With a sad heart, I share Joe Morris, Sr. walked on July 17th. He had suffered a stroke after Thanksgiving last year and was recouperating at the VA hospital in Loma Linda, CA. He fell about 3 weeks ago and broke his hip. Funeral services will be Monday, July 25th in Riverside, CA.
Mr. Morris grew up on the Navajo Reservation at Indian Wells, AZ and moved to CA after he married. He was discharged from the Marines in 1946 with the rank of Corporal, but maintained the secrecy of his war mission until 1968, after declassification.
After the release of the movie Windtalkers in 2002, he did numerous talks and was always happy to share his story. Mr. Morris received combat ribbons for the Pacific Theater, a rifle expert medal and a Marine Coin. In 2008 he was honored with the Silver Congressional Medal. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, three children and three grandchildren.
This is one of the great aspects of our Country. A quiet, humble, family man, raised in "unrealized" poverty on the reservation becomes an instrumental part of victory and the nation's survival. His deserved recognition took many years, but it came. Mr. Morris was a National Hero and also a National Treasure.
Navajo Code Talker and National Hero 
