Begay.
Begay, a Navajo Code Talker walked on February 1 at the Tsehootsoi Medical Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona. He was 88.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Begay. His efforts to defend this country and his people make me proud. My prayers, and the prayers of the First Lady, the Vice President and the Navajo Nation are with the family,” Shelly said.
The flags will be flown at half mast until February 5 in honor the Navajo Veteran who trained as a Code Talker at Camp Eliot before serving in the 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion during campaigns at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, Saipan, and Tinian in the midst of World War II.
Begay was 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1942. Begay grew up in Sawmill, Arizona and upon being honorably discharged in 1945 finished his schooling at Santa Fe Indian High School. He worked as a guard at the Army Depot-Japanese Internment Camp in Leupp, Arizona, and compted in boxing before venturing into the Navajo Forest Products Industry until he retired in 1985.
For his services during the war, Begay earned numerous commendations, including the Congressional Silver Medal in 2001.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sophie Begay; parents, Carl Begay and Nazbah Blackgoat; brothers, Kenneth M. Begay and Kee Begay; sisters, Ruth Stewart and Lottie Randall; son, Perry Begay.
Begay is survived by his son, Thurman Begay of Sawmill, Arizona; grandchildren, Jacquelyn A. Begay and Janelle R. Begay of Sawmill, Arizona, Scott Begay and Rhonda Roan of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, February 4 at the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Fort Defiance, Arizona. He will be buried at the family cemetery in Red Lake, New Mexico.
For condolences messages, monetary support, food donations and additional information you may contact Begay’s son, Thurman Begay, at 505-406-7447, via email thy_dude81@yahoo.com or via postal mail: PO Box 1084, Fort Defiance, AZ 86504
Marianas Operation /Battle of Guam (1944)
From Month/Year
July / 1944
To Month/Year
August / 1944
Description Guam, ringed by reefs, cliffs, and heavy surf, presents a formidable challenge for an attacker. But despite the obstacles, on 21 July, the Americans landed on both sides of the Orote peninsula on the western side of Guam, planning to cut off the airfield. The 3rd Marine Division landed near Agana to the north of Orote at 08:28, and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade landed near Agat to the south. Japanese artillery sank 20 LVTs, and inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans, especially on the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, but by 09:00 men and tanks were ashore at both beaches. The 77th Infantry Division had a more difficult landing. Lacking amphibious vehicles, they had to wade ashore from the edge of the reef where they were dropped by their landing craft. The men stationed in the two beachheads were pinned down by heavy Japanese fire, making initial progress inland quite slow.
US Marines move inland.
By nightfall, the Americans had established beachheads about 6,600 feet (2,000 m) deep.[1] Japanese counterattacks were made throughout the first few days of the battle, mostly at night, using infiltration tactics. Several times, they penetrated the American defenses and were driven back with heavy loss of men and equipment. Lieutenant General Takeshi Takashina was killed on 28 July, and Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata took over the command of the defenders.
Supply was very difficult[2] for the Americans in the first days of the battle. Landing ships could not come closer than the reef, several hundred yards from the beach, and amphibious vehicles were scarce. However, the two beachheads were joined up on 25 July, and the Orote airfield and Apra harbor were captured by 30 July.
The counterattacks against the American beachheads, as well as the fierce fighting, had exhausted the Japanese. At the start of August, they were running out of food and ammunition and had only a handful of tanks left. Obata withdrew his troops from the south of Guam, planning to make a stand in the mountainous central and northern part of the island. But with resupply and reinforcement impossible because of American control of the sea and air around Guam, he could hope to do no more than delay the inevitable defeat for a few days.
Rain and thick jungle made conditions difficult for the Americans, but after an engagement at Mount Barrigada from 2-4 August, the Japanese line collapsed; the rest of the battle was a pursuit to the north. As in other battles of the Pacific War, the Japanese refused to surrender, and almost all were killed. On 10 August, after three weeks of combat, organized Japanese resistance ended, and Guam was declared secure. The next day, Obata committed ritual suicide.
