"A loudspeaker came on. They said "The war is over! The Japanese have surrendered." And everybody got out of their bunks and got started yelling." (Audio Interview, part 4, 00:39)

Alfred K. Newman, Sr.

War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Marine Corps Unit: 1st Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division Service Location: San Diego, California; New Caledonia; Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands); Bougainville Island (Solomon Islands); Guam (Mariana Islands); Iwo Jima; Pacific Theater Rank: Private

Born on the Navajo Reservation in Coolidge, New Mexico, Alfred K. Newman was sent to the Rehoboth Mission Boarding School at the age of eight, where he was forbidden from speaking Navajo. Serving as a member of the Code Talker team with the 3rd Marine Division, Newman endured months of secretive training, but ultimately spent more time in combat than he did employing his code breaking skills. When news broke of the war’s end, Newman found himself like many others, slowly waiting for transport home. On his return from war, he experienced little support or praise for his service as a Navajo Code Talker. Nevertheless, Newman views his time in the military, and the willingness of the Navajo to serve their country, as worthy of remembrance.